In the meantime, if you have questions or need data that is not current on the websites, please contact NSSA-NSCA Headquarters at nssa@nssa-nsca.com for Skeet questions or nsca@nssa-nsca.com for Sporting Clays questions, or call 210-688-3371.

In June, 1987, Al Anglace and six friends started a monthly shoot that grew into the Connecticut Travelers Sporting Clays Association, a club that now has over 500 members and a mission to support sporting clays.

Al was a stalwart of the sport, a community leader, and a major influence on the Connecticut Travelers as well as the sport of sporting clays. Hundreds of young people and ladies are shooting today because they got a chance to shoot with the Travelers, thanks to Al’s emphasis on bringing juniors and women into the sport.

His accomplishments included:

• President of Seymour Fish & Game
• Boy Scout Shooting Instructor
• Organizer of NSSF Program “The Art of Skeet Shooting,” which introduced dozens of people to the shooting sports
• Five-time recipient of Outdoor Life‘s Sporting Clays All American
• VP and founder of Sporting Clays of America
• 1998 Clay Pigeon Sportsman of the Year
• Founder and President of Riverside Rod & Gun Club

We express our deep condolences to the Anglace family.

Details as available can be found at www.ctsca.org.

The Canadian National Sporting Clays Association, the NSCA and F.I.T.A.S.C. in Paris announced the venue change.

Sanctioned by F.I.T.A.S.C. in Paris, the North American FITASC Grand Prix is a World Cup event, and will also be the finale of the Americas Cup. (The other event in the Americas Cup will be held earlier at Flint Oak in Kansas). Competition in these events allows competitors the opportunity to vie for the coveted Americas Cup (specifically for North America) and for the World Cup, which is awarded annually to the top competitor in each FITASC concurrent at the World Championships.

The North American FITASC Grand Prix will be held in conjunction with the Players Championship at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club. The 200-target competition will be held over eight old style parcours during three days of competition. Shooters will attempt 75 targets on Friday, June 15, an additional 75 targets on Saturday, June 16, and the final 50 targets on Sunday, June 17. The awards ceremony will follow, with awards for the North American FITASC Grand Prix and for the Americas Cup. Additionally, awards for NSCA Class and Concurrent winners will be given.

Also in conjunction with the Grand Prix FITASC, the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club is hosting the Players Championship Sporting Clays event. This 200-target Sporting Clays Championship will offer 100 targets on Saturday and the second 100 on Sunday. Scheels Sports has donated $200 certificates for the winners of each NSCA Class and Concurrent for this event.

Blaser is the title sponsor of the event and has donated a Blaser F3 Sporting Clays gun. Awarded by random drawing, one lucky winner will receive this extraordinary shotgun. Shooters get one entry for the FITASC event and another entry for the Sporting Clays event – two chances to win!

Simultaneously with the North American FITASC Grand Prix and Players Championship is the Gun Makers Showdown. Beretta, Blaser, Browning, Krieghoff and Perazzi have all contributed to a cash purse of $10,000. When registering, shooters will identify the brand of gun they will shoot, then compete in both the FITASC and sporting clays events. The four shooters from the gun maker with the top combined overall score will divide the $10,000 purse. There is no charge to the shooters to participate in the Gun Makers Showdown. Shooters must use the same brand of gun (one of the five participating sponsors) in both events to qualify.

“These gun makers recognize that it is of critical importance to the advancement of our sport – and to make our athletes more visible, and thereby more marketable to mainstream corporate decision makers around the world – that we closely identify our athletes and the guns they use for competition,” said Randy Travalia of Minnesota Horse and Hunt. “To that end, the Gun Makers Showdown has been created. It is our intention to create a broad interest in our sport and make these opportunities so our athletes may make shooting their career, not just their hobby.”

The Gun Makers Showdown in 2011 was won by Team Blaser. The top four scores competing with Blaser shotguns were posted by Bill McGuire, Diego Duarte, Cory Kruse and Mike Wilgus, who split the $10,000 cash purse.

Registration for the North American FITASC Grand Prix and Players Championship at Winscoreonline.com.

Recently you may have noticed receiving orders from White Flyer/Webb City in which a memo was attached to each pallet stating, “Tooling Change was made on these targets and readjustment of the splitter or knife may be necessary.” What basically occurred was that the first step of the target was lowered by about fifteen-thousandths.

In talking to gun clubs in the Midwest that have received these “newer” targets, adjustments have been minimal, but the shooters have remarked that these “newer” targets are different in that they “smoke” better than the “older” WF targets! Rumors started that WF mixed bio ingredients into this target, and this is why it “smokes” a light, grayish color. Other rumors were that the dimensions, plus weights, have been changed and it is a completely new target. Quite frankly, a lot of misinformation is going on out there, and we felt it necessary to contact you and ask you to please pass this memo onto your customers and gun clubs.

First and foremost, this “newer” target is different in only two areas, the height of the first step and its composition. They still undergo a 27-step process of quality control to measure weights and concentricity; the specs which are weight mandated by the ATA and other organizations have NOT changed.

The main difference and the thing that shooters are commenting about is the fact that when centered, instead of the “black sootball,” you get a whitish, gray picture of the smoked target. This is where the only change has been made to this target. A different style of pitch is now being used that is lighter in color and therefore causes the target to “smoke” whitish-gray.

Outside of this pitch change, no other aspect, other than the very first step, are any different. Extensive testing has been done on these ‘newer’ targets and in our testing, we found that they actually break/smoke better than their older AA pitch counterpart. There is no question that when smoked, against a dark background, they could be mistaken for our biodegradable target that smokes a whitish color. It will take a bit of getting used to with this lighter smoke, but overall we feel this is a better target.

At the current time, this “newer” target will only be produced at our Webb City, Missouri, target plant. Hence, many shoots in the Midwestern US will receive these targets over the next few months. We wanted to dispel any of the rumors out there that they were suddenly shooting a totally new WF target, because they weren’t.

Hopefully this clears up the misconceptions about what you will be using and what to expect. Should you and your gun clubs have any questions, please feel free to call me directly at our Houston office at 713-626-1843.

Sincerely,
Phil Murray
National Sales Manager
White Flyer Targets

The event runs May 31 through June 3.

Because the events are spread over a large area, a clays vehicle or golf car is a must. And if your clays car has a little “bling” to it, you’ll want to enter it into Saturday night’s “Bling-Bling Cart Contest.”

The 200-target FITASC main event currently has 147 pre-registered shooters, to max out at 192. For Friday’s 100-target GP Trap Preliminary, close to 100 shooters are registered. Saturday’s Oakley Cup 100-target event is at 107, and for Sunday’s 2nd Annual K-State Cup shoot benefiting the new Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University, 71 shooters have pre-registered to attempt 100 targets set by the students of the program.

The Lois Lessing Cup kicks off Thursday afternoon, and Lois will be excused from her registration and scoring duties to be on the Pink Course having some fun with her friends. Also starting on Thursday will be a new 8-station, 50-target Small Gauge, Super Sport, Pump Gun, and Side-by-Side course. Each station will have a minimum of 3 traps and numerous shooting locations for all the gun types to be used. The Greenwood Stock and Metalcraft Services Make-A-Break qualifying will also begin on Thursday.

Target setters for the events will be Brent Fleming, David Rippetoe, Josh Reed, Jeff Oakes, and the students of the WOEM Program.

Thursday night dinner will be in the Main Lodge with Flint Oak chef Vincent Reif working his magic. Daily breakfasts and lunches will also be served in the Main Lodge. Friday night’s Jimmy Buffett-themed party will take place under the big tent, as will Saturday night’s Kansas-style BBQ.

“Flint Oak promises to send everyone home with a full belly, a sore shoulder, and with many great memories at the conclusion of the 2012 North American FITASC Championship,” says Jeff Oakes, Flint Oak General Manager.

There’s still time to get in on the fun! Registration is at Winscoreonline.com.

A new twist to the 2012 Open has been added: the “Caribou Clay Shooting Experience.” In conjunction with Pepsi of Mankato, Caribou Gun Club will be inviting the general public to come experience the 2012 U.S. Open up front and personal. Outdoor sporting enthusiasts can visit the Open vendors, handle and shoot the manufacturers’ new guns on the Caribou practice course, meet Team USA members, and receive chances to win daily door prizes sponsored by Mountain Dew Outdoor Gear and other vendors.

The U.S. Open competitors can expect gun giveaways, vendor coupons, door prizes, cash, and a $10,000 handcrafted rocking chair awarded to the HOA Champion of the main event. There will be a Thursday night happy hour, Friday night party and vendor night with live entertainment and more door prizes, and the Saturday night shooters’ banquet.

The U.S. Open Sporting Clays Championship is scheduled for July 16-22, 2012. Caribou Gun Club is one hour from Minneapolis. Visit caribougunclub.com for more information, or registered today at Winscoreonline.com.

Debbi Perry, second from left, was HOA Champion of the 18th Ladies Charity Skeet Classic.

In addition to raising money for a worthy cause, the event emphasized introducing skeet to new shooters. This year’s shoot introduced nine new ladies to the fun of skeet shooting in the Novice event, sponsored by Krieghoff. First-place team in the Novice event were Teresa Rueda, Lana Vu, Michelle Walker, and coach Dale Cox.

Other winners included:

Men’s Only .410 Bore – Jerry Schaefer

5-Stand Open – Reed Whitehurst

Kolar Doubles – Valerie Gath

Blaser .410 Bore – Mary DeFrancesco

Murrell Smith 12 Gauge – Lisa Stroupe

Alamo Arms 20 Gauge – Alyssa Gormish

John Waters 28 Gauge – Debbi Perry

Plans are already underway for the 19th annual Ladies Charity Skeet Classic in 2013, also at the Fairfax Rod & Gun Club.

For scores, additional winners, and photos from the event, see the Ladies Charity Skeet Classic Results.

One shooter said he met Rick and Donny at a Level I instructor school, then drove 870 miles for the academy. He found the program and instructors to be so helpful, “I would be willing to walk to South Carolina if I had to.” Another shooter said that after going to the academy, he went from AA to Master class in just one tournament.

Smith and Roth are also joined by Larry Penley, head golf coach at Clemson University, who shares his secrets to the mental game.

The group has another academy planned for June 9 at The Clinton House in Clinton, SC. Cost for the 8-hour course is $375, which includes instruction, targets, lunch, and golf car. Reservations are required, and class size is limited.

Topics include: Getting Back to Basics; Great Fundamentals; Hard Focus – Great Eyes; Setting Yourself Up for Success; Technical Shots; Tournament Preparation; Pre-shot Routine; Fighting Off Demons; and Right Attitude.

If you can’t quite reach your shooting goals and think the Sporting Clays and Mental Game Training Academy could help, you can get more information in the event flyer, or contact Donny Roth. Or, download the registration form.

Equipment is limited to vintage-style firearms, specifically side-by-side or pump-action shotguns of either modern or vintage manufacture. Some events are gauge-specific or limited to side-by-side shotguns.

In addition to the traditional skeet championships, the event offers concurrents for Game Guns and Hammer Guns, as well as special 16 gauge shotgun events. Side matches include 5-Stand Sporting and Down-the-Line Trap.

While the shoot is an NSSA-sanctioned tournament, membership is not required. Skeet targets fired by NSSA members will count toward Lifetime Targets only; they will not impact classification or averages.

For details on the Vintage Skeet Championships and for advance registration, see the online event program.

We have no first-hand knowledge of the incident in question, either from McMillan or Bank of America. Like most of you, we only know what we have read and heard in the media and from the statements of both parties, as well as what our own experience with Bank of America has been.

It was a post by Kelly McMillan, Director of Operations for McMillan Group International, on the company’s Facebook page that set off the storm of attention:

McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing and McMillan Group International have been collectively banking with Bank of America for 12 years. Today (April 19, 2012) Mr. Ray Fox, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Business Banking, Global Commercial Banking came to my office. He scheduled the meeting as an “account analysis” meeting in order to evaluate the two lines of credit we have with them. He spent 5 minutes talking about how McMillan has changed in the last 5 years and have become more of a firearms manufacturer than a supplier of accessories.
At this point I interrupted him and asked “Can I [possibly] save you some time so that you don’t waste your breath? What you are going to tell me is that because we are in the firearms manufacturing business you no longer [want] my business.”
“That is correct” he says.
I replied, “That is okay, we will move our accounts as soon as possible. We can find a 2nd Amendment friendly bank that will be glad to have our business. You won’t mind if I tell the NRA, SCI and everyone I know that BofA is not firearms industry friendly?”
“You have to do what you must” he said.
“So you are telling me this is a politically motivated decision, is that right?”
Mr. Fox confirmed that it was. At which point I told him that the meeting was over and there was nothing left for him to say.

I think it is [important] for all Americans who believe in and support our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms should know when a business does not support these rights. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. When I don’t agree with a business’ political position I can not in good conscience support them.

That post has now been shared thousands of times on social media pages. McMillan has subsequently stated that it will no longer be accepting Bank of America credit cards as payment for its products.

Bank of America followed with a response on its own Facebook page that is widely assumed to refer to the McMillan allegations:

We want to let you know that we hear your comments and questions regarding one of our customers. While we cannot discuss the details of any individual client we work with, we can assure you the allegations being made here are completely false. Bank of America does not have a policy that prohibits us from banking clients in this industry. In fact, we have numerous, longstanding customers in the industry.

We are also extremely proud of our support of the US military and reject any assertion to the contrary. We count as clients many companies that provide for our nation’s defense. We employ thousands of veterans, Guardsmen, and Reservists, and plan to increase our hiring this year.

Indeed, NSSA-NSCA members should know that Bank of America has provided financial contributions to NSCA and Team USA. It has also been noted in many reports that Bank of America does business with numerous firearms-related companies, including Freedom Group, encompassing Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster, and other brands.

McMillan has been interviewed by many media outlets, both in the shooting industry and mainstream. Gerri Willis of Fox Business conducted this interview:

Here’s another interview with radio host Cam Edwards of NRANews and Sirius XM Patriot:

In the April 29 “Gun Talk” radio show, host Tom Gresham interviewed McMillan, who had since met with another Bank of America official whom he identified as Mr. Fox’s boss. According to that account, McMillan was told that his company’s business was no longer welcome but that it was a “business decision based on the current economy.”

McMillan says his company has never missed a payment or bounced a check, and that the company’s debt is about 60% of its credit line. He said the company is experiencing its best year of business in many years.

Gresham said his show invited Bank of America to participate in the on-air interview with McMillan. The bank declined but did provide a statement indicating that the “allegations on social media sites are false.” The statement further said that upon review of the situation, the bank believed there was a “misunderstanding with this client and we will reinforce our policies with our team.”

Finally, we consulted the website many consider the authority on urban legends, rumors, and misinformation for their take on this controversary – Snopes.com. Their conclusion: Undetermined.

Because this story became public in social media and continues to be discussed there, we suggest that those interested monitor each party’s statements on their respective Facebook pages, Facebook.com/McMillanGroupInternational and Facebook.com/BankofAmerica – then draw your own conclusions.