SCML & Sunnyvale Troop 463

     Boy scouts of assorted ages from 11 on arrived at Scotts Valley Sportsmen's Club on Saturday, Jan 21, 2017. Braving the cold and damp were a few good SCML men & 1 woman ready to share their unique sport with scouts, scout leaders and parents. Jack put the required SOP together that would meet SVSC and Scout requirements. Alan Ross was our Range Master giving the scouts an overview of muzzle loading and a safety briefing as well as managing safety on the range. Small caliber caplock rifles for the younger boys and Tim's lefty rifle were made ready for each scout to shoot 3 to 5 shots, depending on skill level. Paul Ray made simple, effective targets - paper plates with large orange circles in the center. Steven R's caplock was available for Steven C to load for his group. Our procedure of loading, capping and swabbing for each scout kept everyone safe and allowed time for each scout to be comfortable squeezing that trigger. Eager boys waited patiently as their fellow scouts took their turn.

     After all of the scouts shot their target some of the adults took turns. Then it was time for Alan, Tim, Kirk, Jack, Mike, Steve R, Steven C, Paul Ray, Sherry and Don to shoot the flooded out Dec 2016 make up aggregate target! When we were done the older scouts helped put target frames and shooting tables away. The scouts grilled burgers, brought potato salad, green salad, sodas and hot chocolate for lunch. 

     We've shared our sport with various scout troops before and it has always been a rewarding experience. The look of surprise and awe when that rifle goes off and that puff of smoke rolls out and then pulling a target with holes in it is priceless.

                                                  Jack opening the gate for Troop 463

Here is the thank you letter from Sunnyvale Troop 463.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of our Sunnyvale Troop 463 scouts, ASMs, Scout Master, and our scout parents a round of Thanks to the members of the Santa Cruz Muzzle loader members, and Scotts Valley Sportsmen Club for supporting the Black powder rifle event this past weekend.  It was truly exciting for all our scout (and adults) to learn about and shoot with muzzle loader rifles.  Truly a unique shooting sports for all ages to experience.

I like to acknowledge and recognize the our two distinguish individuals who's efforts and open dialog made this happen for all of us.  Both Hank Sielski and Jack Sohriakoff help to bring  the troop and SCML together for the shooting event.

A big thanks goes to the SCML members (Jack, Sherry, Alan, Kirk, Michael, Steven, Tim, Paul, and Don) for their mentoring to our junior shooter, many first timers, and some showing great marksmanship.  The smiles on our scouts and adults says it all.  We Thank you.

Commending the line goes to Alan Ross for the safety orientation and chief RSO.  Keeping everyone engaged and safe.  We hope that everyone did have an opportunity to enjoy the BBQ that our scouts put together and we hope that we will be welcome again for another future muzzle loader event with the SCML club.

We had a tremendous time at the range and an experience that the scouts will always remember. 

Yours in Scouting,

Wilfred Tsang & Hank Sielski

ASM Troop 463

RSO Alan discusses course of fire 

Scout Leader gets to shoot

Checking targets

Tim handles the left handers

Paul loads by cutting his patch on the
 muzzle then short starting the ball
before  ramming it home

Time for lunch compliments of the scouts

The End - Until Next Time!

 Yolla Bolly Rendezvous

November 2016 

Tim sent photos from the Yolla Bolly Rendezvous held outside of Red Bluff CA each November around Veteran's Day. This is a fun shoot, lots to do and in a nice setting. Shooting includes rifle, pistol and trade gun trail walks, a squirrel rifle trail walk, long gong shoot off, fort shoot, shot gun, poker chip, archery and cannon shoot. Tim reports that there were many traders and folks selling their wares along the roadside camps. There were a couple of food concession tents. Over 300 shooters signed up in 2016.

I shot at this rendezvous too many years ago and have pleasant memories. A handful of SCML folks camped on the tree studded bluff overlooking the larger campsites down near the river bed and old quarry. The trail walks were on flat meandering terrain along the river bed. There is a sizable Trader's Row and primitive campground. This rendezvous still looks as busy as the rendezvous were 20 odd years ago. The weather is usually pleasant and even though it's a long drive up I-5 it's fairly easy. It would be great to see some SCML attendance there again.

 

These two photographs were taken by Joel Takarsh at the Western States Black Powder shoot in Grants Pass this past July, and were published in the Grants Pass daily courier on July 19th.

Spring Mini Rendezvous Saturday, April 16, 2016

 

           Spring is here and it's time for our first mini rendezvous of the year with a one day shooting event open to club members and their guests. SCML is a small club without access to a large property such as BLM land or a friendly ranch that would accommodate multitudes of shooters, campers, traders and the public. We do have, luckily, club members who have land suitable for trail walks and are generous enough to offer their hospitality to club members and their guests for a day of shooting, eating and general camaraderie.

     Ron and JoAnn Wisler are our hosts at their ranch near Mount Hamilton. This year's mini rendezvous will be Saturday, April 16. There will be no rifle shoot at Scotts Valley Sportsman's Club in April. April rifle aggregate targets may be made up at the next like shoot attended.

      The Wisler ranch is hilly with no space for trailer camping but there is room for tent camping for those who may wish to spend the weekend.

     There is a rifle trail walk with a variety of targets at varying distances that clang, bang, swing or disintegrate and a separate tomahawk and knife trail walk. 

Potluck lunch follows.

     This is a blanket shoot so bring a prize to put on the blanket if you want to take a prize off of the blanket. The prize does not need to be shooting related but should be equivalent to the cost of a can of powder. 

Choosing prizes off the blanket is in descending score order.

Bring a potluck dish to share. The club will provide Corralitos Market sausages. 

The shoot fee for a mini rendezvous is $6.

Location: 15005 Kincaid Rd., Mt. Hamilton

Date: Saturday, April 16, 2015

Time: trail walk opens at 9 AM

RSVP to Ron or JoAnn at 408-239-0579