2018 Gene Curtis Memorial GTA Fun Shoot/Airgun Show

[Gipper]

What a great weekend of shooting and seeing old friends and making new ones.  This just seems to be more fun every year.
I would like to say thanks to Dez and Teresa on doing another fabulous job with this event.  It keeps getting better every year and the hard work you and the other folks put into this event makes it one of the highlights of my year. Thank you from both AJ and I for making this another great weekend, I am already looking forward to next year.

Also a big thanks to Eric and his family for hosting us. More gracious people you will never meet and I look forward to seeing you and your family again next year.  Eric had an awesome display setup of  some early french fireams, and incredible mini SMG's and Gattlin guns, gorgeous stuff and very interesting history. Eric knows his stuff!

Only thing I can think of that would have made this weekend better was more of you there.

Brian

[lloyd-ss]

I am sitting in a hotel room in hotel room in Bristol Virginia with Marty2 after driving about 10 hours today, half of that without AC , and another 5 hours to go tomorrow.  But wow, what a great event again this year.  I think this was my 7th funshoot, and each one has been different than the last.  I hesitate to say "better", because they have all been so great!  Meeting people and learning and looking and talking and helping.... how can it get any better than that?  Thanks as always to Dez and Teresa, and this year to Eric (our venue host) and his family.  What a great bunch of folks.
I'm not going to try and name people 'cause I am terrible at that, but it was fun meeting everyone there. But I do want to thank Jeff of Treier Outdoors for driving all the way from Wisconsin and for bringing some seriously top notch raffle prizes, as did ALL the vendors.
This was my first year making it past round one of the springer paintball competition. In round one my RWS 54 did good, and in round 2, I messed up.
Here are just a few pics.

This is a look down-range as we were setting up Thursday afternoon.  The large cardboard target stand is at 50 yards, and the orange steel disk near the tree line is at 150 yards.



Here are a couple of views across the firing line late Saturday afternoon as the hard core continue to shoot after many folks have already headed back home.

[Teep]

What a great weekend.  This was my first time attending but it won't be my last.  Spending a weekend shooting and talking with a great bunch of knowledgeable air gunners is hard to beat plus winning a guppy tank in the raffle also was cool (thank Joe Brancato for your donation).   One of the things I wanted to do was learn about PCP as I was considering moving from the large springers, my shoulders don't appreciate them much any more.  Winning the tank sealed the deal.  I also made some great new friends and look forward to more get-togethers.  Thanks again to Dave and Eric and their family's for their dedication and commitment.

[Ozarkairgunner]

Just got back where I had enough service to post anything, but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that made this possible, this was my first year attending, planned on going last year but work got in the way. Took my son and we both had a blast, poor guy barely missed in round 1 of the paintball shooting, wind got him. I feel pretty good, got 1st, a lot of it by luck, but all in all had a great time and hope to be able to go in years to come. Got to put a lot of faces with names which is always a good time, and get input from some very knowledgeable shooters as well. Also I finally had a chance to compare a FX Impact and Crown side by side, both beautiful guns and still hard to decide which one I'd like to save for lol. Anyway, thank you to everyone that helped set this up from Dez  and Eric working together with the place and arrangements to all the vendor donations, it really was a great weekend.

[uglymike]

I had a blast!! Finally got to meet people fluent in air gun. Nice venue, great people, who could ask for more? Kudos to all involved in making this happen. I'm still a little bit giddy over the honor, the privilege, of shooting a Wiscombe.   

[ShawninIL]

Great time again this year. I wish more of the old Ramada Gang could have made it, but it was nice to see faces from last year as well as new ones. And as always, it was nice to visit with Miss Lizzie. Thanks to Dave & (Oh it's just you) Teresa for putting this together and Eric & his family for hosting us.
I would have done better in the paintball shoot but I lined up the perfect shot, squeezed the trigger, Ha! safety's on! So I line up again, and completely miss! But the table kinda sloped down hill, and I kneeled on a rock, and the sun was in my eyes, and I changed my grip, and, and,..........
Anyway, I had a great time and hope to see everyone next year!
Shawn

[triggertreat]

I wanted to thank everyone again for putting this event together.  I had a great time and enjoyed the fellowship with everyone and hope I have a chance to do it again.


Here are some photos I took of the event:

[Motorhead]

Looks like a very nice place to host a bunch of BB gunners .... Sounds like all had a GREAT time as usual.
Wish it was not so far away from the left coast or would have attended.

Scott

[ezman604]

I tell ya Scott, I was a bit excited and in anticipation mode. Someone had mentioned the rumor that you might show up. I was really wanting  that to happen. And the left coast is not out of the question, some of our vendors usually make the journey. It IS worth it!!!
At least once....to get you hooked.

Try to make plans my friend. Your public wants an appearance.
LOL

[Sfttailrdr46]

I arrived at 10pm Thursday and was up bright and early for the first day of the fun shoot. My oldest son made the trip with me and we have another convert. We had a ball and even managed to miss a few paintballs on Saturday. Everyone was the best folks you could hope to meet. DEz as usual spent more time hosting and very little trigger time but it was a great time had by all. My son and I are already planning for next years fun shoot we are bringing my oldest stepson and my middle grandson . If we can locate a rental motor home we plan to camp at the fun shoot and spend more time hanging out with more of our forum buddies. Erik's wife won a beautiful Air Arms TX200 MK III with a nice beech stock that was donated by if I'm not mistaken Air Gun Depot.

[ezman604]

Don, it was MOST excellent to get to meet you in person. And Don Jr also. I am very proud you made that long journey and I hope it was all worth it. GREAT that we now have another convert and look forward to seeing both of you back. Next year I guarantee it will be even better. We were kinda winging it this year and had to make last minute adjustments. The firing line will be much improved next year and large enough to accommodate MANY more. We do have 250 acres to play with.
LOL
I actually got to shoot more than normal but still not enough. But my main goal has always been to spend my time trying to make sure everyone else has the best time they can...legally. LOL
I'm surprised that no one has posted about my historic and never to be matched paintball shot. Hmmm....
At least I supplied some entertainment.
Again, fantastic that you guys made the trip and made it back home safely. Tell Jr we said howdy and be sure to get membered up!!!
LOL

[triggertreat]

Don, it was MOST excellent to get to meet you in person. And Don Jr also. I am very proud you made that long journey and I hope it was all worth it. GREAT that we now have another convert and look forward to seeing both of you back. Next year I guarantee it will be even better. We were kinda winging it this year and had to make last minute adjustments. The firing line will be much improved next year and large enough to accommodate MANY more. We do have 250 acres to play with.
LOL
I actually got to shoot more than normal but still not enough. But my main goal has always been to spend my time trying to make sure everyone else has the best time they can...legally. LOL
I'm surprised that no one has posted about my historic and never to be matched paintball shot. Hmmm....
At least I supplied some entertainment.
Again, fantastic that you guys made the trip and made it back home safely. Tell Jr we said howdy and be sure to get membered up!!!
LOL

I did post about your famous shot but got no love in return .

[avator]

I wanted to thank everyone again for putting this event together.  I had a great time and enjoyed the fellowship with everyone and hope I have a chance to do it again.


Here are some photos I took of the event:

Must be something to do with the lead pellets that make bellies swell up like that. Mine has done the same thing. Oh well, I suppose it separates the real shooters from the talkers.

[ezman604]

Nah, must be the meal we provide. Nobody goes away hungry.
 

[Privateer]

 
Bill! You pokin' fun at Lloyd?

[avator]

Your probably right but I'm still pretty sure air gunners get fatter and happier as they get older.

[avator]

Bill! You pokin' fun at Lloyd?

Nope, that was a general poke based on the picture.

[ezman604]

Ah, see it now Keith. And nobody wanted to respond with the awe of how to clear 16 paintballs with one shot?
Gee....see if I try to entertain again.
(whispering) now you know why I run around during the event instead of shooting....LOL

[Privateer]

We didn't get details and I wasn't gonna poke a Bear without them.
 

[lloyd-ss]

Must be something to do with the lead pellets that make bellies swell up like that. Mine has done the same thing. Oh well, I suppose it separates the real shooters from the talkers.

Ha ha.  Triggertreat, now I'm not accusing you of anything underhanded, but it really looks like you did a bad photo shop job on that picture to make me look like I just ate a pumpkin, LOL? But at least you got the color right.   I thought all the exercise running back and forth to targets would have used up at least half of that paunch.
Lloyd