***GTA Fun Shoot/Airgun Show 2015***

[ezman604]

I don't know, will ask. Amy was filming, I know she got the poker shoot. I had NO idea who I was bidding against, honestly. Until close to the end when she peeked around one of the gun racks. LOL
I about passed out.
HaaHaa
Thanks Jeff for the donation. I'm mailing Cathy a check this week!!!
And thanks to Gary for the cash donation that also went to Cathy as well as the adapter and stock from Dave Rensing (R.Arms Inovations) that the proceeds also went to Cathy and Gene!!!
GREAT folks we have here.
Was good to meet you too Jeff. We'll see you next time too!!!

[Mr_Sis]

I am not sure i want to see my fat butt trying to run on video but for getting paid to do it i guess its ok lol. Had a great time seeing everyone and laughing all weekend long. Mabye get some video of joe shooting airguns and pool for a "how to" video. Hope everyone made it home safe.

[Rocker1]

I had a blast I met some really fine people and its been a long time since I laughed so much, I have a lot of pics to post but that 14 and half hour drive has took its toll so give me a day. Them jersy boys are a hoot for sure.  David

[lloyd-ss]

Wow, what a great event!  Meeting new folks and old friends and shooting airguns and eating good food.  It doesn't get any better than that! My buddy Burke, who came with me and did the 8 hours of driving each way, (thank you Burke!) had the time of his life, too.
And that Kentuckian, Hargis, what a tremendous guy.  With him providing that great venue and all the effort HE personally put into the event, my hat is off to that gentleman.  And also to the many other good people who worked so hard and participated to make this such a great Fun Shoot.  And to Dave Easley and Teresa, again, thank you very very much.
The GTA is the best!
Lloyd-ss   

[ezman604]

Lloyd, it was fantastic as always to see you my friend!!! And I was under the impression Burke was a newbie to airguns. I think I was mistaken. LOL
I'm glad he enjoyed the event too and hope he is a GTA member soon.
As for Hargis, you said it. What a fellow.
After working with him, there's absolutely nothing that man can't do or hasn't already done. But hey, what else would you expect from a Marine?
As retired military, I can affectionately say he's one of the best jarheads I've had the honor to meet. He and Amy are Energizer Bunnies when it comes to an event at the fairgrounds. We will have a better schedule next year and things will flow smoother I'm sure. We both learned a lot, and discovered USAF and USMC can work together well. Contrary to other beliefs.
HeeHee
Hargis was quite amazed at us airgunners and was all smiles MOST of the time. He learned a lot too this last week and weekend. Next year there will be a gun show going on at the entrance of the fairgrounds while we are having our Fun Shoot/Airgun Show. We will be ambassadors to the airgun community and imagine we will have a LOT of visitors coming to the airgun range to investigate.
Glad you guys made it home safe Lloyd. And really is a shame it will be a year before we get to shake hands and chat face to face again.

[chardosmith]

What a great event.  Can't say enough about the hospitality of Hargis and the friendliness of the entire GTA administration team.  Chris and I took the 12 hour drive to Sparta from Arkansas and had an excellent experience that exceeded our expectations.  Large tents to keep the occasional cloudburst off the guns, dozens of targets from 10 - 80 yards, LOTS of cool rifles and several Vendors including Pyramyd air with dented pellets, Old English firearms with a broad selections of chinese and german rifles, custom discovery tuning upgrades, carbine stocks for pistols.  The best part was the wide range of shooters who just loved to wring the accuracy out of their rifles.  From a little HW30 to a Theoben Dual mag and a discovery to a Steyr LG110 and a 30 cal, the range of rifles was impressive.

Everyone was very generous with educating others about their rifles and even had some minor airgun tuning on site.

The competition was fun,  but the prize money was a pleasant surprise.  THANK YOU!  the $300 in prize money took care of my hotel and most of my gas costs!  Even came home with two fewer rifles and a little spending cash.  Look forward to next year!

-Arnold

[Geoff]

Thank you GTA and Hargis for the great event.   I enjoyed myself, met some new people and reconnected with those I met last year.

I think the bell and 3 88gram CO2 cartridges I hung at about 75 yards were a hit.  I even managed to hit the bell at 75 yards with 3 of my rifles which made ME smile.

There were plenty of targets set out for all to shoot.

Photos I took at the event and a couple of the surrounding areas are posted at the link below.  GTA and Hargis are more than welcome to copy them for their use ( a footnote saying photo by Geoffrey Kroll would be nice ...    )

The Ramada inn was clean, though the pillows were hard and had less padding than my kitchen chairs.  LOL .. My wife ran to Walmart to grab us 2 new pillows as those did not make it when I was packing up my shooting stuff.  Next year they WILL come with me.

It was a short drive to the shoot from the Ramada and easy to get to from the shoot.  I would stay there again next year.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/36026557@N05/

[ezman604]

Geoffrey, it was good to see you and your wife again and glad you guys enjoyed the event. I want to thank you for bringing the bottles to use as targets. It was VERY hectic and I kept getting pulled away to do other things. Thanks for filling the bottles. I did manage to get the string cut and hung on the stands but never got around to punching the holes in the caps and actually get the bottles out there to shoot. My apologies, just too many things going on. We WILL use them next year, they are very resilient targets when filled and take a lot of abuse.
The Ramada will be my resting place next year too, instead of "Bates Motel". LOL They really messed up our reservations we had made back in November. We sent a list and plenty of reminders. Even the Ramada had some communication issues with us and the discount code. But we managed to get everyone settled in to a place to sleep. Again, the venue change was a learning experience for us. We pledge to do better next year.
And I took my pillows with me.

[lizzie]

Had an excellent time at the shoot again this year- met many people that I didn't get to meet last year.
I got to shoot a lot of great  guns- much much fun. Thanks to all you guys who let me do that!
For any of you who couldn't make it- try to come next year. It's an excellent time for one and all!

[lloyd-ss]

The last night there, we found a nice little restaurant that had great food, reasonable prices, and a charming atmosphere.  I would highly recommend it for attendees next year.   Leaving the Ramada, take a right, away from the interstate, and go about 5 miles north to Warsaw KY.  You will come to a stoplight and "Jewell's on Main" is there on the right.  I had pork tenderloin medallions with apple glaze, red potatoes and caramelized onions, and Burke had blackened salmon with sauteed vegetables.  Delicious! A pleasant way to end a great weekend.
Lloyd-ss
 

[Meann-Machine]

A friend, who couldn't make it asked, "Was the show good?".  This was my reply, "Yes, but it was more of a get together and shoot than show.  I sent a lot of lead down field as did everyone else.  Most of all, however, it was a chance to meet those guys (& a few gals) you had bantered with over the years on the GTA forum. The opportunity the shoot provided to build camaraderie and forge friendships was priceless.  Next year’s dates are already set."

Good Job Guys

Craig

[Gary]

Thanks GTA .

 I have been around for a long time just don't post much due to my lack of typing skills. I only made it for Saturday and didn't pull one trigger but managed to put some faces to the names I have seen on here. I did manage to shoot the bull with a great bunch of guys and gals and that made it well worth the trip .
Easyman that little dab I handed to you wasn't near enough to repay what I have received from this great place . 10 times the amount wouldn't have been either.

Next year is marked and as long as the good lord is willing and the creeks don't rise .

Gary

[ezman604]

Gary, it was a pleasure and honor to meet you sir. That "little" bit was handed right to Cathy and made her speechless. The tears you saw in her eyes as I introduced you to her were tears of joy. It meant a lot to her....and me. Another time that just reinforces that this forum is full of the best people in the world.
Thank you my friend and we WILL see you next time!!!

[bubba zanetti]

So glad to hear it was such a blessed event for all!

BZ

[MichaelM]

Even though I haven't been posting much lately I have been a part of this forum for a LONG LONG time as a part of the original GTA and was back in within hours of the new GTA going live... I have spent thousands of hours in the chat room BS'ing and picking on (but mostly getting picked on) and being up to enough general tomfoolery(what happens in chat stay in chat lol!) to truly make everyone feel like family that I had never gotten to meet face to face... I had SO much fun at the shoot meeting face to face for the first time, people I have shared years of my life with online (especially Dez and David, Richard, Tyler,and Sis) and see some grow from kids to awesome adults(Tyler) got to meet people I have mad respect for(Lloyd and Tom) ... I got to Shoot guns I would never be able to touch.. I also met and made new friends and family from people I only knew in passing (ANY of you Jersey boys are ever over my way Y'all gotta place to crash!!) And to borrow some vernacular Joe... Sir you're a pisser! I got 6... no wait I need that dollar.. 5 bucks ANYTIME you wanna make a run at it LOL! Liz and Joel and every "dang" person there... Thanks for making it an amazing time!!!

Long story short.... all the new friends and family I made was well worth having to cut out early on sunday from my minor case of heatstroke/hangover...!!!

Hargis Thanks so much for putting up with us!! you was an amazing host I cant even start to say how awesome you and your lady was for all the things you did for EVERYONE..

And Dez.... I had tears in my eyes when you handed me that tank during the raffle! now no more having to hear you all giving me a hard time about pumping up my disco all the time!!!

And the million other things I have to say but don't have the literary talents to express..... Just Thank you to everyone for an amazing weekend!!!!

[lloyd-ss]

MichaelM, it was a real pleasure meeting you too, and your literary talents are first class!  So many unique characters there at the funshoot, and I gotta say that you are one big pile of boundless enthusiasm!  I bet that's the best "big pile of....." that you have been called lately... huh?  Lloyd

[bnowlin]

Cathy was there Dave?  That is absolutely Great.  I wish I wasn't so far away.
Bob

[ezman604]

Yessir Bob, she was. She said that half way there she had second thoughts. Didn't know if it was such a good idea. I told her I thought this was RIGHT where she needed to be. Not only did she need to go through this, but we needed each other to face this and get through it together. We had tears in our eyes several times over the last few days but mostly smiles. We leaned on each other throughout the event. Several folks looked to the skies and asked Gene to guide them as they pulled the trigger on either one of his airguns or one that he touched during his tuning days. She left with a great feeling of joy, pride and was glad she made the trip.
And the look on some of the members faces as I introduced her as CharlieDaTuna.com was priceless. HaaHaa
More than a few double takes.

[MichaelM]

MichaelM, it was a real pleasure meeting you too, and your literary talents are first class!  So many unique characters there at the funshoot, and I gotta say that you are one big pile of boundless enthusiasm!  I bet that's the best "big pile of....." that you have been called lately... huh?  Lloyd

LOL FACT!

When I am talking or sharing about something that "trips my trigger" enthusiastic is the NICE way of putting things!! You add together my Autism with something I am passionate about like shooting, throw in the excitement of meeting so many awesome people and bubbling over is an understatement!!!!! I can almost ALWAYS be counted on to provide hours of entertainment when I go into a manic phase like I was all weekend! and even happier you all was goofy enough to put up with me!!!

I seriously cant wait till next year!(fair warning!!)

[MichaelM]

Yessir Bob, she was. She said that half way there she had second thoughts. Didn't know if it was such a good idea. I told her I thought this was RIGHT where she needed to be. Not only did she need to go through this, but we needed each other to face this and get through it together. We had tears in our eyes several times over the last few days but mostly smiles.

EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE was so happy she was there... Not only that but myself and MANY people that I overheard expressed wishes that she would keep coming to the events in the future... I didn't talk to her much other then when we were discussing the triggers for a few seconds but I had a smile on my face every time I looked at her and just like now typing this, a few watery eyes.... Cathy always has been and always will be part of the family.... As far as I am concerned she is the Honorary Mom of all of us weirdo's!!