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Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

At the request of one of my fellow 16er's, I will ask that any Flatwater shooters please comment on their past experiences attending this wonderful venue in the midwest.

I know it is still early, but plans need to be made for those that want to attend. Perhaps your comments will fulfill the quest for knowledge these brothers might have.

Well, Brother Brent!

I'm NOT gonna say the Flatwater weekend is more fun than girls...no way! But I'd call it a fairly close second! Laughing

I will look forward to seeing you there once again this spring!

OSL

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Definitely has 16's, plus lesser gauges, and in all configurations although I guess I haven't seen any bolt-actions yet. It's held the last weekend in April at Grandpa's Sporting Acres near Syracuse, NE.

To my understanding the folks that got it started began with a call out on the Shooting Sportsman Bulletin Board. Nowadays they've moved to the http://www.notssmbbs.com/ Bulletin Board and nearly all the core participants are over there.

The event is a Sat-Sun shooting of 200 sporting clays targets, generally 100 each day but there's no holding shooters to that exact amount--more or less is up to you and there have been opportunities to shoot 5-stand. No scores are kept, so if you're used to bragging about what a wonderful shot you are that's okay so long as you just phone it home!! Not that good shooters don't show up, so if you're about as average as I am you can watch the better shots make some tough chances.

It's a good opportunity to see and maybe shoot some odd guns or even very pretty guns that you might have only heard about before. Last year I got a chance to shoot a Darne, the first one I've ever handled, and I've also shot a SxS hammer .410 and a SxS hammer 16 that indicated I might some day want a hammer gun (besides my M97). That's just skimming the surface.

There're lunches and on Saturday night a steak dinner; many participants bring a bottle of their favorite 80-proof or so to try out afterwards. Larry at Grandpa's annually arranges nearby hotel rooms for participants.

Weather can really vary. The first year was duck weather, last year was warm if not downright hot.

I hope it's permitted here to refer folks to another board, but details will follow at http://www.notssmbbs.com/

I don't take nearly as many pictures as I should, but someone's always got a camera and will post on the other boards as they process them.

Here are some from a couple of years ago, if for no other reason than to show that there are some trees in Nebraska! This is one of 4 I've found so far...

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

Atticus, you dog! I'm looking forward to seeing you and KGB, the Steve's,Terry,Tiny, and the whole gang. We're going to see some new faces this year and see some intresting guns as well. I had an interesting chat with Charles Hammack last night, and he promised to come with his info on the 3/4 oz wads as well as his ubiquitous Marlin 90. I only hope Revdocdrew can make it as well as Hal Hare.

Its shaping up nicely for this spring! Very Happy

*Last edited by brdhnt on Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:48 am; edited 1 time in total*

The week before Flatwater 2006, I had to take my daughter to Court and take her son (my Grandson) away from her. The court didn't give me custody and he went to live with my ex in Colorado.

The week before Flatwater 2007, I came home and found my 5 year old Brittany dead in the back yard from an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.

Despite these, Flatwater was a high point in my life both years and I will be back there this year no matter what happens the week before.

Great fun, great camaraderie and fantastic food and conversations.

TMB
________
B-CLASS

Terry, Ol' Boy!

Good to hear from you. Sorry about past traumas around Flatwater time, but real happy to hear you will be back this year.

I'll look forward to next seeing you at the shoot, unless you decide to come down earlier in April to help me chase down a couple of those ol' longbeard birds! Very Happy

OSL

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

Brdhnt, my friend, its good to hear you chime in here!! I'm looking forward to seeing you again. Very Happy

I will PM you.

Hello Folks :

I intend to attend this shoot with a few companions , if I can talk all of them into attending as well.

Looking forward to meeting ya all .

Regards Charles

http://www.notssmbbs.com/viewtopic.php?t=2468

Here is the offical Flatwater shoot info .

I will see you all there.

Regards Charles

Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 443

To me the highlite of the weekend is always the "Friday Night 30 Man Squad." As guys start arriving mid-afternoon on Friday, and since there's a SC course right there, it makes sense to go shoot. Not near enough time to shoot a full round with that many guys, so shoot until you break a pair and then exit the station to the cry of "Get Offa There!" Lots of kidding, gun swapping and trying, and lots of laughs.

I should add that the purpose of this shoot is to raise money to fund a neat program at Grandpa's Sporting Acres, KIDS UNDER 16 SHOOT FREE!! Since the grounds are in the country, mothers who drive their kids out shoot free as well. We raise enough during the Flatwater weekend to just about cover the expenses of this wonderful program.

sv

This does sound like a fun time. I love the rules.

Member Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 425 Location: Big D

I must look at more than the reloading section.

Where do I begin? Hello, my name is Tiny. I'm addicted to Flatwater, 'cuz it changed my life.

Just to see Hinck tell a story and the amount of Scotch Voss can drink and still stand up are worth the price of admission. Oh, and several hundred thousand dollars worth of guns. Tulsa gun show a distant second.

Mike

Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 443

Scott Hincker has asked all who are going to attend Flatwater 2008 to let him know. He is planning the food/steaks and doesn't want any one left short. He posts at www.notssmbbs.com under Stackbarrel16. If you're not registered there his email is sdhincker@alltel.net

Thanks,

sv

Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 972 Location: Keller,TX

Steve, it might be a 50 man squad this year!

It's fast approching , Ben and I will leave Sat. Morning to arrive in time for the shoot , it should be only 4 1/2 hrs. for us in drive time .

Now this is a bad weekend with the Little Rock Air Gun Show going on this weekend , I will be missing that and Turkey Season is going on as well , so all I have to say is you guys had better have lots of Jokes loaded up and ready for me as for making me miss the Air Gun Show.

Looking forward to meeting ALL YAALLLL .

Regards Charles