DFW get-together was a BLAST! Planning for next one now!

[Pawpaw]

I think Hoi Polloi did a great job at setting this up. I would like to thank her again, her husband and TAM. Husband polloi helped my wife shoot a couple mags from my .45 while I watched the kid and TAM let my wife shoot some from his .380. Sorry I could not stay for lunch had errands to run up in Plano.

Sadly on my way to Elm Fork I was pulled over by Irvings finest for doing 75 in a 60. He was a very formal guy and was not happy with me when he return to my car I had my arms crossed and hands were not visible(wife was lecturing me about speeding) so he stood there and gave me a stern look until I realized why, his comment was "you already told me you have a gun don't make me more nervous, which is understandable. So now I have a fine to take care of. Oh and to make matters worse today was my wifes birthday and guess what I forgot.

Oh man I'm sorry to hear about that. That's what you call a day you should've stayed in bed!

[5thGenTexan]

Great way to start off my birthday, blow off a few boxes of ammo, meet some good like minded folks, and have Mexican food. Thanks Hoi for putting it together. Enjoyed putting faces with some of the names and personalities.

[Hoi Polloi]

I had a blast today! I can't wait for the next one! I'm going to start planning it now!

Do you know what someone gave me?! A CHL TIARA!!! And it is CUTE!!! I am SO excited! It made my day! (Note to suthdj: sorry about your rough day! Maybe a tiara will help your wife feel better?)

I've heard everything from doing this again next weekend to once a month to once a year. I'm thinking once a quarter would be good. We can have a big annual day at one quarterly get-together. I'm thinking the one on the opposite side of the year from the PSC forum day.

What do you guys want to see? Here are some rough thoughts I had, but they'll be much better with your input. I had such a blast with such good people! THANK YOU!! I'll get those pictures that I announced would be posted up a little later tonight along with one of my tiara.

October: I'm thinking that following the more unorganized and member-led July day (see below), we'll have a good idea of what works and what's being sought and we can do a schedule of things that are all outside and firing-line focused in the nice weather. Some skills and drills, some competitions, some mentoring. Having a schedule and flow that meets diverse needs is what I'm primarily thinking of.. I'm thinking very roughly analogous to a car show type atmosphere, except for the showing off cars part. Well, we could do that, too, if you wanted. I SO want to have a CHL costume contest! It would be a blast to have some white elephant type prizes and some real good prizes!

January: I'm thinking it could be cold. The last five years had the high at 43, 54, 68, 48, and 73F for Jan. 29. We'd probably want to plan retreats into a club house into the day so a strict schedule wouldn't be so great--more like stations that people could rotate between at their own pace with some being indoor, maybe? Member to member sale? Reloading demonstration? Hot drinks in the club house with several seminar type options? I'm thinking like visiting Williamsburg in the winter--gorgeous, but you need opportunities to pop in and warm up. Any other ideas? Maybe this month could be a service project? I had an idea for one type of seminar or we could do an Eddie Eagle program or something else. Ideas?

April: Full day w/ seminars & clinics, etc like the PSC forum day in October.

July: Casual. Have an idea or want to try something? This is an opportunity to make it happen. Come and go rifle, pistol, and shotgun. Skeet shooting. Texas Star. Whatever you want! Largely unorganized or member-initiated for what happens.

OK, so how should we change the above to make it better?

[OldCannon]

Now I'm jealous. I should see if AustinRealtor wants to organize this for the Austin area.

(Like how I volunteered him to do this? )

[Beiruty]

I suggest to have a day at Dallas Pistol Club, a Personal Protection Match or Real World Gun are tons of fun!

[suthdj]

Great way to start off my birthday, blow off a few boxes of ammo, meet some good like minded folks, and have Mexican food. Thanks Hoi for putting it together. Enjoyed putting faces with some of the names and personalities.

BTW I was shooting next to you.

[suthdj]

Hoi
I think a weekend campout thing at Tac-pro would be nice either in the spring or fall.


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[age_ranger]

Sorry all, I missed it due ot knee surgery but am anxious to go to the next one!!

[jimlongley]

Sorry all, I missed it due ot knee surgery but am anxious to go to the next one!!

My kneee surgery was in August, but it still kicks up, especially after a day at work, that I had to skip today also, but there's always next time.

[The Annoyed Man]

Well I had a pretty good time today, but unfortunately, I didn't get to spend much time with everyone else. The friend I was teaching to shoot required most of my attention. I got most of my shooting in after everyone else had already headed to the restaurant. Her asking me to take her shooting was kind of a last minute thing, and I hadn't planned on having to do that; but whenever someone asks me to teach them, I follow through. The more shooters we have, the better off we are.

Whoever it was who offered me a chance to shoot their P220, I'd love to take you up on that another time. I just had too many things going on, which is why I declined when you offered.

Also, whichever of you besides AndyC who shot my M1A, do NOT blame me if you now go out and buy one of your own. You know you wanted one anyway. You can't pin that one on me!

[dessl]

Thank you Polloi family for setting up the get together. I had great time today! I got to start the day smoking targets with some great people and then I finished the day hanging out with my family at the park on a beautiful day.

[lonewolf]

A PHENOMENAL day!! The boys and I had a great time! Many thanks to Excalibur, TAM, AndyC and others for sharing their firearms. Thanks to Excalibur for giving my youngest some pointers and tips as well! He was really appreciative and said his shooting improved immediately!

Thanks, Hoi, for taking the time and making the effort to get it all set up! A great outing with a group of great people!

And for TAM, that M1A is a great firearm, but I can never blame you if I bust my budget in the future. It'll be my fault. There were others at the range as well that were allowing us to share weapons. My boys got to shoot a Glock and a Mosin-Nagant as well. I've never had the "Glock vs. All Others" type of discussion with them, and they both reported to me that the weapon "felt weird" and they preferred my Beretta. I am not one to argue.....

Now having experienced both Quail Creek and Elm Fork, I see exactly what TAM was discussing earlier. Universes apart.....Not only in organizaion, but in facilities as well. It was also nice to try out my little 12ga after they safety repairs I did to it. Shot flawlessly. The guys next to me with the little black gun saw me plop the little shotty up on the table and said "OMG, what is that? A cannon?" They were definitely impressed even more when it went off with a resounding "BOOM!" and the target had a big, ugly hole in it.

The Lonewolf boys have a new appreciation for the realities of some of the guns they have been shooting on video games and what they see in the movies as well. They had quite a discussion on how ridiculous it was to shoot rapid fire and all the bullets go into the same place, or just how heavy some of these guns are. They also said there was no way they were ever going to shoot the shorty shooty with one hand as it was all they could do to control it with two, and they are not small kids. That was with 2-3/4 inch slugs. I told them next time we'd take it out somewhere and put some 3" magnum through it....

Excalibur, the boys were really impressed with the Kimber, and I think we have some more 1911 converts on our hands. More than once they would come to me and say, "Dad, when are we going to get one of those?"

Of course, we cleaned everything upon returning home. A neighbor came over to visit as we were doing this and saw our little arsenal laid out on the table in the garage. He's known my boys since they were much smaller and was very impressed with how grown up they have become.

Edit to add: Now I have to restock on ammo as well! The boys left me less than a box of 9mm FMJ, and my SD loads. OK, I may have had a hand in that as well, but it was a good price to pay for a really good time!!!!

[Diesel42]

Thanks Hoi Polloi!

I had a great time and I'm glad you enjoyed the tiara.
Pam and I had to leave early so we missed lunch. And, I'm getting hard of hearing so talking with muffs on is a real challenge. Next time, we will stay for the whole shebang so I can talk to folks.

Next time, maybe we can use the clubhouse as a social place and folks can muff up and go shoot when we ain't chatting and socializing.
It was great to meet all the folks that I did. The name tags worked great Hoi. I'm looking forward to doing this again
Happy Trails! N

[dicion]

Now I'm jealous. I should see if AustinRealtor wants to organize this for the Austin area.

(Like how I volunteered him to do this? )

Wait, we can do that?

I volunteer USA1 to organize something in the NW Houston Area

[4copas]

Thanks Hoi and family for getting a great bunch of folks together, can't wait till next time. Thanks to all that let me shoot your guns. Thanks Excaliber for some great tips. I really enjoyed meeting all of you. We definitely put a lot of lead down range together followed by a perfect lunch social time. Sorry to those who couldn't make it, hope to see you next time.