Shotgun Fun at Bull Run + Crabs at Quarterdeck

Today, NORSA members visited the Bull Run Shooting Center in Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. Four new shooters including NORSA members Justin Kahrl, Megan Sands, and Nora Hoffman, and NORSA initiate, Eddie Diaz, enrolled and fulfilled the required new shooters' course at the Park. The course, which typically lasts a couple of hours, covers not only everything from safety and firearm functionality but also how to shoot clays well and even includes some time on the range. After the lecture portion of the class concluded, the NVRPA shooting instructor took the four students to the skeet range to get a little hands on experience with the shotguns.

While the new shooters were in class, returning NORSA Shooting Sports Team veterans Matt White and Tom S joined up with darkhorse ringer Fred Kukelhaus to shoot some rounds of trap together. It was a beautiful for a shootout, with just a few clouds and plenty of sunshine. Fred took the first round in a blowout with a 50% accuracy rating hitting 12 of 25 clays, but really only out of 24 due to a gun jam. Tom took round two with 16 out of 25 after switching back to his old gun that he had to share with Matt since his new Mossberg 500 malfunctioned and needs tools to get fixed. Watch a short clip of Fred taking the final shot of the day below:

Altogether, great fun was had by all, but the fun was by no means over yet ... as the class let out and the trap shooters wrapped up, there was not enough time for an all-comers' shoot because Fred had reserved a table at the Quarterdeck for the whole gang. Forty-two fresh Maryland blue crabs were steamed with copious quantities of Old Bay seasoning and brought to the hungry shooters, along with some frosty pitchers of beer. Not a single crab was left uneaten and everyone needed a good, long shower afterward - a huge success by crab feast standards!

NORSA has not been back to the Bull Run Shooting Center since April of 2008, so stay on top of the NORSA Upcoming Events section as a new trip will be posted soon for late August or sometime in September because there's no reason something as fun as clay-shooting should only be done once a year!

NORSA Has a Blast at Bull Run Shooting Center

The Bull Run Shooting Center in Centreville, VA, saw the first NORSA-organized clay shooting event. Coordinated by the newly-formed NORSA Shooting Sports Team, experienced shooters and new-comers to the sport both gathered to enjoy a morning of exciting target breaking. The event was planned by NORSA co-founder Tom Saffell, who was joined by NORSA long-timers Matt White and Steve. NORSA new-comers and shooting enthusiasts Kurt Couchman, Jerker Taudien, and Greg Stathes joined Tom, Matt, and Steve for this event, as well. They couldn't have picked a more fun event for joining the NORSA team.












Despite colder than expected weather, Kurt, Matt, and Tom shot some rounds of skeet before Tom gave a quick safety course to the new shooters. After renting some very nice shotguns from the Shooting Center, Jerker, Steve, and Greg were introduced to the sport with a round of trap shooting. All of them shot extremely well and will certainly be coming back for more. For those who couldn't wait for more, namely Kurt, Tom, and Steve, the Bull Run Regional Park is home to one of the most difficult five-stand courses on the east coast with nine traps and three levels of course difficulty. After a great morning of shooting, the crew returned their rented firearms and broke for lunch before heading home.













The event was a great success overall. And, as the weather gets nicer, similar events to this one will be forthcoming for any interested people who may not have been able to come along. So check the NORSA Upcoming Events section often or join the mailing list to keep informed of these opportunities.