Kilted Sporting Clays

Today, I went kilted to an informal sporting clays tournament as a fundraiser for local LA Representative Dorothy Sue Hill.

My goals were simple: don’t suck, and finish in the top half of shooters.

I accomplished both goals. I didn’t suck, but I didn’t cover myself in glory, either. Made some stupid mental errors, and wound up with 33/50. If I shot as well as I am capable of shooting, 40/50 would have easily been within reach, which would have put me second overall.

The top scorer shot 43/50, and my 33/50 put me 9th out of 50 shooters.

It was an informal affair, but there were a surprising number of expensive guns present, mostly Beretta and Benelli semi-autos, a few Brownings, and a bunch of nice O/U shotguns. Only me and one other shooter ran pump shotguns.

I learned a few things:

1. Stop rushing my first shot. I dropped at least five easy shots due to lack of patience.
2. I was the only guy wearing a kilt, as expected. Got to talk to lots of folks about Kilted to Kick Cancer, though.
3. I run a pump as fast as most people run semi-autos. Now, if I had only run it less fast and more accurately, I’d have brought home a prize.

Openly carried sidearms were about as common as sunglasses and cargo shorts, and drew about the same level of attention. God, I love the South.

It was an enjoyable day, the kind I need to have more often. Picked up $30 in donations for KTKC, too.

It was nice to meet Mrs. Hill, and I wish her good luck in her re-election campaign.