doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vintagers at Whittington for 2023

Old friends were missed, new friends were made. A spectacular pot-luck event on Friday night, a perhaps even-better breakfast event on Saturday morning, cool but clear weather, and a wonderful facility (as always) was truly enjoyed. Some new shotgun games were played (shockingly good fun!) and a good time was seemingly had by all. For two (or three for some) days, the problems of the world were forgotten and the subject of upland hunting, fine shotguns, good food, fine whiskey (& wine) and even good cigars was deeply focused upon. It's hard to be back in my chair, in my office today, thinking about it all. A summer event at Whittington would be a very nice follow-up.

I'll be at the Whitt for about 3 weeks in July this year. It's always the highlight of my summer.

Saw some really great guns this trip, a gorgeous, hi-condition and very-early Greener hammergun (again, an old friend), a 10-bore L.C. Smith hammergun, a semi-hammerless damascus gun (it's maker escapes me now) that was shot with authority during the dove flurry, a big (almost 8-lbs) long & straight-gripped E-grade Lefever ejector with 32-inch damascus tubes (that had been brought back from near-oblivion to beautiful function), and a 20-bore sidelever hammerless Grant that was stunning to behold and to handle. The dove flurry on Saturday has evolved into being a wonderful and challenging event, both entertaining to behold and humbling to participate-in. A lovely meal was served in the main dining hall on Saturday night and shotgun technica was discussed in-depth until the wee hours after. The next morning was mild and bright and the newest game (evolving out of "Crazy Skeet") was unfurled. As-of-yet unnamed and shot on the skeet field, it is a combination of skeet, trap and a random chandrelle being thrown across the front of the gunners (from beyond the high-house), and all at the determination of the mad-trapper running things. Shot in 3 teams of two shooters from the more-central 20-yard positions, three birds are thrown on-report, in varied succession, for each team (so 3 birds and 4 shells), and from all the available options presented. Teamwork is critical and a shooter's strengths need to be considered (for left & right positioning). Fast, intense, and darn-fun! For me, it fully imitates almost all the variables of actual field conditions and...I thoroughly enjoyed shooting it.

Nice mix of doubles for the dove flurry.



and some Vintagers have a different perspective...

BrentD: Three weeks in Whittington would be a wonderful escape from the world, but in July I'd guess that it would be pretty warm. Do they air condition the lodging options there?

Yes, they do refrigerate. however, at 6000 ft, it's not really that warm, and it's the Southwest where they don't really have a clue about Humidity, unlike the Midwest and Southeast.

I stay in a camper that a friend brings. We rarely use the AC. Sitting under the awning with a barley pop or a good G&T is pretty heavenly while we watch the monsoons sweep past. The there are the stars. Almost unbeatable.

I could post hundreds of pics. It's an awesome place.

BrentD. Prof: Wow, sounds pretty nice. Not hard for me to imagine that. It's always been a bit cooler when I've been there. You shoot mostly rifles or do you hit it all?

We shoot rifles in competition, Small Bore Sporting silhouette, NRA Western Nationals Lever Gun silhouette, .22 BPCRA Nationals Silhouette, International BPCR Silhouette Championship, in that order. All but the first are multiday affairs. On our off days or in the later afternoons or evenings, we shoot recreationally with other vintage rifles, misc. handguns, and then hit the sporting clays ranges with shotguns (when we aren't cooking up a storm). There are countless amazing custom, original, and restored rifles to be ogled as well. Life is sooooo good.


All of the rifle shooting is under canopies which negates a lot of the heat issue also, so it is very pleasant (usually), even in July.


[img]https://i.imgur.com/uIJQFde.jpg?1[/img]

Very nice!

Like the photos and that would be a very enjoyable stay. I had reservations last summer but had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. Maybe this summer……….. .