11th Annual Ruger Forum East Coast Gathering: Wrap-up!

[contender]

Well folks,, October is just around the corner,, and once again, we'll be hosting the Ruger Forum East Coast Gathering.
When; October 1-3, 2021
Where; Hawkeye Gun Range. 2373 Owl Hollow Rd. Mill Spring NC
What; Just a fun social gathering of folks, who enjoy firearms,, & not just Rugers. Open to any & all who wish to visit, NOT just Forum members or lurkers. Anybody who enjoys shooting,, socializing with like minded folks, and even sampling a little good eating.

For the past attendees,, they know the general activities.
But for new folks,, here's what happens.
Friday,, folks start arriving,, and they gather at my house. (Just past the range,, on the left.)
Friday is a social thing.
Saturday,, we gather at the range,, do some shooting,, share our toys, lay some out for admiration, & in general, socialize & shoot for most of the day. In the early evening, we put on a "Low Country Boil" for supper.
Sunday, most folks begin heading home,, but some do hang around & visit some more.

Any questions,, please PM me,, or post here please.

Mods; Please make this a "Sticky!"

 

[jimd441]

Thank you - I'm planning to attend.

Jim

 

[Kevin]

Yahoo!!
I just made my reservations at the Carter Lodge over in Chimney Rock. Their prices have gone up, but it's still fairly reasonable ($130) per night. Coming back from Santa Fe, we stayed in Childress, Texas, which is a tiny town in the middle of nowhere and it was that much for a dumpy room no less.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing everyone. :D Especially after not being able to drive out last year with that stupid Covid.

 

[gramps]

Thank you Contender and Ms Penny for the time and effort y’all put into this yearly event! I will be there! I look forward to meeting old friends and make new ones too.
gramps

 

[RoninPA]

Jackie and I will be there, got to bring Miss Penny her birthday cake :D

Don't know what to bring to shoot, maybe I'll bring a few quiet toys for people to try out.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Need to talk to the wife we may try this year I miss you guys. Gramps I’ll let you know what the plan is but we may go on to Columbia SC. After the gathering and visit friends for a few days.

 

[Big Old Boy]

On second thought I can’t make it just remembered having my top teeth removed end of September probably won’t feel like making the trip, I was excited till I remembered the dentist appointment now I’m not looking forward to it.

 

[contender]

BoB,, I'll just tell Miss Penny that you said her food was too tough to chew,,,,,,!

:D :D :D

 

[Kevin]

Ron:
Hey, you and your wife suggested a restaurant in Sevierville TN. What was the name of that restaurant? I'm going to stop there on Thursday night. Was it a dinner or breakfast place? I can't remember.

 

[RoninPA]

Kevin,
The name of the place is Apple Barn. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then, when your're done go down to the other end to their store to get some of their great apple butter, they also have a winery and feature some good apple based wines. We stop every time we go and will be in that area Sept 29 and 30 and then head to the Gathering on Oct 1.

 

[gramps]

BoB,, I'll just tell Miss Penny that you said her food was too tough to chew,,,,,,!

:D :D :D

Oh my! That is a good one Contender!!! Bob, I am sorry to hear about that dentist appointment. Hang in there!
gramps

 

[Kevin]

Ron:
Thanks for the name of the restaurant. I’ll plan on stopping there. I also wanted to go to the Smokey Mountain Knife shop.

Also: here is a request, perhaps Contender might be able to help… Earlier this year before I spent all my gun budget, I had thought about a 1911 in 45 acp. I had one years ago but sold it. If someone has a 1911 in 45, I’d love to shoot it. I will bring some ammunition. I’d really like to shoot a couple different 1911’s with different sights and triggers, to see what’s best.

The 1911 I had was a basic mil-spec Amscor, which had a pretty heavy trigger and poor sights. It wasn’t very enjoyable to shoot. I was thinking of getting something nicer, but could not figure out what.

I’ll splurge on a couple boxes of ammo to bring with me.

 

[blume357]

I've got a basic Springfield one that I'll bring for you to shoot... I have not shot it in years... It's a really nice all stainless one... now I have to go look at it....I might have changed out the grips on it not sure.


Edit:
I thought I edited this yesterday... checked my 1911... it has some Hogue rubber combat grips with finger grooves... that I like ... the only thing is the dern trigger takes 6.5lbs of pull which seems insane to me for a single action handgun... I may have to figure out how to fix this.

 

[RoninPA]

Kevin, Sent you a PM. I will bring a a suppressed Ruger SR1911 for people to try out.

 

[Gator89]

Kevin,
The name of the place is Apple Barn. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then, when your're done go down to the other end to their store to get some of their great apple butter, they also have a winery and feature some good apple based wines. We stop every time we go and will be in that area Sept 29 and 30 and then head to the Gathering on Oct 1.

The shrimp & grits at the Apple Barn is tasty when I dined there a few years ago.

The Old Mill is good, too.

 

[contender]

I too have a few 1911's you can try out Kevin. No problems in that dept.

 

[blume357]

Kevin.... I was just thinking... it you are coming from Texas and happen to be coming through Georgia you might want to recon how to get to Georgia Arms and drop by there. If you chose to come that way I would not mind sending you some money to pick up some ammo from them. They pretty much reload spent brass from military bases and I've been buying from them for years at our local gun show... but the last year of course has been different. You can buy factory reloads from them in bulk 250, 500 and 1000 rounds usually in 30 cal ammo cans. Their 115 grain 9mm is pretty much my practice ammo.

 

[Kevin]

Blume:
Sorry, I would stop there, only driving through TN on the way to NC seems to be a little bit faster, plus I do like to stop in Sieverville.

The road from Birmingham Alabama to Texas is pretty dry and boring. Actually it seems most interstates through TX are dry and boring.

 

[blume357]

That drive across TN is Looooooong... but you are probably right... if you went by Georgia Arms you would have to go around Atlanta and I really don't wish that on anyone....

 

[contender]

No,, Atlanta driving is a real PIA! I avoid it all all costs whenever possible.

 

[contender]

Well, yesterday,,Miss Penny & I took advantage of a rare Saturday when we didn't have anything going on.
We drove to Pigeon Forge Tn for the day.
A quick stop in BASS PRO to refund something & allow us a bathroom break. Next was on the a Thomas Kincade art gallery. Penny likes his stuff.

From there,, we decided to take Ron & Jackie's advice & try out the Apple Barn for lunch!
I'm a hearty eater & often get disappointed at the quantity of food served. But they fed us well! And the food was very good.
I too can recommend it as a place to eat. Quantity AND quality. So, for those considering it,, try it out!

 

[Kevin]

Hey, I'm also bringing my newest 357. It's the 3 inch 7 shot model. I've only had it to the range twice, but I'm not too impressed with the accuracy. I had it out today, and left to right, my shots were all great, but vertically they were all over the target. This was at 10 yards. I tried 3 different handloads, a mix between 2400 and W296.

I'd like someone else to shoot it and see what they think as well.

 

[contender]

Bring it on,, we'll give it a workout!

 

[jimd441]

Speaking of .357s, I'll bring my 6 in. stainless GP-100 and ammo for us to shoot, as well as some other Rugers.

Jim

 

[Colonialgirl]

Well, sad to say; I may not make it to this great event this year ! Money is one i$$ue along with an uncertainty that I will have someone to look after my dog during the days that I am up there.
I'd bring him with me, but he does not like loud noises including very very distant thunder, far away fireworks or distant gun fire. last year my son stayed here at the house, but he is in a very active search for a job and by October may not be available. Shucks !!
I ALWAYS look forward to the GATHERING and all the great people I meet there.

Addendum:
Yeah, I know, I COULD put him in a local kennel BUT I got him just last year from the Humane Scoiety adoption place and I DO NOT want to subject him to something he might assume to be the samething again.

 

[contender]

We'll miss you & if anything changes,, you KNOW you are welcome!

 

[blume357]

I brought my 'work' dog a couple of events back and he was not happy, spent the day shivering in my van and so I understand.
I'm still planning to come if I'm able to walk next weekend. I'm laid up right now with a really bad knee injury from this past weekend at a Chimney Sweep Gathering down on Lake Murray in S.C. I did something to it while just kneeling and it got worse over the next few days... finally broke down and went to the doctor on Wednesday and now I'm on steroids.... I can stand up and walk but if I do too much the Knee and lower leg swells up and hurts like a mother. Seems I damaged the bursa in my knee .... the good news is nothing the docs can do... just take it easy and let it heal.... I thought last night it was getting much better and decided to put some weight on it while getting in bed... BOY HOWDIE! Did it hurt! the really frustrating part is all the work that is piling up.... there is a message in this somewhere....
but I am still planning to show up on Saturday... just might have to spend most of the day sitting....
I'll also try to bring a cooler of beverages & water if I can manage it.

 

[contender]

Hey, what a better way to relax than around friends & discussing shooting,, even if we can't do our normal "stage" of shooting. You can fly the drone from a chair too! :D

 

[contender]

Just a reminder, (If any of y'all have missed it,) The East Coast Gathering is this coming weekend! The weather forecast looks great too!
Looking forward to seeing folks arrive!

 

[gramps]

Thanks, coming in Friday PM. Bringing you something from Short Mtn same as last year!
gramps