B2
Sports
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
S HOOTING THE B REEZE
Dealing
with recoil
By Dale Valade
For the Blue
Mountain Eagle
Let’s face it, no one
looks cooler than Snake
Plissken wielding twin
.44s or Harry Callahan
blazing away with a .458
magnum. The problem is,
looking “cool” does noth-
ing to mitigate heavy re-
coil. And, sadly for many
gun owners, looking cool
is the final deciding factor
in a gun purchase.
Many thousands of
guns are sold annually by
crafty salesmen with quo-
tas. There are a few people
that need a magnum. Then
there are the vast majority.
They have read a few out-
doors articles or talked to a
few macho friends who told
them that it was senseless
to buy a .270 or a .30-06 to
hunt with. One may have
to take a “long” shot! And
what about elk? They’re
apparently bulletproof! To
hear these “experts” tell it,
one should question their
sanity if caught with any-
thing less than a .300 mag-
num.
Don’t take me wrong,
the various magnums are
quite useful and effective.
But the deadliest thing in
any case is a first-shot kill.
If you can’t hit it, all the
nearby shrapnel will only
serve for proverbial con-
fetti on your animal’s exit
parade.
A cool head will kill
more elk, grizzlies and ele-
phants every time. You gain
this attribute through prac-
tice; you’ll practice a lot
more if you’re not afraid of
your rifle.
Recoil tolerances are de-
veloped over time. As we
get older and shoot bigger
and bigger guns, it grows. If
you’re honest with yourself,
you’ll take each rifle on an
individual basis, regardless
of caliber. Everyone has a
“peak recoil tolerance.” A
lot of different factors go
into this, but typically a cal-
iber is the designation.
Wherever you have
peaked, if you want to move
to the next level, it’s time
to refine your fundamental
shooting
skills. Trig-
ger squeeze,
breath con-
trol
and
sight align-
ment
are
Dale
key. Allow
Valade
recoil
to
happen be-
fore you attempt to oper-
ate the action or to look at
your intended target. Avoid
pouncing on the trigger. A
smooth, consistent squeeze
should be your goal. Make
each shot you take a quality
production.
Recoil mitigation isn’t
only about form. A qual-
ity recoil pad is worth its
weight in gold, and the
shoulder pad rigs work
well at the range. The Cald-
well Lead Sled is also a
fine product for use on the
bench. If all else fails, you
can have a muzzle break in-
stalled. Be sure to plug your
ears.
Spend time shooting
from field positions. While
a bench rest is the best way
to sight in your rifle, it’s
also the best place to devel-
op a flinch. Due to your po-
sition, you absorb the most
recoil from a bench rest.
Sight in that rifle and then
practice from prone, sitting,
kneeling and standing.
On the same token, if
you are feeling a flinch
coming on, then perhaps
it might behoove you to
drop down a notch or two
in caliber — you know,
just to see if the flinch fol-
lows. A sure way to know
is to have a friend load
your gun for you at the
range next time. By inter-
mixing empties with live
rounds, they will catch
your flinch.
When previously good
guns suddenly “go bad,”
the first thing you should
check is you! You may
be surprised. Love shoot-
ing the big guns? Have
any ideas for articles you
would like to see? Con-
tact us at shootingthebree-
zebme@gmail.com!
Dale Valade is a local
country gent with a deep
love for handloading,
hunting and shooting.
HOLIDAY
Like none other, don’t miss it!
Prepare to be wowed.
• Old world and unique ornaments
• Lighted villages and accessories
• Musical pieces and lights
• Table Top Thomas Kinkade Collectables
• No junk or tinsel - Quality items only!
Nov. 2-3, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Keerins Hall, 413 Bridge St., John Day
86239
h
ur table wit ts
o
y
e
t
a
r
o
c
De
ustom Mea
C
’s
ll
e
s
s
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Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Tackling Weston-McEwen quarterback Kellen McGill are Grant Union’s Tanler Fuller and Russell Hodge (7) with Devon
Stokes (52) and Taylor Hunt (27) running to assist.
FOOTBALL
Continued from Page B1
Grant Union came out on
fire in the third.
Prospector Isaiah Hago-
pian made a fair catch at
kickoff near midfield. On
the drive, blockers allowed
Russell Hodge, Justin Hodge
and Hunt to push toward the
goal line.
Lenz scored a touchdown
as well as the 2-point con-
version on keepers, to give
Grant Union their 16-0 lead.
Weston-McEwen had a
fourth-down conversion on
their next drive, but on their
next fourth down, Prospector
defensive lineman Drew Lus-
co was key in a big stop.
Grant Union took the ball
back at their own 17-yard
line.
Near the end of the fourth,
the Prospectors recovered the
TigerScots’ missed snap.
As the seconds wound
down, Grant Union had a
fourth-down
conversion
when Lenz found an opening
for a big gain.
“That last play got us a
first down and sealed the
deal. We ran the clock out
Grant Union receiver Justin Hodge gains yards in Friday night’s game against Weston-
McEwen.
then,” Miller said. “It was a
gutsy effort.”
“Drew as always is just
tough inside on both sides of
the ball,” Miller added. “Our
linebackers stepped up and
were making plays. Garrett
Lenz, he just at times puts us
on his shoulders — made it
happen.”
Lenz said he was happy
with the team’s performance.
“We knew it was going to
be a tight game, and we just
went out there and showed
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Long Creek/Ukiah
volleyball team overcame
setbacks to sweep Hunting-
ton 25-15, 26-24 and 25-18
Oct. 18 in Long Creek.
The win added to the
excitement of homecom-
ing day and senior day for
the Long Creek and Ukiah
schools.
“It was a good ending
for our season,” said Long
Creek/Ukiah head coach
Linda Studtmann. “Obvi-
ously, spirits were high,
and we got everybody out
there.”
Co-coach Regan En-
riquez said it was an emo-
tional game as it was the
last of the season for the
team including seniors
Gladys Johnson, Jenny Lee
and Alea Douglass who has
been out with an injury.
“Today wasn’t just about
the game or winning,” En-
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Long Creek/Ukiah sophomore Elizabeth Gulden passes
the ball, backed up by Jenny Kim.
riquez said. “Today was
about them having fun and
our last game with these
seniors. ... They’re real-
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Saturday November 10, 9am-4pm
Mt. Vernon Grange Hall
We encourage you to come out and
support the grange and all the vendors
for the Christmas Bazaar.
Serving: Stew with fresh baked rolls,
pies, cakes and cookies.
Eat lunch here or take it home for dinner.
87113
235 N. Canyon City Blvd.
Canyon City • 541-575-0720
with a 5-4 overall record and
3-1 in 2A Special District
6. Over the season, they’ve
scored 202 points and al-
lowed 166 points.
Monroe is ranked No.
1 with an 8-1 overall re-
cord and 5-0 in 2A Special
District 3. Over the season,
they’ve scored 328 points
and allowed 123 points.
Early in the season, Grant
Union hosted Monroe in
John Day, the Dragons taking
a 20-8 win.
Long Creek/Ukiah sweeps Huntington for senior day
Located across from Holliday State Park on HWY 26
“It’s worth the extra mile”
them how to play some foot-
ball,” he said. “A big shout-
out to the linemen, yet again.
They did some good blocking
up front to get us the runs that
we needed to pound the ball
into the touchdown.”
The win means Grant
Union finished second in the
2A Special District 6, behind
Heppner — the top two in
the district moving on to the
playoffs.
Grant Union is ranked No.
17 among OSAA’s 2A teams
87243
ly close to each other —
they’re just a family here.”
Long Creek/Ukiah’s big-
gest comeback came in the
second set when they were
down 12-4
Sophomore Jammy San-
thob’s aces brought Long
Creek/Ukiah out of the red
to tie the score 12-12.
The teams continued
back and forth until Long
Creek/Ukiah pulled ahead
for the 2-point win.
Studtmann said she
played athletes who hadn’t
had time on the court in the
set.
“We made mistakes, but
they didn’t let it get them
down, and they were sup-
portive of each other,” she
said.
Johnson said the team
bonded well over the season
and she would miss playing
volleyball with them.
When
asked
how
they overcame adversi-
ty in the match, she said,
“We just get our three in,
and we have good atti-
tudes and work with each
other.”
Tis the Season of Giving, and that’s why Friday
businesses are encouraging you to give, non
parishable food items that is. Bring your non
parishable food items and exchange them for raffle
tickets! But wait, there is more ways to earn even
more raffle tickets, plus there’s no limit to the amount
of tickets you can earn! All food will be donated to a
local food bank and the winner of our raffle will get
a gift basket with items from Dairy Queen, Eastern
Oregon Realty, 1188 Brewing Company, A Flower
Shop N More, Etc., Java Jungle, and House to Home,
just to name a few! Grab your friends and enjoy a
night out for a good cause! First Friday!
This Friday, 6 to 9PM, downtown John Day!
86900