The longrange Rendezvous / VaporTrailValley

[david kieffer]

This match was a blast . thank you Tome , sara and all that were involved .

 

[Rat Rifle]

I bet that bus rides like a dream Stanley

 

[DHuffman]

Short bus LOL

 

[Ga. Dawg]

Wow, what a great time we had. TomE and Sara did an excellent job preparing for this event. It was practically flawless from start to finish which is amazing with it being the first of its kind! We can’t Thank the whole Vapor Trail crew enough, y’all are Awesome!
See ya next year,
Mike

 

[Bc'z]

Sitting at home watching from the sidelines, I really enjoyed the daily updates on stats and photos.
Talking with Zack and looking at pictures from the match it has been determined that I have the perfect God given form and physique to be a benchrest shooter.

Who is Buzzy? It's my understanding he scored the paint job. Looking forward to fulfilling this prize for him.

 

[Mulligan]

Sitting at home watching from the sidelines, I really enjoyed the daily updates on stats and photos.
Talking with Zack and looking at pictures from the match it has been determined that I have the perfect God given form and physique to be a benchrest shooter.

Who is Buzzy? It's my understanding he scored the paint job. Looking forward to fulfilling this prize for him.

 

[Bc'z]

View attachment 1262713

Handsome fella, we sport the same hair style, I do believe my figure is a little fuller tho.

 

[Northridge]

Wow!!, what a trip, myself Jenny and Trystan just made it home just 0ver 2800 miles ,where to begin, its hard after a ten day adventure to such a special place. to articulate what I want to say can be a challenge, the introvert in me I suppose. Vapor Trail and the group that looks after her Tom-E Sara and extended family really cherish what they have created and how competitors feel while shooting and after pulling away from the experience. I have competed in many matches & Ranges around our country and what touched me most was there ability to be so "By Partisan " in every respect while hosting a match. from making you feel welcome in every respect truly as if you have hung with them for a life time even though we haven't. shooters having fun even while getting edged out of a relay or even the day while cheering one another on while states came over the monitor. the Monitor was like a prize fight for 3 days as states would roll out as the day pushed on. 8-16 target agg really saturates the field in regard to less day or time of days favoritism I really liked that. Having the top 14'er shoot off as a added bonus really kept myself and the crew focused on the ball all three days, I loved that and to make the top 14 Cut was like chasing my first girl friend very exciting Lol.
to make the top 14 was well.. not sure I can express how it felt, short of I truly was shooting with some big hitters that I truly have learned to look up to. true champions from the north west, North East, mid West and the South all point. to not only show up and run some lanes with some of the country's best but to perform soundly was and will be satisfying for a spell.. I will be back to maybe knock some paint off the middle of those plates LOL.. thank you Little yamaha generator for running" wide open "eating up over 30+ gallons of gasoline feeding air conditioner the go go to keeep the camper cool and this chubby Little Viking alive..Lol

 

[jvw2008]

I felt like I was reading my own thoughts when going through Shawn’s last post. The Rendezvous was the tenth match of my short BR career - I’m a late starter at 72!
My purpose for attending was directed at getting to know a few of the folks I’ve been reading about over the last few years. I was totally impressed with the whole Vapor Trail experience, but especially so, with the “big name” folks who just accepted me as another shooter and treated me with immediate respect and friendliness. We are blest to compete in such a hospitable atmosphere. When it finally dawned on me that I was sitting in the Super 7, it was a surreal experience that I will always cherish. I’ve worked hard over the last year to hone my skills, but I know my rewards were built on a product from one of the best gunsmiths in our nation. Thank you Shawn Williams for your exquisite work and mentoring.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Im trying to get into a position to be able to attend more matches next year. This one is on top of the list for me. I like the 2 yardages which seems to challenge you a little more if you usually only shoot one. The tuning days before the match are excellent, that should be mandatory. A lot of great shooting was done, Im really impressed by some of the guys that traveled across the country pre loaded and shot well. Those are good barrels and tunes to hold up like that. Hope to make this match next year.

 

[Mulligan]

Im trying to get into a position to be able to attend more matches next year. This one is on top of the list for me. I like the 2 yardages which seems to challenge you a little more if you usually only shoot one. The tuning days before the match are excellent, that should be mandatory. A lot of great shooting was done, Im really impressed by some of the guys that traveled across the country pre loaded and shot well. Those are good barrels and tunes to hold up like that. Hope to make this match next year.

This year, I went pre-loaded with everything seated long. Having a tuner helped a bunch, however it would have helped more if I was closer to tune. Dropping 4000 feet in elevation and gaining a bunch of humidity was a fairly substantial change in air density. Not saying it was good or bad, but can say the load shot differently in MO than it did in Western CO. I do plan on bringing all my stuff and utilizing the tuning days in 2022.
CW

 

[Alex Wheeler]

My tune changes driving 3 hours to Missoula, sometimes a LOT. Id love to see a match like short range where theres time to load between targets but it would have to be a longer match. Like I said, Im super impressed by the guys that pre loaded and were competitive. A tuner would at least give you another way of fixing an out of tune rifle. I watched Leo Anderson keep his rifle in tune most of the time only on seating, he was always competitive. Powder works better for me, but it makes for a long match when your first target shows your out of tune and you cant fix it.

 

[Mulligan]

Alex, I agree.

It was fun and super informative to watch the masters of this game deal with their out of tune rifles. Some of the stuff used to bring it back was obviously based on years of experience. Stuff I wouldn't have tried at a match if I hadn't seen the improvement these guys were getting from it. Trust me, I was taking notes.
I will likely not attend another match away from this parched piece of real-estate without my scale and press.
Learned a bunch.
CW

 

[Tonto]

Sorry it took a couple of days to thank every one, after a week and a half off I had to play a lot of catch up at work. It was worth it! looking forward to doing it again! Thanks TomE and Sara for your hospitality and the Vapor Trail crew for everyone's hard work to make this the best event I've participated in. Thanks to all who donated their value time and products as prizes! looking forward to chatting with Brett. Thank you for your support.
Thank ya
Buzzy

 

[jvw2008]

Sorry it took a couple of days to thank every one, after a week and a half off I had to play a lot of catch up at work. It was worth it! looking forward to doing it again! Thanks TomE and Sara for your hospitality and the Vapor Trail crew for everyone's hard work to make this the best event I've participated in. Thanks to all who donated their value time and products as prizes! looking forward to chatting with Brett. Thank you for your support.
Thank ya
Buzzy

Buzzy you are in for a treat! I have two of his rifles- they just don’t come better!! Take the time to think up something that will be really special to you. Brett will make it happen.

 

[Northridge]

I felt like I was reading my own thoughts when going through Shawn’s last post. The Rendezvous was the tenth match of my short BR career - I’m a late starter at 72!
My purpose for attending was directed at getting to know a few of the folks I’ve been reading about over the last few years. I was totally impressed with the whole Vapor Trail experience, but especially so, with the “big name” folks who just accepted me as another shooter and treated me with immediate respect and friendliness. We are blest to compete in such a hospitable atmosphere. When it finally dawned on me that I was sitting in the Super 7, it was a surreal experience that I will always cherish. I’ve worked hard over the last year to hone my skills, but I know my rewards were built on a product from one of the best gunsmiths in our nation. Thank you Shawn Williams for your exquisite work and mentoring.

Jerry, thanks for the kind words glad I could be a small part of your success over the last 2 years. through much conversation over the phone you have taken and developed your own style. like I said to you pre-match don't be bothered by who "shows up" just shoot like your at home Lol.. I think you did just that well done it was a really fun ride.

Shawn Williams

 

[Carden260]

My tune changes driving 3 hours to Missoula, sometimes a LOT. Id love to see a match like short range where theres time to load between targets but it would have to be a longer match. Like I said, Im super impressed by the guys that pre loaded and were competitive. A tuner would at least give you another way of fixing an out of tune rifle. I watched Leo Anderson keep his rifle in tune most of the time only on seating, he was always competitive. Powder works better for me, but it makes for a long match when your first target shows your out of tune and you cant fix it.

7mm Shehane in an F-class Rifle was my key to success, one of those 6 groove Blake Barrel and Machine barrels seemed to hold a tuneup. Next year I will load at the range and get a good tune with my BR rifle. Still an amazing weekend and I feel fortunate to shoot with such a talented group of shooters.
Jason

 

[Alibaba]

I will also be loading from now on at every match I go to.
Al. B

 

[Ga. Dawg]

Damn that was a fun time!

 

[Terry]

Damn that was a fun time!

Great seeing all Ya'll again .