StarReloaders.com Discussion Forum

Star Reloaders Discussion Forums => Survey Says... => Topic started by: NYKenn on July 27, 2009, 12:13:57 pm

Title: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on July 27, 2009, 12:13:57 pm
Curious as to how many members go to or have gone to Camp Perry.

Since the Star was widely used in Bullseye circles, when Bullseye was THE game, I would imagine a lot.
In the heyday of Bullseye, (I would speculate late 50s to late 60s) the Star was the reloader to own if you were serious about your shooting. Since it did both .38 and .45, and that was all you needed to load target quality ammo that were comparable to, and in some cases superior to factory loaded ammunition.

It is not my intent to insult those that do not shoot Bullseye, as I have shot IDPA, Action Pistol, and IPSC too; with my .45 with ammo loaded on my Star.


 

 
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Ross Chesley on July 28, 2009, 01:45:45 am
Count me in as a Bullseye shooter who has been going to Camp Perry since 2005. My first visit cemented forever a commitment to participate and support National Matches and competitive shooting.

I do not see many Stars at Camp Perry, but occasionally I will meet up with StarReloaders.com forum members or hear someone mention they load on a Star. Nice to find others out there doing as I do.

This year at Canton Regional in Canton, OH a week before Perry, I spotted several old Star-like presses. One was an older Star Universal in .38/.357, the other was a handmade copy of a Star. At 20ft it appeared to be a Star missing paint and decals. A closer inspection showed everything including the dies were a nicely done home machine shop accomplishment. Neither press stayed on the tables long. I was sorry not to have more time when I spotted them to ask questions and find out more info. When you see one, pounce or regret it. 

If possible, I still like to get a Star from the original owner, or original family. Often they have some history and the press and accessories are more complete and better cared for. I put them to good use or find them a good home with another active reloader. I cannot stand to see Stars rusting away or worse, parted out just to make a buck (since often the parts are considered to be worth more than the whole to some people).

Camp Perry is a wonderful experience. I never see a reloading company on commercial row to show or sell their products. Does anyone remember a time when someone was selling Stars on commercial row at Perry?

Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: rbwillnj on July 28, 2009, 08:02:20 am
Last year was my first and only time to shoot at Camp Perry.  I hope to make it back sometime in the future.   On several occasions I have visited Camp Perry during the pistol championships just to take advantage of commercial row.   I lived in the Cleveland area for 20 years before moving back east.   We still travel back to see friends, and I usually try to time the trips to coincide with the pistol championships.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on July 28, 2009, 10:41:54 am
My first year at Perry was when Star was still in going strong in business. They were not there then, nor any subsequent years. I cannot speculate before my time, but have some friends there in the 60s and 70s and will inquire. I also recall seeing Gil Hebard there as a competitor, but not as a vendor, and he handled Stars at the time.

Nice to hear about a few Stars at Canton. As the "Perry Warm up" Canton offers a lot including time to sell and swap.
Historically, there was always a competitor swap meet and allowance to post items on a bulletin board at Perry. The military policy changed this, and would not allow competitor swap meets for a few years, and removed any for sale items off the board. The swap meet was moved off site to a local club, but time and distance limited any real particpation, and that ended after a couple of years.
I do recall seeing an occasional Star, and Star accessories over the years, but some go back to when Perry utilized four ranges with over 1,000 competitors, and was considering going to five ranges for more. Now attendance is in the 650 to 750 range, and without swap meets, offered limited opportunity to sell/trade/swap Stars or any other items except by word of mouth.
 
This year, there was a military approved on site swap meet, but it was not well publicised, and attendance and particpation were woefully lacking by both particpants and buyers. Perhaps, the swap meets will again increase. I would expect more Stars to surface as interest in Bullseye declines, and competitors age and move on to other venues. 
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Star73 on July 28, 2009, 07:06:32 pm
I shot at Perry for some 20 yrs. I frequented Commercial Row from '65 thru '04. Over those yrs there were a few stars offered by individuals but no mfg presence. Unfortunately bullseye has been declining for the past 15 yrs or so as is reflected by the no. of perry entrants as commented on by Kenn.

I was fortunate to live on Catawba Island from '65 thru '04 making the matches convenient. Those were the days my friend!!
Ron
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: rbwillnj on July 28, 2009, 10:47:48 pm
Ross,

Initially, I too was put off by the idea of Stars being parted out, but then I realized that one Star parted out can bring many others back to life.   If there was a ready source of original parts there wouldn't be a market for parted out Stars.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NMBob on July 30, 2009, 12:49:25 pm
I went with the New Mexico pistol team in 1984 and 1987.  It's a great experience, but I hate to fly with guns, and it's a long way from New Mexico by car.  And I can get in trips to Gunnison, CO and to the Whittington for the CO and NM state matches and regionals with just a few hours of driving.  The Whittington has a bullseye range roughed out but undeveloped and NM state match is shot on the PPC range.  This year's match is Sept. 12-13.  Visit the Whittington:  it's your range. 
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Kirk A on June 08, 2010, 10:33:46 am
2010 will be my fourth year (although the first was SAFS only). It is unlike any other match. Three years ago, I was fresh on the firing line there, and I was hooked. Last year, my friend Bruce S was similarly hooked. This year we have another Camp Perry rookie, Dave O, and I fully expect that he will be hooked as well. It really is an experience. It's a shooting vacation!

-Kirk
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: rbwillnj on June 08, 2010, 03:04:03 pm
I went in 2008.  A humbling experiance.   I'm going this year, but just for the hardball matches.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Hugh Tyer on June 09, 2010, 03:57:10 pm
I made my first Perry trip in 1974 as an Expert class civilian. I was fortunate to shoot the top civilian score in the expert class and was a firing member of the Georgia State Pistol Team. We won the service pistol team match for state associations. I stopped shooting in 1980. I needed one leg for distinguished.
Started back shooting this year and really am enjoying it. I'm thinking about Perry this year. I wonder how much it has changed. Are they still using the WW2 prisoner of war huts for housing?
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on June 09, 2010, 06:26:30 pm
Yes the huts are still in use for some competitors and volunteers. They also have a number of newer modules, much like motel rooms, that replaced many of them, in the same area off commercial row.  Two beds and a bathroom attached. Most of the inuse remaining huts have been reconditioned, repaired and many painted green. Modern latrines (central bath facilities) were added in the hut areas.
A motel like building was also added in the direction of the clubhouse. One bedroom rooms with a shared bath between two rooms.
The old clubhouse was torn down, and the motels in the front of it were destroyed by tornadoes and demolished.  There still are a number of the remaining officer cottages that were near it, as well as new modules which are really three/four bedroom houses. They now also have a new full hookup RV/campground area.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: fc60 on June 10, 2010, 10:20:59 am
Greetings,

Attended Camp Perry with the Washington State Pistol Team in 1977 and 1979. I was the Collegiate Champion in 1979.

Cheers,

Dave Wilson
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: JMM on June 11, 2010, 07:10:44 pm
I started shooting camp perry style in 1972 and purchased a star I have no idea how many rounds it has loaded .later purchased a phelps universal and used for 45 ACP .Bullseye shooting has become almost non existant in Calif. now they are gathering dust.   
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: CDRT on June 17, 2010, 11:23:48 pm
I went in 2007 for the pistol matches and to receive my Distinguished Pistol Medal on stage at the awards ceremony.  Had a really great time.  I'm going back next year to shoot the CMP rifle matches with some of the Texas State team guys if all goes well.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Ironnewt on January 24, 2011, 02:51:25 am
I've been a few times and always met tremendous people and given help when I needed it. I only had one bad experience and as the other person involved has "passed on to a better place" I'll let it go. I was there the year part of the .45 match was cancelled due to the storms coming in off the lake blowing everything everwhere. Hail the size of golfballs (or larger) and targets flying from the 50 yard position to the parking area. YOICKS!
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on January 24, 2011, 07:12:38 pm
What was even more amazing that year was how fast the range crew under Joe DeCosta was able to get things back into shape, to continue on with the rest of the matches.

Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: bobmm on February 07, 2011, 01:45:42 am
my first star came from camp perry back in about 1982. Cordy Rich picked it up for me...i use it to this day about every month...bob
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on February 07, 2011, 09:01:21 pm
Was this the same Cory Rich from Delhi NY area?
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: 2150 on February 11, 2011, 08:40:04 pm
I must have shared the same mess hall with NMBOB, STAR 73 and I know that NYKENN and I attended the same NY State R&P Club picnic at the clubhouse on Lake Erie. I was a guest and snapped a few 35mm pics that featured people that Kenn knew from that year's matches. We did not know each other at the time but I purchased a Star thru Kenn a few years ago and during the course of our dealings the National Natches came up. "Perry" was a great experience for me (1981-84) and I always enjoyed the "tradition" of the campus. The old water tower and RR tracks at the front gate are visible in a series of pictures over the years. Getting block ice at the fishing docks and a new plastic box fan for the hut window was just part of setting up camp. Great Times!

I am proud of having been an NRA Bullseye shooter over the years; it's a discipline that develops pistol shooting like no other.
I was in the era when the NRA wanted to transition American NRA shooters into ISU competetors. In 1984 some of us went to Colorado Springs for the ISU training camp. We shot at the Air Force Academy indoor gallery range and had Erich Buljung and Frank Higginson as our two outstanding instructors. The most talented shooter of our group was Robbin Vinnola who was an EXCEPTIONAL pistol shooter and a very nice person. He was killed in Cuba while participating in the International Matches (March 1987).

Keep Holding 'Em & Watching the Front Sight!  
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: bobmm on February 17, 2011, 11:47:32 am
to ny kenn... yes he owned a fuel oil company and was in our Crumhorn mtn. gun club and pistol team..Maryland, NY...I was raised in Oneonta and New Berlin NY...bob
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on February 17, 2011, 06:02:13 pm
and collected Winchesters, I believe.
He, Bob Johnson and Fran Barnes and a few others from the area used to come to DCPA for 2700 matches, but that was a while ago.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: robert h on April 24, 2011, 03:05:36 pm
I was able to go to Perry in 63,65 and 75 with the U S Navy pistol team. There about 2700 Competitors there in 1963. It was a great experience. I Distinguished in 75, before Perry, but received my Distinguished Badge from the Team OinC Cdr Jack Nichols at Perry that Year. We had a Star Reloader in the gun club at NAS Pensacola,  great machine.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: xring2245 on May 05, 2011, 08:22:11 am
My Stars will be working very hard for a few weeks before Camp Perry this year.  A few hundred rounds of .45s and maybe a 100 .38s.  The Dillon will be retired for the .45s in favor of the Star.  Why not load on the best?????

James
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Jep on May 07, 2011, 08:20:16 pm
I first shot at Camp Perry in 1962.  Won a silver tea spoon in .22 timed fire as a Sharpshooter.  Legged out at Perry in 87.  I have just started shooting again after a ten year layoff.   Jep
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: robert h on July 03, 2011, 09:29:45 pm
I started shooting bullseye at NAS Penacola in 1962. Went to the Atlantic Fleet and All Navy Matches in 1963. Got my first bronze leg at the Fleet Match. Went to Perry in 1965 and 1975 and got my Distinguished in 1975. Made Master the first year 1962. Also got first Gold at the 1970 Pacific Fleet Leg Match  288-8x, 108 shooters. But I had parts of eight years in South East Asia. One of the tours kept me out of the States and match shooting for thirty nine months  Jan 1966 till mid 1969.
At Pensacola the club had a loading room with a Star reloader and lubrisizer. Probably over 90% of my shooting was Star Loads and still is. I don't shoot as much or near as well now. But the Stars works just as well. I have three, one in 38 and two in 45 one with a taper crimp and the other is a roll crimp. I made Master using 3.5 BE and the H&G 130 185gn bullet. I now use mostly the taper crimp and 3.6 BE. I sometimes use the H&G 68 200gn bullet also with 3.6 BE.
TMC Gaspar DeFino taught me how to accurize a  .45 auto and make them function in 1962. And even though the Navy furnished us with guns at times. I won the Fleet Match and broke 2600 with guns that I built. I still shoot an occaisional 2700 but I'm not the same and sadly neither or the matches. I think we had about 2600 to 2700 shooters at Camp Perry Pistol Matches in 1963. We would practice at least three days a week and shoot a 2700 almost every weekend. Looking back it is a wonder any of our marriages lasted..
Finally I was privileged to shoot with some of the finest shooters and individuals, military and civilians that ever competed.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on July 18, 2011, 08:05:16 pm
Just returned from 2011. Another great year.


Did not see or hear (I asked a few people) if there were any Stars around.
Did anyone else?

Will be posting "prices" in near future as time permits. Have them written down for entry.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Kirk A on July 21, 2011, 03:57:16 pm
What a week. Legged out on both revolver and service pistol. Got my first HR t-shirt too. But made plenty of mistakes as well, and must improve my long line for the P100. And avoid gaffes like the mesmerizing moments that make you forget your shot process -- like the "x" on the turn in .45 RF, mesmerizing to the point of forgetting release/reset the disconnector before the next shot. Oops. Those misses hurt. Better luck next year...

-Kirk
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Mark Lindsley on March 23, 2016, 10:53:19 am
Hello group, My first time a Perry was back in 1992. Great time. CMP Distinguished pistol in May 1997. Blessed to have a few Star Machines, a Wemco-Willams Machine and Ammo Load Machine
Mark  ;)
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Allaces on March 23, 2016, 04:55:15 pm
I have two Stars and go to Perry every year, not to shoot my best, but for the Perry experience.  I have a dedicated Perry cart and dedicated Perry mud boots from which I've never washed off the Perry mud as it is said to bring good luck.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: ktmridin on March 26, 2016, 07:22:36 pm
Everyone should have at least two Star machines,I went to Perry from 1970 to 1976 with the pistol ,what a great time,the hut ,that long walk in the morning and those powdered eggs in the mess hall. I returned in 1983 and shot rifle for several years this time with my wife and now two sons, but still had a great time. Perry is a great place it can build you up one moment and then slap you in the face the next .
After retiring I started to look for bullseye matches in Florida and found that most were gone. I then started to shoot some USPSA and ICORE as I could shoot almost every weekend and not drive too far. Now I woke one morning about 6 weeks ago  and thought I should look into shooting bullseye again ( could be my ADHD) .So I pulled out some of  my old stuff  .sent in my entry and might even start to do a little practicing. Hope to see some of you there,but will not be staying a the hut (if they are still there) ,Wife says "Once was enough " 
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: Allaces on March 27, 2016, 11:40:13 am
Everyone should have at least two Star machines,I went to Perry from 1970 to 1976 with the pistol ,what a great time,the hut ,that long walk in the morning and those powdered eggs in the mess hall. I returned in 1983 and shot rifle for several years this time with my wife and now two sons, but still had a great time. Perry is a great place it can build you up one moment and then slap you in the face the next .
After retiring I started to look for bullseye matches in Florida and found that most were gone. I then started to shoot some USPSA and ICORE as I could shoot almost every weekend and not drive too far. Now I woke one morning about 6 weeks ago  and thought I should look into shooting bullseye again ( could be my ADHD) .So I pulled out some of  my old stuff  .sent in my entry and might even start to do a little practicing. Hope to see some of you there,but will not be staying a the hut (if they are still there) ,Wife says "Once was enough "

The huts are still at Perry but now have AC, a real floor, and don't leak. The long walk is still there, as is the mud, but now most folks use one of those geezer carts. And yes, Perry still rewards you one minute and kicks you in the butt the next.  This year we expect dry, wet, windy, calm, chilly and hot conditions, all on the same day you shoot.

The powdered eggs are gone, maybe, but the mess hall is still dishing out typical GI meals for a cheap price :-X.

See ya on vendor row.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on March 27, 2016, 06:25:02 pm
All new underground drainage and piping is supposed to remove all excess water from ranges, and divert it away to limit if not eliminate the mud.
Main goal was to limit range damage, side benefit is shooters comfort.

We shall see!


 
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on August 08, 2016, 10:08:13 am
Virtually no rain this year. Only one night, but range was dry.
Attendance was up.

There was no evidence of Stars anywhere that I could find. Not sure of swapmeet as I did not go, but was told none there.
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: ChipEck on September 04, 2016, 07:18:19 pm
Yes, this year was as perfect as Perry gets.  Maybe a little windy, but no mud and only one day was really hot. 

Chip
Title: Re: Camp Perry
Post by: NYKenn on July 17, 2018, 03:56:40 pm
Attended again this year. Many changes to housing, and only two firing ranges. But there were a little over 600 competitors; up from last year.

Swap meet was poorly attended. Three vendors when I got there about five minutes after it began. No stars as expected.

Did speak with one shooter who had a .45 Star for sale, w/Indexor and case feeder,  but did not bring it as there is really no means to advertise and sell it at Camp Perry.
He occasionally visits this site, but was hoping to sell it first hand in order to work with the buyer.

Precision Pistol is holding it's own, but not growing as mush as other venues, and I think impacting how Stars are perceived.