(Re) Introducing Tom Elbertson
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2025 8:57 pm
Back in February of 2002 there was a regular 300 target event at the Mt Willing Rd Senior Center in Mebane, NC (Buckhorn)
As I recall it was a blustery day with temps mid 40ish and some stiff winds that had the targets making some pretty significant escape maneuvers.
In the crowd was a “new to us” shooter, one Tom Elbertson. The BGC regulars are usually very welcoming to first timers and Tom was made to feel at ease.
He and I got squadded together for singles. As mentioned, the targets were quite sporty that day as Tom lapped the field with a 96 while in “B” class shooting a Remington 1100. Nothing wrong with a B shooter winning an event, it was how he did it. It was a smoke show in pretty difficult conditions.
We struck up a conversation in the clubhouse. Tom revealed that he had shot some registered targets back in the ‘70s and was getting back into it after nearly a 30 year layoff. Get back into it he did registering 9000 targets that year, earning 5 yards as well in that target year.
The next couple of years he put the hammer down shooting over 10K targets in both 2003 and 2004 carrying some very impressive averages those years. At some point in here he upgrades to an MX 6 P gun and is shooting it lights out. Tom tied for the Zone Singles Championship in 2003 with a 200 straight. That put him in a shoot of with several others from throughout the Zone, including other shooters from Bostic, Berea Ky, Corinth Ms and Odessa Fl.
Included in the shoot off participants at Bostic was multiple time All American Pete McCall. Pete was as tough as there was and he had seen all the greats. They were squadded together under the lights and the shoot off commenced. After the initial 25 targets Pete was heard (referring to Tom) "who the hell is that?"
When Tom is really on, he calls it “gobbing” them up when he’s absolutely in the middle of them. He was “gobbing” them up hard enough to impress Pete which was not easy to do. I really don’t remember how many rounds the shoot off went, but I do know that unfortunately none of our boys placed that year.
After 2004, Tom experienced a few “life events” and, to our loss, disappeared from the shooting community. Until now.
Fast forward to March 21, 2025. I’m at an Air BnB in Odessa, Fl relaxing in between events. My phone rings. It’s Tom!
We had quite a conversation for several minutes. This is the pertinent part
He starts with “Hey! How are you doing?”
I’m doing well and how are you?
“I’m doing great as well. Looking into getting back into shooting. Do you know of any combo guns with double release triggers”
Not off the top of my head. But I can and will certainly start looking
So began the search. We found at few that were given consideration but in the end they didn’t work out. So, in lieu of a combo gun, Tom comes up with a lightly used Kolar TS. Now, we all know what it’s like to have a new toy and can’t play with it right away………..eventually he ends up at the Greenville, SC Gun club to try it out. He shoots a few rounds getting the feel of it.
Next outing he travels the 60 miles to Gainesville, Ga for a Big 50. He whacks a 49 in singles (gobbed them up) and stays in the 20s for both rounds of handicap from the 27. He’ll find a doubles gun at some point soon then it’s Game On!
Look out folks, he’s back. I’m really looking forward to seeing Tom at the SC State shoot in Bostic very soon.
See you next time wherever it is. Travel Safe. Dan
As I recall it was a blustery day with temps mid 40ish and some stiff winds that had the targets making some pretty significant escape maneuvers.
In the crowd was a “new to us” shooter, one Tom Elbertson. The BGC regulars are usually very welcoming to first timers and Tom was made to feel at ease.
He and I got squadded together for singles. As mentioned, the targets were quite sporty that day as Tom lapped the field with a 96 while in “B” class shooting a Remington 1100. Nothing wrong with a B shooter winning an event, it was how he did it. It was a smoke show in pretty difficult conditions.
We struck up a conversation in the clubhouse. Tom revealed that he had shot some registered targets back in the ‘70s and was getting back into it after nearly a 30 year layoff. Get back into it he did registering 9000 targets that year, earning 5 yards as well in that target year.
The next couple of years he put the hammer down shooting over 10K targets in both 2003 and 2004 carrying some very impressive averages those years. At some point in here he upgrades to an MX 6 P gun and is shooting it lights out. Tom tied for the Zone Singles Championship in 2003 with a 200 straight. That put him in a shoot of with several others from throughout the Zone, including other shooters from Bostic, Berea Ky, Corinth Ms and Odessa Fl.
Included in the shoot off participants at Bostic was multiple time All American Pete McCall. Pete was as tough as there was and he had seen all the greats. They were squadded together under the lights and the shoot off commenced. After the initial 25 targets Pete was heard (referring to Tom) "who the hell is that?"
When Tom is really on, he calls it “gobbing” them up when he’s absolutely in the middle of them. He was “gobbing” them up hard enough to impress Pete which was not easy to do. I really don’t remember how many rounds the shoot off went, but I do know that unfortunately none of our boys placed that year.
After 2004, Tom experienced a few “life events” and, to our loss, disappeared from the shooting community. Until now.
Fast forward to March 21, 2025. I’m at an Air BnB in Odessa, Fl relaxing in between events. My phone rings. It’s Tom!
We had quite a conversation for several minutes. This is the pertinent part
He starts with “Hey! How are you doing?”
I’m doing well and how are you?
“I’m doing great as well. Looking into getting back into shooting. Do you know of any combo guns with double release triggers”
Not off the top of my head. But I can and will certainly start looking
So began the search. We found at few that were given consideration but in the end they didn’t work out. So, in lieu of a combo gun, Tom comes up with a lightly used Kolar TS. Now, we all know what it’s like to have a new toy and can’t play with it right away………..eventually he ends up at the Greenville, SC Gun club to try it out. He shoots a few rounds getting the feel of it.
Next outing he travels the 60 miles to Gainesville, Ga for a Big 50. He whacks a 49 in singles (gobbed them up) and stays in the 20s for both rounds of handicap from the 27. He’ll find a doubles gun at some point soon then it’s Game On!
Look out folks, he’s back. I’m really looking forward to seeing Tom at the SC State shoot in Bostic very soon.
See you next time wherever it is. Travel Safe. Dan