Abilene Clay Sports

11/01/2025

Clay Target Legends was just featured on Trap Talk.

In this special edition of Trap Talk, we bring you two great conversations that show both the history and heart behind the Grand American.First up, Phil Murr...

10/31/2025

We had a great last Thursday night fight club/Halloween bash! Even had a couple of Australians join us! Thanks to all that came!

10/31/2025

They were America’a shooting husband and wife team. Sponsored by Wi******er/Western, the amazing Topperweins, Ad and Plinky toured the country with their crowd pleasing trick and exhibition shooting demonstrations using shotguns, rifles, and handguns.
The always substantial crowds turned out to see their act and left amazed at their abilities. Although exhibition shooters at that time were not exactly rare, a husband and wife team was, and they played that up to the delight of the country, becoming folk heros to many. Steve and Phil tell you all about the Topperweins, and present to you original artifacts including Plinky’s actual Wi******er Model 12 used in those shows.

PLEASE like, share and subscribe so that we can keep these videos and this history coming your way!

Steve Ellinger

They were folk legends in exhibition shooting the world over. Ad and Plinky Topperwein amazed the crowds with their shooting exhibitions and skills. Phil a...

10/30/2025

Tonight 6:00! Cash prize for best costume and dinner after we shoot. Should be a beautiful night!

10/28/2025

I am occasionally asked while in the NSSA-NSCA museum about the Cutts Compensators. I have had several tell me they have seen silver colored models in addition to the normal blued versions. The silver are aluminum (although they were available in black as well), while the blued models were steel. Why aluminum? In the early days of s***t, most autoloaders were recoil operated, such as the Re*****on Model 11 which many shooters used. On small gauge guns especially, additional weight impeded the recoil action and would cause the gun to not cycle, so Cutts made lightweight aluminum models to prevent such a malfunction. Additionally some shooters just preferred a lighter compensator, even on pumps like the Model 12, while others liked the additional weight to aid in follow-through.

The introduction of the gas guns, namely the Re*****on 1100 negated the weight/recoil issue and the aluminum models mostly faded away. During those years most every s***t shooter used a Cutts, as they really did work well and thew great patterns. Some shooters such as the great Wayne Mayes insisted on a Cutts even into the 1990’s. Chokes were available in steel or aluminum and were interchangeable with either type of Cutts. Today those silver aluminum Cutts models are quite rare.

Steve Ellinger

10/27/2025

Nationals is over-let’s celebrate! This Thursday-our last Thursday Night Fight Club. Hope to see you all there!!

10/27/2025

My latest article in Trap and Field magazine.

Steve Ellinger

10/23/2025

10/23/2025

The legendary Ben DiIorio was know not only for owning and managing one of the best clubs in America, which just happened to be know as the “Club to the Movie stars”, but also for developing the very first four-barrel s***t gun set. Steve and Phill will tell you about Ben DiIorio, his historic Krieghoff Model 32, and why both were significant parts of the clay target sports on this episode of Clay Target Legends. Please subscribe and help us reach that magic 1000 number. And as always, like, share and subscribe so that we can keep these videos coming!

Steve Ellinger

The legendary Ben DiIorio was know not only for owning and managing one of the best clubs in America, which just happened to be know as the “Club to the Movi...

10/20/2025

Good luck to everyone headed to Nationals this week! Have fun!

10/19/2025

Reclaiming shot is an important issue for clay target clubs. Its a win-win-win situation, with the reclamation company and the club profiting from reclamation. But we all win as well as we are actively doing our part to clean up the environment by reclaiming the lead. Steve and Phil visit with Mr. Steve Ricketts of Gipson-Ricketts Lead Reclamation, LLC about the process, why its important, and how to see if you club may be a good candidate. Please like, share, and subscribe so that we can keep these videos coming!

Steve Ellinger

Reclaiming shot is an important issue for clay target clubs. It's a win-win-win situation, with the reclamation company and the club profiting from reclamat...

10/16/2025

Fight Club
Tonight 6:00