The Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California played host last weekend to the 2011 Hollywood Sporting Clays Invitational. In stages 3 through 6, NRAblog followed groups that included Navid Negahban from 24 & Charlie Wilson's War as well as George Reinas and Joe Serafini from The History Channel's Top Shot Reloaded.

With television credits including CSI, NCIS and Soldier of Fortune along with a film resume ranging from We Were Soldiers to Battle of Los Angeles, Tim Abell has been in the acting game for a little more than twenty years. His experience with firearms goes back even further.

"My first gun was a single barrel 12 gauge that my grandfather gave me," Abell to NRAblog between stages at the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational. "I was about eight. Then I was only hunting squirrels, but there's more on the menu now."

Enlisting in the military at an early age of 17, Tim rose through the ranks as an Army Ranger until ultimately serving in the famed 3rd Infantry "The Old Guard" Caisson Platoon. Now he splits his time between acting gigs and hosting his new show Grateful Nation.

Premiering on the Outdoor Channel later this year, the show follows Abell as he takes disabled veterans the fields, forests and plains for a hunt. Tracking down everything from deer to boar in places like France, Argentina and South Africa, Grateful Nation means more to Tim than the average hosting job.

"It's one of the best things I've ever done," said Abell. "Taking wounded warriors who just came back from Iraq and Afghanistan and helping them adjust into civilian life by doing something they truly love. It's a way of giving back and I'm honored to be involved with the show."

Joe Serafini jumped onto the national scene during season 2 of The History Channel's Top Shot ... Top Shot Reloaded. Usually more comfortable with a bow and arrow in hand, here he is at the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays at the Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California.

If you listen close, you can hear fellow Top Shot contestant George Reinas offering "encouragement" in the background.

Like most actors, Powers Boothe's career started on the stage. A few years later he set critics and audiences on his ear with his portrayal of Jim Jones in the CBS-TV movie Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones. You might also remember his for his roles in Sin City as Senator Roark, in Tombstone as Cowboy leader Curly Bill Brocius, and in Red Dawn as Lt. Col. Andy Tanner.

On Saturday, NRAblog was on hand to watch him shoot stage 4 of the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational at the Oak Tree Gun Club. Please forgive the few seconds of shaky camera work.

There were two choices when it came to starting a day filled with firing shotguns during the fundraising charity event known as the Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clay Invitational. Some climbed the hill on their own and some rode the Polaris ATVs, but the primary choice was either Station 1 or Station 15. For NRAblog, we decided to go the traditional route and stuck with Station 1.

In this group, you'll see Ken Davitian from the movie Borat, Gregory Michael from Greek, actress Anne Lockhart and more enjoying the the facilities of the Oak Tree Gun Club.

It's a lukewarm day here at the Oak Tree Gun Club in Southern California's Santa Clarita. Patrick Kilpatrick, our host for the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational, was on hand to welcome the crowds, introduce the celebrities. Here's a little of what we saw while battling for position along the red carpet.

Our initial celebrity list includes representatives from the Wounded Warrior project, British actor Vinnie Jones, American icon Lou Ferrigno, and Jerry Mathers as The Beaver.

While we were in Pittsburgh for the 140th Annual Meeting, veteran action star Patrick Kilpatrick invited NRAblog to California for the Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational. With promises of celebrities shooting sporting clays, wild game barbeque, and pirate reenactors, how could we say no?

On Friday we’ll make our way out to California and the Oak Tree Gun Club … site of the event. In addition to celebrity shooters like Colin Farrell, Julian McMahon, Summer Glau & Aaron Eckhart, we understand that NRAblog favorites like Natalie Foster, Iain Harrison, Samantha Virk, and Joe Mantegna (of course Joe is a celeb but he’s a favorite now too) will be there to pull a few triggers.

In addition to the sporting clays and pirate re-enactors, there will be a full archery range, fly fishing demonstrations, and an auction to help raise funds for the Invitational’s charities that include Guide On, Wounded Warriors, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Children of Hero's Wish Program, and Gallant Few.

“Oak Tree is arguably the best gun club from Santa Barbara to San Diego,” said Kilpatrick. “It’s going to be something. We’re even bringing out a gatling rubber band gun that fires 653 rubber bands a minute and you’re going to be in charge of loading it!”

So while I’m not rearming the gatling gun, I’ll be snapping shots, shooting video, and conducting interviews at the 2011 Hollywood Celebrity Sporting Clays Invitational. The Red Carpet starts at 11 a.m. eastern time, so start checking the blog between noon and 1 p.m. for our first updates from California.

Patriot's Path describes their mission as "to prepare veterans for, and assist them with, reintegration with the community as they complete their treatment in the Veterans Affairs Medical System." Based out of West Virginia's Martinsburg VA Medical Center, Patriot's Path funds their efforts through monies raised at outings like their "Busting Clays for our Heroes" event.

A number of NRA employees participated in this worthwhile cause including Steve Hoback, Samantha Olsen, and Andy Lander.

Singer/Songwriter Julie Ingram broke out her shotgun for one of the NRA teams and ended the day as High Female shooter with a 47. "Benefiting the American Veterans of our country is worth any amount of money, friendship & pride," said Ingram "(W)e should be proud to know them and just thankful to be alive and living in the good ole USA."

Other high marks included:

High Team - Team NRA- Andy Lander, Paul Rackley, Mike Dogali, Samatha Olsen - 288

High Male - Matt Keegan - 96

High Youth - Cole Hingas - 69

San Antonio, Texas - Day three of the 2011 ACUI Clay Target Championships is American Skeet. As usual the morning has been very cloudy and there were small hints of rain, but the overcast is beginning to clear up.

The shooters are back at the lower fields of the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas competing in the American Skeet Championship. Last year's champions, Lindenwood University, have yet to shoot and defend their title from a number of schools who have already shot impressive rounds. The pressure is on to score hits when they finally get on the field.

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