Submitted by Mark Barnhill. Interested in sharing coverage of your match? Email us at media@nmlra.org
How do you measure the success of a rifle match? Is it by the number of registered shooters? If so, our overall entering numbers are improving. However, the cartridge shooters have dropped off. If we use fine shooting, good sportsmanship, generosity, and beautiful weather as the gauge, then our match was outstanding. The food was tremendous! However, the wind was very strong and unpredictable.
We fired a total of 20 shots for the King match on the NMLRA Slug targets for the Cartridge vs Muzzleloader match, and High cartridge. The King match included 10 shots on the slug targets and 10 shots on the 50-yard target at 100 yards. The High original rifle match included the same targets as the King.
Bob Dickson took first place in the King, Cartridge vs muzzleloader, and High Original rifle matches shoot “Old Harrison”, the old 47 caliber 1879 Reinhard rifle. Old Harrison has been at matches for over 70 years at Canal Fulton. Bob shot a 532 gr.2-piece bullet, freezer wrap paper patch 77 gr swiss F1/2 powder, and Pole Cat Porter’s 15 power Lyman Scope.
Mike Policy won high Cartridge with his Ken Bresine action 32-40 Shilen barrel, Lyman 25 Power Scope. He was shooting 38 gr Swiss 1 ½ powder, and a 175-grain bullet.
We had 4 historic original rifles on the range this year; Bob Dickson shot the 26 lb. 1879 Reinhard once owned by Pole Cat. Kyle Wittel used an 1886 Reinhard 38 cal with a scope made by Rich Hicks and published in Black Powder Cartridge magazine. Kyle used a 273-gr one-piece bullet and freezer wrap, 50-gr Swiss 2F powder. Kevin Patrick fired his first record scores, (10’s and X’s) with the 38 cal slug rifle his grandfather Rich Hicks built. Unfortunately, the rifle was unable to complete the match due to a failed platinum liner in the nipple. He finished with a 47 cal Brockway rifle which recently turned up around here and appears to offer promising results. The scope Kevin used was a 20 power Unertl, 530 gr. 2-piece bullet, freezer wrap, and 82 gr Swiss F 1 ½. Tom Oaks shot “Old Butt Burner”, an original Reinhard slug rifle with an extensive history at Canal Fulton.
Show and Tell has been a great attraction at this match, and this year was no exception. Jim Chivers provided a target rifle by Orrin G. Thayer of Chardon, Geauga County, as well as a J.Meunier Schuetzen percussion rifle from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (probably the 1870’s). Another Meunier appeared, so a fine pair was seen. Mike Policy brought a Nelson Lewis slug rifle with Lester Cox restoration, and Jerry Wilson arrived with a nice Reinhard. This gun is a small bench gun with all the tools and a Schuetzen butt plate.
Once again, a discussion of our annual memorial recognition was held, and we will return to the practice initiated by Rich Hicks. The naming of the memorial will be the privilege of the winner of the “King of the Slug Gunner” match.
Prizes this year were provided by SPG, Log Cabin Shop, Anonymous donations, and entry fees. This match accrues no profit, so all money is used to ensure the match continues. Some winners made contributions for next year with their prize money. Thank you!
We wish to thank the Canal Fulton Ramrod Club for the use of the facility. And a generous thank you is in order to Donna Barnhill for typing and technical skills.
SCORES
SLUG VS CARTRIDGE
Bob Dickson 200 11 x
Carl Nelson 197 8 x
Kevin Patrick 197 7x
Brian Zickefoose 191 6x
Gary Briggs 191 4x
Brad Williams 189 3x
Frank Rose 186 3x
HIGH ORIGINAL
Bob Dickson 196 8x
Kyle Wittel 184 3x
Tom Oaks 180 1x
CARTRIDGE
Mike Policy 192 2x
Chuck Nesselrotte INC
KING OF THE SLUG GUNNERS
Bob Dickson 196 8x
Carl Nelson 189 6x
Kyle Wittel 184 3x
Tom Oaks 180 1x