Classic Lever & Buffalo Rifle Shootin’ Match Round Up

1874BuffaloHunterContextPhotoFWMSH01First before I say another word I have to give 90% of the credit for this event to have taken place to Ron Lee for doing all the work in making up all the gong style targets and providing their transportation to and from the range. So a big thank you to Ron.

The rain clouds nicely parted the morning of the last day in May for this shootin’ match. We had nine shooters representing all the categories, with the pistol cartridges in a lever action rifle dominating with just about everyone shootin’ in this class.

Three shooters shot the rifle cartridges class and three Buffalo rifles boomed out their presence firing at the longer ranges out to 500 yards.

The winner of the pistol cartridge match in a lever action rifle was Dan Danforth. Those who know Dan realize that Dan has owned a lot of rifles in this class and so his one miss in an otherwise perfect score must be put down to an uncontrolled hiccup or some such. You’d have to get up awfully early and shoot very straight to beat Dan in this event.

The rifle cartridge classic was shot by three shooters. Our club’s senior member, Jack Floyd, at 90 years plus, did some fine work with his original 1886 Winchester in 38-70 calibre. So there’s hope for the rest of us yet. John Robertson and Ron Lee rounded out the riflemen in this class, Ron posting the best score and just beating out Jack.

The three Buffalo rifle shooters using black powder, cross sticks and vernier sights shootin’ at 300-400 and 500 yards showed how accurate these old weapons can be, declaring hits with an echoing ring shortly after the visual conformation by spotting scope had been made. I managed to luck out and just edge out Ron and John in this event

Ron and myself had a side match after the regular competition. We shot offhand with our 13 pound Buffalo rifles at the 400 yard “Quigley bucket” as in the movie. Ron showed us all how it is done with an impressive two hits out of three shots. I managed to just nick the “bucket” on my third shot. Fun, fun, fun.

After all the friendly competition had ended there was a jovial cluster of pistol cartridge shooters doing some target work and trying each other’s guns in happy comraderie. Everyone who touched Marv Paisngr’s ‘Henry Yellowboy’ expressed admiration for that gun’s smoothness of operation and weight distribution. The Buffalo rifles were also put to use by those wishing to try them out. Steve White did some impressive shooting on the 500 yard Buffalo gong so we’ll be discouraging him from getting a Buffalo gun any time soon.

Prizes were awarded the winners and good sports; including new shooters to offhand work Peter Bockner and Diane Riley. Prizes consisted of DVD copies of the film “Quigley Down Under” and leather key chain fobs inscribed with the event won or a “Q” fob for hitting the .’bucket’. These were created by Ron Lee and very nicely done.

Everyone enjoyed the day and expressed the opinion that this event should take place again.

submitted by Brad Fuller