Lever Action Silhouette- A Perfect 60/60 Score

[Shasta]

Being the Match Director for the NRA Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette disiplines at Hat Creek Rifle & Pistol Club in Burney, California, I was calling our Cowboy Lever Action Pistol Cartridge Silhouette match held Sunday February 19, where Master Class shooter Gerald Hayler fired a perfect 60/60 score with his Marlin Model 57M .22 Magnum. We have only three Master class shooters, and Master Class scores (at least 53/60) are very seldom shot even by them.

I was pretty jazzed about Gerald's score as I knew that the National Record score was 57/60 so this would be a new record. I haven't had the Match Director job very long, so when I got home I started researching how to report this feat to the NRA for inclusion in the records. Going over all the instructions and rules they sent with our match sanction documents, I found out that NRA has two types of tournaments, Approved and Registered. Our tournaments are Approved, and NRA will recognize National Record scores only if fired in a Registered tournament! Registered tournaments are normally national, state or regional type matches that require an extra NRA fee. Seems like some kind of government BS where it don’t happen unless somebody’s palm gets greased!

Anyway, rules are rules and I am really bummed about this. I hated having to call Gerald with the news after I had made so much of it to everybody about being a new National Record. I guess sometimes life just ain’t fair, but he DID break that record even if the NRA won’t recognize it. It was an historic day for our club and especially for the six other shooters privileged to witness a perfect score. Anyone who shoots Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette knows what a huge accomplishment this was.

I just thought you levergun silhouette types might like to know that a perfect score can be done!

SHASTA

[Pitchy]

[Mescalero]

Please extend to him for me my heartfelt congrats to him.
From a former National Champion.

[jnyork]

Hey, Shasta, your friend still qualified for the coveted "Grand Slam" pin (10 in a row of all four animals) if he doesn't already have one, you should have the paperwork to submit in the match approval package.

[jdad]

Shasta,
That was excellent shooting. Check the record books and see how many times the name "Dr. Peter Krook" shows up. He's a member of our club.

[Steelbanger]

Please convey my congratulations to the shooter. I am still trying to knock 10 rams over to earn my Grand Slam.

When I shot NRA Hunter Pistol we sometimes traveled to western NY for a match. There was a wheelchair-bound shooter that was a very good shot. One day he wanted to go for a long run record and it was then he learned that according to NRA rules only standing shooters scores are recognized for long run, no wheelchair shooters scores allowed. I still get angry whenever I think of that.

I wish we were shooting the critters here in PA but there are no nearby shoots for at least 6 weeks.

[Shasta]

Hey, Shasta, your friend still qualified for the coveted "Grand Slam" pin (10 in a row of all four animals) if he doesn't already have one, you should have the paperwork to submit in the match approval package.

Gerald does already have Grand Slam pins for both CLA Smallbore and CLA Pistol Cartridge, and yes, they are indeed hard-earned. I'd have a pin in CLA Pistol Cartridge myself if those danged turkeys would quit ducking down every time I shoot!

SHASTA

[Shasta]

Shasta,
That was excellent shooting. Check the record books and see how many times the name "Dr. Peter Krook" shows up. He's a member of our club.

Your Dr. Krook can shoot alright! WOW!

Here is a link to the NRA records in case anyone would like to read about Krook's record scores:

http://www.nrahq.org/compete/natl_records.asp



SHASTA

[AJMD429]

Cool shooting. Even if the 'official' reward can't happen, he's probably motivated internally rather than externally.

Good job though...!

[Cimarron Red]

Wonderful shooting, Shasta!

[Hobie]

That about says it all! Way to go!

[Griff]

That's simply phenomonal shooting. Record book or not... extend my congradulations!

[stretch]

Perfect scores are rare in almost any shooting discipline.

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Hayler! That's fine
shooting, "official" record or not.

Personally, because it took place at an NRA-sanctioned match
that followed the established rules of silhouette rifle contests, I
think it should count.

-Stretch

[Canuck Bob]

Let him know there is a Canadian that knows he is the record holder. Might even be international?

[El Chivo]

a record that will never be broken...

[Shasta]

Perfect scores are rare in almost any shooting discipline.

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Hayler! That's fine
shooting, "official" record or not.

Personally, because it took place at an NRA-sanctioned match
that followed the established rules of silhouette rifle contests, I
think it should count.

-Stretch

I agree that a score should count if fired during any type of NRA sanctioned match. I doubt they would be willing to change their rules though.

Gerald suggested that perhaps the NRA should have a "Super Grand Slam" pin for shooters getting 15 in-a-row targets. I think that is a splendid idea and I intend to forward it to the NRA Silhouette Committee.

SHASTA

[bdhold]

serious shooting under extreme pressure.

[rjohns94]

Congrats to him

[Sixgun]

Well, that is quite an accomplishment but I am going to be the "sour apples" here. Like most all of the top names here in Pennsylvania, your bud used a .22 mag. Legal? yes. Sportsman like? Not in my opinion or other guys who play "fair". The fast jacketed bullet practically has no barrel time, no recoil, and is an easy gun to shoot accurate. Many of our guys at Atglen would like to see the .22 mag banned for pistol caliber silhouette.

I would be impressed if he used a cast bullet that he himself handloaded and cast.

Nothing personal and I don't want to run the guy down. If he (and the "big shots" here in Pa.) can do it with a .22. mag, why can't they just play it fair. I watched guys (the "champs")at the Pa State Champs actually handload 50 grain Sierra's into 22 mag cases for the rams. These same "champs" have trigger pulls on their guns at 1 pound or less. The rules state "any safe trigger" and who's to say they are not safe with a 6 ounce trigger, so once again we have individuals steering the success towards them.

The reason the NRA made that rule is because the stress level is higher at the Regionals and the State Champs where a shooter is competing against the best. I'm glad for that. Its easier competing on your home turf with all of your buddies around instead of obnoxious competitors staring you down when your sighting down.---------------Sixgun

[jdad]

Well, that is quite an accomplishment but I am going to be the "sour apples" here. Like most all of the top names here in Pennsylvania, your bud used a .22 mag. Legal? yes. Sportsman like? Not in my opinion or other guys who play "fair". The fast jacketed bullet practically has no barrel time, no recoil, and is an easy gun to shoot accurate. Many of our guys at Atglen would like to see the .22 mag banned for pistol caliber silhouette.

I would be impressed if he used a cast bullet that he himself handloaded and cast.

Nothing personal and I don't want to run the guy down. If he (and the "big shots" here in Pa.) can do it with a .22. mag, why can't they just play it fair. I watched guys (the "champs")at the Pa State Champs actually handload 50 grain Sierra's into 22 mag cases for the rams. These same "champs" have trigger pulls on their guns at 1 pound or less. The rules state "any safe trigger" and who's to say they are not safe with a 6 ounce trigger, so once again we have individuals steering the success towards them.

The reason the NRA made that rule is because the stress level is higher at the Regionals and the State Champs where a shooter is competing against the best. I'm glad for that. Its easier competing on your home turf with all of your buddies around instead of obnoxious competitors staring you down when your sighting down.---------------Sixgun

Unfortunately, some shooters take it way too serious and turn it into an equipment game.....like CAS, IPSC, etc. We have one of those that shows up every now and then. There's no money involved so I don't take the game that seriously.

Dr Krook is a serious competitor, but plays by the "spirit" of the game. He has taken an old Marlin 57, used crappy Remington Golden Bullets, and shot a perfect 40x40. A marksman is a marksman.

[Shasta]

Gerald shot his perfect score using factory CCI Maxi Mag ammo, so no cheating there. One other detail I didn't mention about Gerald; he is well into his seventies and obviously can still shoot with the best.

SHASTA

[jdad]

Gerald shot his perfect score using factory CCI Maxi Mag ammo, so no cheating there. One other detail I didn't mention about Gerald; he is well into his seventies and obviously can still shoot with the best.

SHASTA

..........a marksman is a marksman.

[Mescalero]

Now that is even sweeter, good on him.

[Sixgun]

Gerald shot his perfect score using factory CCI Maxi Mag ammo, so no cheating there. One other detail I didn't mention about Gerald; he is well into his seventies and obviously can still shoot with the best.
SHASTA

Seventies??!! With that note I take EVERYTHING back. Yes, .22 maggie or not, my hat is off to him. -------------Sixgun