I went to Montana to the Quigley Long-range Rifle Competition again this year. My fifth time. Brother Neil and brother-in-law Jeff Palm went with me. We always have a great time. I have a photo gallery of Quigley pictures. Go to the main page and click on Photos. The photos of me with a gun are of my old gun. There are two close up photos of my Pedersoli Sharps rifle.
The match is using rifles made in the style made in the years around 1874. Most shoot 45-70. The bullets must be lead cast with no cladding. The targets a steel gongs at 350, 405, 417, 530, 600, and 805 years. (A half mile is 880 yards; about 5 city blocks). We shoot 350 years off-hand, standing upright holding the gun. The other targets are shot while sitting on the ground or a stool a few inches high, using cross sticks to rest your barrel.
In my Quigley photo gallery there are two photos of the targets. I drew red arrows pointing to the targets. You can see how small the targets look from the firing line.
Jeff and I went to the match in 2014. I shot and Jeff spotted for me. I bought a new Sharps rifle when we were out there. Much better gun than the one a started with. 45-70 caliber. We camped between a guy from Denver and a guy from New Hampshire. We have camped with them every year since.
In 2016 we talked Neil into coming with us. I shot and now Neil spotted. Again a great time.
A year ago I got Macular Pucker in my right eye, my shooting eye. I can see fine for everything in life but I cannot see the tiny spot exactly in the middle of my vision. That means I cannot see the target! The surgeon said it may get better in a year or two. So in 2017 and 2018 Neil shot and I spotted. Still a great time together.
This photo is of the cart I built to carry my rifle, ammo, stool, and stuff.
