THE OLD WEST PAYS A VISIT TO OLD BRIDGE R&P!
2ND AMENDMENT HERITAGE CELEBRATED IN NJ!

by Dave "Rosey" Rosenthal, Black Wire Editor in-Chief
Monday June 29, 2020 www.cnjfo.com/join-us

The crack of antique gunfire and plumes of black powder smoke wafted through the Old Bridge Rifle & Pistol Club's Range #6 on Saturday as the old west came to life with firing replica late-nineteenth century arms. Henrys and Sharps proved deadly accurate. Colts and Winchesters too--and some of their owners dressed the part for this multi-stage semi-annual competition, run by club Trustee and black powder league match director Lance Brunner.

Stages were 50 yard 5-Bull Buffalo paper target shot from crossed-sticks, single-action six-gun engaging a B-34 silhouette with scoring rings (the Gunfight), cutting a weighted string with a well-placed bullet (the Hangman), and the .22 Dueling Tree steel action shooter vs. shooter for the shoot-off.

This is the 12th time Brunner has chaired the semi-annual event in 6 years, and anyone who's a club member could have registered. With outdoor range operations resuming on May 22nd thanks to ANJRPC (our state NRA Association) suing our Governor, lots of members wanted to "scratch the itch" that is "trigger abstinence", so Brunner had no trouble filling the 24 available slots with shooters.

If we held a "Best Dressed for the part" it would have surely been won by Deb Shannon, dressed in western Sunday finery from her hat to boots! Deb borrowed Brunner's .22 lever rifle for the Dueling Tree stage, making it to the semi-finals for a shoot-off with a gun she never shot before! She was also the first shooter ever in the history of the match to cut the weighted string with a six-gun!

No cutthroats or highwaymen showed up to the match. In fact this friendly competition saw everyone cheering & spotting for each other, typical of the great camaraderie displayed at every match Brunner runs. The overall match winner (Mark L.) did receive a hand-engraved (by Brunner) .45-70 reproduction BPCR cartridge commemorating the achievement.

Several CNJFO members and supporters attended the event. Member Joe Long placed first in the 5-Bull Buffalo target scoring 200 points (40 point average per bull). He also cut a weighted string with his .45-70 Sharps single-shot with Vernier tang-mounted peep sight. New member Mike C. cut the string with his Rossi lever action saddle gun. Peter Brady did great on the B-34 "Gunfight" stage with his six-gun, as did Dave Z.

This writer made club history as only the second competitor in the 12 matches held thus far to cut the weighted string using a hand gun. Deb Shannon did it first, at this very same match using her .357 six-gun! I shot sometime after Shannon using my Dad's Ruger New Model .357 Blackhawk single-action commemorative, made in 1976 & adorned with "Made in the 200th Year of American Liberty" roll-stamped onto the top of the barrel. I used .38 Spl. wadcutters I received in a "horse trade" about 25 years ago. Dad is smilin' from Heaven :)

Old Bridge R&P Club's black powder league resumes full operation this Sunday at their regular monthly 1st Sunday of the month match. Fellow NRA Double Distinguished Experts in muzzleloading (this writer was the first in the country) will be on hand offering mentoring & camaraderie.