Page 43 - ODO 2024 JanFeb online version

DON P. BROWN/ODWC

Applesauce!
ing an explosive cloud of fire and smoke to hurl “These rifles today are modern replicas of flintlock and
a chunk of lead at a distant target. percussion black-powder guns . A few were store-bought .
“Today, there was a good mix of competi-
tors, some with years of experience, and some Some were fashioned from kits, and several were actually
just getting started. I heard lots of laughter.” built from scratch by their owners .”
Like any group of competitive shooters,
a lot of the appeal can be the camaraderie
that comes with the shared interest and the DON P. BROWN/ODWC
gatherings. Many of the Society’s members
are also hunters; some enjoy participating in
rendezvous and re-enactments; and several
in the group actually create and assemble
their own firearms.
“These rifles today are modern replicas of
flintlock and percussion black-powder guns,”
Keyes said. “A few were store-bought. Some
were fashioned from kits, and several were
actually built from scratch by their owners.
In addition to the traditional paper bull’s-
eyes at 25 yards, the various targets includ-
ed flour-filled balloons at 50 yards, metal
gongs, golf balls at 10 yards, stretched rub-
ber bands, apples, plums, limes, split the
ball on an ax head, and split the playing Rick Cox turns in his target sheet to the official tournament scorekeeper, Jordan Grubbs.

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