Guns of the Week: Schuetzenfest

Guns of the Week: November 3 – 7, 2014
Schuetzenfest!

Unloading the Myth – Target Shooting and Beer (In that Order!)

The Cody Firearms Museum is home to the Coors Collection of antique Stevens and Maynard Rifles. All of the rifles were built between the middle and the end of the nineteenth century when Schuetzen shooting was very popular and competitive. Several of the rifles were barreled by Harry Pope, who made a barrel which had held the rifle accuracy record from 1902 until 1950, and still holds the accuracy record for lead cast bullets. Maynard and Stevens rifles were among the best of their time. Included in the display is a collection of Maynard cartridges showing the development of a very early breech loading system, and its evolution to a center fire system.

The Schuetzenfest is a target shooting festival that was conducted in Germany and Switzerland and was embraced ultimately all over the world, including America. The festivals still endure, and Germany today holds the largest Schuetzenfest in the world—more than 5,000 marksmen, 250 rides, and 5 beer tents. They also hold the longest parade in the world!

Unloading the Myth – Shooting Old School with Iron Sights

Wyoming has its own chapter of Schuetzen Competitions. Find out more at www.wyomingschuetzen.com.

Here is a target, on loan to the Cody Firearms Museum, from a Wyoming resident who shot this target offhand at 200 yards in the Wyoming Schuetzen Union 2008 Championships at the Whittington Center in Ranton, New Mexico. The firearm used was a Ballard No. 6 Schuetzen rifle with open iron sights and .38-55 black powder cartridges with breech-seated bullets. He won the high score for both the Iron Sight and Any Sight categories of the competition.

Imagine shooting offhand at 200 yards with nothing but an iron sight!! These guys have skill.

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