MissouriWhitetails.com
Griffin Gun Club
GRIFFIN GUN CLUB
Story By: Larry J. Hand
Photos By: Dena L. Todaro
The Griffin Gun Club hosts a muzzle loading rifle and pistol match every month
on the first Sunday. This match came about when the old "Cherokee
Bark Busters" club of Carrollton, Georgia lost the range that they had shot
on since the early sixties. The range closed in 2000 as a result of recent
building up of residential homes in the area. One of the members, Jim
Browning, was a member and past president of the Griffin Gun Club and arranged
for the muzzle loading crowd to move the monthly match to Griffin. Jim has
gone above and beyond to keep this match alive and the entire group is indebted
to Jim in a big way. Jim also is the range officer and procures the
targets and prizes for each match. He receives no compensation for his
efforts. It's people like Jim who keep the shooting sports alive.
The matches are only shot January through September. Jim and several of
the other members who keep the matches running are also very dedicated deer
hunters and so there are no matches in the three months during deer season.
The targets are regulation NMLRA round ball and animal targets. The match
is never the same thing two months in a row. Sometimes round bull,
sometimes animal, and sometimes a mix of the two. Also, in July, the match
is silhouettes. Crows at 50 yards, and Chucks at 100 yards, ten shots at
each. The typical match will be 25 to 30 shots with any muzzle
loading rifle using round balls with any metallic sights. Most of the
shooters use traditional styled guns with the mix of flint and cap shooters
being about 50/50. It is interesting to note that the top shooters here
just about all use flintlock rifles. The shooters at this match will always
include some of the top shooters in the state. Among the shooters there,
you will find several winners of state championships, national matches, and a
myriad of other matches. If you can place at a match at Griffin, you can
hold your own anywhere. The competition is very stiff. That is one
thing that makes this match so much fun. It adds to the feeling of
accomplishment that you feel when you do well in one of their matches.
This crowd is also one of the friendliest and most laid back group you
will find. They are all ready and willing to help out a new shooter or
anyone else in any way they can.
The January 2003 match was a reunion of sorts, since the club had not had a
match since September. The turnout was outstanding, with thirty registered
shooters and half again that many guests and spectators. The shooters were
all a little rusty as was reflected in the scores, but nonetheless the
competition was close with the top five shooters coming within just eight points
of each other. The match consisted of a 25 yard round bull, two 50 yard
round bulls, a 50 yard fox, and a 100 yard round bull target. The weather
was very agreeable with sunshine and a high of about 60 degrees and almost no
wind. The top shooter in the men's match was Larry Hand, and the top
shooter in the women's division was Dena Todaro. Larry's score was 201,
and Dena's was 188. Dena was also fifth overall coming in ahead of
25 of the total of all shooters.
The prizes for the top shooters was rib-eye steaks. The club gave out
prizes for the top eleven places and the top three women. There was a
pistol match as well, being ten shots at 25 yards on the NMLRA pistol target.
Billy Townsend won the pistol match with a score of 95 and Jim Browning was
second with a 93. Cash was the prize for these two shooters. There
was also one junior shooter, James Cobb. James got cash for his shooting
as well.
These matches are very much a family affair. There were three couples
shooting, and at least two parent/child combo's in attendance. Everyone
had a good time getting out and seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
The competition was fun and just being out in the sun with a fine group of
shooters was an uplifting way to spend a Sunday afternoon. A safe and fun
time was had by all, and we are looking forward to the February match.
Good luck and good shooting!
