Gary Fatherree at the Black Powder Bonanza | GGCA/NMLRA

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Well the GGCA rifle shoots were not well attended as you know due in fact that there was another large event going on at the silhouette range with long-range BPC rifles and .22 rifles. There were several more shooters at those events that wanted to shoot the GGCA events but they were tied up both days and could not attend our shoots. Next year we will have our own stand-alone event.

Gary Fatheree shooting his G. Leute Double Rifle

Gary Fatheree shooting his G. Leute Double Rifle

The Double rifle shoot was held Saturday morning. Gary Fatheree won the double rifle shoot using a German-made hammer gun, makers name on the barrel is G. Leute in Munchen, chambered in 10.5 X 47 mm. It shoots a .429” 44 magnum 250-grain pistol bullet with 56 grains of Black Powder, no wadding for 1350 FPS. Cases are formed from 50/110 brass. I ran all the targets with no misses. The stalking rifle shoot was held on Friday evening on the same course as the double rifle. It required two shots on every target. I used a newly acquired early 1871 Mauser Bolt action single shot stalking rifle in 8.15X46R. I use a 180-grain cast bullet with 13 grains of 4227 powder. Cases are formed from 30/30 brass. This rifle was probably made for Hunter’s class running boar target shooting competition where single shot stalking rifles shooting open sights and chambered in the Scheutzen 8.15X46R cartridge were used. Sometime after it was made someone installed claw mounts for a scope and the rifle was most likely used to hunt European Roe Deer. There was no one keeping scores on the stalking rifle shoot as there were only a few of us shooting (see Schiffer’s narration).

Gary’s G. Leute Double Rifle opened up between targets.

Gary’s G. Leute Double Rifle opened up between targets.

 For the Scheutzen shoot. Tom Rowe and I shot our own rifles and offered others a chance to shoot them as well. Tom Rowe was shooting an American Ballard scheutzen rifle smithed by Richard Binger in .32-40.  I had a German Martini action rifle in 8.15X 46R.  Here are pictures of my rifles.

Gary Fatherree


Gary’s Mauser model 1871 single shot action, 8.15 X 46R

G. Leute in Mucnchen Double Rifle  10.5 X 52R