How about that? I’m a ‘master’

I just checked the calendar to make sure I had the proper date on this column and it dawned on me — this year is already half over!

I remember as a child that oftentimes the days just seemed to drag by, especially in the summer after school was out. As I got older, I learned that there weren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I needed to do. Now I just marvel at how fast time is passing by. I guess it’s an age-related thing.

Speaking of age-related things, I was involved in a humorous incident at the two-day, 1,000-point, three-gun blackpowder pistol match held this past weekend at the Upper Susitna Shooters Association shooting range near Talkeetna.

Mike Kelly, one of the better pistol shooters at the match, was firing one of his limited-time-fire targets. The relay finished and Mike went down to pull his target and post a new one for the next relay. I noticed a penny and a nickel lying on the cement where Mike had been standing and commented to another guy watching the shooting that Mike must have lost some change. Before I could pick the coins up, the other guy had them on the shooting bench. When Mike returned, we both pointed out that he had dropped some change and that it was on the bench.

Mike gave us both an odd look and then explained to us the coins had been intentionally placed where they were so he could position his feet in the same place for each of the ten shots in the relay. Since it was a timed-fire target, he had to quickly assume his shooting stance to get each shot off. The coins helped him position himself quickly and consistently.

We both apologized for messing up his shooting situation. Mike chuckled, said it was no big deal and promptly replaced the coins in their previous locations. As he was standing up, he commented that what happened must be an age-related thing since only somebody over 60 would bother to pick up a penny, or even a nickel for that matter. Since both the other guy and I are each looking backward at the big 6-0, he just might have a point. However, I did suggest that he might use some small rocks next time, since not even us geezers would try to pick them up.

This 1,000-point match was a first for Alaska and is relatively new for any state to host. Normally, this type match has been reserved for either regional or national shoots held in the Lower 48. The purpose of the match being held here, other than the obvious competition, was to encourage shooters to complete the course of fire and then receive a classification as to their shooting abilities. With that classification, the shooter can more easily participate in future regional or national matches shooting against their peer groups of similarly ranked and skilled shooters.

The classifications, from lowest to highest, are: marksman, sharpshooter, expert and master. If a shooter attends this type match at a regional or national shoot without a classification, they are automatically grouped with the master-class shooters and given the rank of unclassified master until they have completed the course of fire. The total score they achieve will then allow them to be placed in the correct classification.

The three-gun requirement involves targets shot with cap-and-ball revolvers similar to those used back around 1860; percussion, single-shot pistols like the so-called Kentucky pistol; and flintlock, single-shot pistols, again similar to the pistols used back in the late 1700s. A little research in the rulebook reveals that the revolver could double as the percussion gun too, as long as it was only loaded with a single shot for each of the 10 shots in each relay for the percussion gun.

I had no illusions about winning any matches, and attended for the comradeship and to get some shooting practice in. I’m also working on getting my National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association range safety officer certification and I needed some practical experience running the firing line. I only fired four of the 10 required targets to fully participate toward the 1,000-point possible total. But I did fire at least one target with each of my three guns, including firing my flintlock pistol for the first time ever — and in a match to boot. Also, by not completing the course of fire, I am still ranked as an unclassified master shooter — the only time I will ever have the term “master shooter” associated with my name.

When the smoke cleared and the scoring was complete, Mike DeLand took home the top marksman plaque, Keith Bayha took the top sharpshooter and Mike Kelly took home the expert classification award. Nobody shot high enough scores to fall into the master category. Six guys got their marksman classification: Jeffery Binegar, Shawn Kelly, Pat Reed, Mike DeLand, Keith Mathis and Calvin Pope. Tyler Kelly shot as a junior-class shooter for the required two 10-shot relays and scored a 162X. This score is high enough to have won a national title if it had been fired in a national match.

And finally, congratulations to Keith Bayha, the NMLRA field representative for Alaska, who was honored as the field representative of the year by the NMLRA at its recent Western Regionals held in Arizona. We’re lucky to have a person with Keith’s knowledge, expertise and dedication working with us here in Alaska.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.