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Event Calender,(post your shoots) NMLRA Bill Large Match at Friendship Chunk talk? (On the Lodge board) Wahpanipe Club Alvin C. York page Trammel Brothers InterNational Shoot 1904 Shoot
The Father of modern day Chunk shooting
Bill Large with his Log Gun Old Hanner
The Godfather of Chunk Shooting.
A.W.Coon 1985 CHUNKGUNS / OVER-THE-LOG / MATCH SHOOTING
These are three of the most common terms used over the years to describe black powder shooting matches or contests. More than 300 years ago in Germany, match shooting was like NFL football today. Shooting matches were the sport of the elite, but everyone came to watch.
As the muzzle loading rifles migrated to the colonies and evolved into an everyday working man tool, match shooting still remained. Shooting at a mark was the term of that period. Old records show some of the matches were shot at 40 yards offhand or 60 yards prone. Prone, meaning laying down and resting the rifle over a log, hence the term, over-the-log.
Over the years, the muzzle loading rifles became less of an everyday tool and more of a sporting rifle used for target shooting. Gun smiths began building heavier, longer barreled rifles just for competitive shooting. The prone position became a popular way to allow everyone, old and young, an equal chance of winning.
In the hills and hollers of Tenn. and NC, match shooting never stopped. It is a time honored sport that has never died and never will. There is nothing like, hitting your mark or as we call it today, shooting a four-legged spider.
Well, there you have it, over-the-log shooting is one of the fastest growing areas in muzzle loading rifle competition. Last year there were more than 40 different over-the-log matches held across the country. And in some of these matches, we just shoot 10 shots and that's it. The competitiveness is fierce and the fellowship the greatest in the world. (R.B.)
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