THE WINNSBORO GUN CLUB
By
Maryann Miller

On Sunday, February 15, five undaunted men showed up on a cold, wet day to participate in the Center Fire Lever Action Cowboy Silhouette Match, which was held at the Harold Dodgen Memorial Range just outside of Winnsboro. When asked if the meet would be canceled due to the poor weather, Treasurer Loyd Moody said no. "We never cancel a match. On the other hand, the shooters may decide to cancel once they get here. But that seldom happens."

True to their commitment, the men slogged through the mud to set up the targets for the match. The targets, consisting of small metal replicas of rams, pigs, chickens, and ducks were positioned at varying distances in groups of ten. The entire course consists of 40 targets.

"This type of competition (Silhouette Matches) originated in Mexico," Loyd explained. "They used live animals, and if a shooter drew blood, he got to keep the animal.
"For obvious reasons, that got a bit inconvenient," he continued with an easy smile. "So they switched to the metal targets."

In order to score, the target must be knocked down. According to Own Lawrence, who is a founding member of the club, a perfect score is rare in this kind of match. "In pistol matches it's not unusual for a shooter to get all forty. But it's different with the rifles."
"The number of targets you hit determines your class," Loyd said. "And you are always put with shooters of similar ability. You never shoot against a higher skill level."

Four men shot that day, blaming cold ammunition and glare off the remnants of snow for some misses. "Sure, we prefer to hit the targets," said Travis Ramsey of Yantis. "But nobody gets upset over the misses. This is a nice group of people, and we just like to have fun."

The men joked and laughed a lot, but the tone turned serious when it was time to fire. Strict safety rules are enforced, and everyone has a healthy respect for range protocol, which includes never leaving a loaded weapon in the rack. "This is probably one of the safest places to be," said Don Coffey, who lives outside Winnsboro.

Other matches the club sponsors includes Muzzle Loading, Pistol Silhouette, and special Sporter .22 Rifle Silhouette. This year, they have added several events throughout the 2004 schedule as part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration of Winnsboro.

On Sunday, the 21st of March there will be an exhibit and demonstration of vintage weapons. From Flintlock to Caplock: The Rifle and Shotgun in Early Western Expansion (1800-1855).
Sunday, April 18th is the date for another exhibit and demonstration. A Nation Divided: Firearms of the American Civil War (1860-1965).
May 15th, a Saturday, the third exhibit and demonstration will be held. The Guns That Won The West: Rise of the Self-contained Cartridge & Repeating Firearms (1865-1900).
The fourth event will be held on Sunday, August 29th. Guns of the Western Front: Military Small Arms of WWI (1914-1918).
The final exhibit and demonstration will be held on Sunday, October 31st. From Pearl Harbor to D-Day: Allied & Axis Small Arms of WWII (1939-1945).

Loyd Moody, who is organizing the exhibits with Owen Lawrence, said that the demonstrations will feature either vintage or accurate replicas of the weapons of that era. If anyone has antique guns that they would like to exhibit, they can contact Loyd at 903-967-2721. "We're excited about the exhibits," he said. "This is one way we can contribute to the Sesquicentennial since we can replicate the historical events of the time."

A member of the club since 1990, Loyd, who lives in Quitman, said he has always had a fascination with vintage guns. "My father and I collected 19th century firearms when I was probably 12 years old. I just kept that interest. At the time those firearms were viewed as just another tool, like an axe or a plow. The weapons that were built are fine examples of the industrial capability of the time. That appeals to me because I like engineering and machine work."

The Winnsboro Gun Club was started in 1980, and membership numbers about 170, covering a wide area of East Texas and Arkansas. There are some members from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, and one member lives in Wichita, Kansas. It is not necessary to be a collector or to have expensive equipment to be a member. Annual dues can vary and are currently $48.00, with an initiation fee of half that amount. The matches are invitational, so a shooter does not have to be a member. The usual match fee is $5.00 and there is a match almost every Sunday morning.

For more information about the club and match schedule call Owen Lawrence at 903-967-2552 or George Hitz at 903-342-5446