Control of the Bisley Camp

Submitted by Joseph M. Hepsworth.... also appeared in "Shooting Sports USA" March 2006....... The U.S. long range team placed first at 900 and 1000 yards, setting a new world record. Bisley is the mecca for long range black powder target shooting.

Larry Pletcher | October 15, 2006 | Comments (2)

Early in 2005, the United States International Muzzle Loading Long Range Team was organized to represent the U.S. in the Muzzle Loaders Associations International Committee Long Range World Championships held at Bisley Camp, Surrey, United Kingdom, Sept. 12 to 17, 2005. Hosted by the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain, these matches continue to be a revival of the long range Muzzleloading competitions held in Great Britain between 1860 and 1890. Shot at ranges of 300, 500, 600, 900, and 1000 yards with either original or replica long range percussion match rifles, the matches duplicate the environment and spirit of those times.

A year ago a call went out to find shooters for a team to enter the fifth world championships. The end result saw 13 highly skilled competitors from the U.S.- Dave Gullo of Idaho; Ray Hopkins of Ohio; Howard Markham of California; Joe Martinez of New Mexico; Tom Matpack of Ohio; David Munch of Ohio; Mike Pifer of Connecticut; Al Roberts of Alabama; Al Schings of Connecticut; Lee Shaver of Missouri; Richard Vrooman of Washington; Mon Yee Jr. of Kansas; and Joe Hepsworth from Ohio. Due to lack of special funding, most team members paid their own way. The team gathered at Bisley Camp a couple of days before the matches, on time and in good repair.

In 2005, the MLAGB wanted to include as many shooters at the Bisley championships as possible, so it organized the program to allow not only team shooting but individual competition as well. The U.S. midrange and long-range four-man teams were chosen from the recorded individual scores. Shooting was performed at 300, 500, 600 yards and then at 900 and 1000 yards. This allowed all participants to shoot and win prizes, either for individual or team scores. The participating countries were Britain, France, Germany, Sweden (with members from Denmark and Norway), Switzerland and the U.S.

A number of participants shot original rifles, including Roberts and Markham. The most popular replica rifle proved to be the Pedersoli Gibbs.451 Long Range Muzzle Loading match rifle. Most shooters used bullets weighing between 530 and 550 grains and used enough powder to achieve a muzzle velocity of 1300 feet per second.

Saturday started with practice at the 600-yard line, and on Sunday, the U. S. team presented at the clubhouse for rifle inspection. The day also allowed for more practice at 600 yards. On Monday, the scheduled matches began with the U. S. team squadded to practice at 300, 500, 600 yards.

Individuals shot for score on Tuesday and Wednesday morning at 300, 500, and 600 yards. Wednesday afternoon marked the start of the team matches at 300 and 500 yards with the midrange team consisting of members Hopkins, Gullo, Shaver, and Hepsworth. Team matches were completed on Thursday with the 600-yard match. Throughout the competition, conditions varied from fair to rainy. Though the U. S. did not win, the team fared well, coming in fifth after beating Britain by two Vs.

Practice was held Thursday afternoon, in anticipation of Friday’s 900- and 1000-yard individual matches. The U. S. long-range team consisted of Gullo, Hopkins, Munch, and Roberts. Through hard work and true team effort, the U. S. long-range team won the matches on Saturday, and in view of the team’s excellent performance, won the 5th MLAIC Long Range World Championships.

Overall, the combined USIML mid-range and long-range teams won nine gold, three silver, and 1 bronze medal, setting a new world record in the long range in the process. Hopkins, a Newark OH, police officer, set a new muzzleloader world record at 900 yards and received gold medals in the replica-rifle, long-range-aggregate and grand-aggregate categories. In total, Hopkins won four gold medals, including one gold for the long-range team event, and a bronze for the 1000 yards individual competition in the replica class.

In addition to his long-range-team gold, Roberts won two individual gold medals shooting an original BSA Whitworth .451 rifle, including the long range and grand aggregate for original rifles. Roberts also won two silvers at 900 and 1000 yards in the original class during the individual matches. Gullo won a gold medal for his long-range–team performance, and the final team gold medalist, Munch added a silver in the replica-class individual matches at 900 yards.

The sixth world championships are expected to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in April 2007. Another U.S. Team will be formed prior to the championships with the hopes of continuing the tradition of excellence the preceding teams have set. Any U.S. shooter interested in participating in 2007 should contact Joe Hepsworth for additional information at (740) 345-6646 or joe@jcunard.com

Bisley Scores