Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-03


Oldest, best equipped, and with its
membership of 400 surprising that
of any similar organization in the
northwest, the Butte Gun club nears
the end of its thirty-fifth season.
TrapshOoters and experts with pis-
tolls, and both the army and small
bore rifles, have carried the fame Of
this club to all corners of the nation.
They have furnished the background
for a dozen other Montana clubs and
have attracted attention in regional
and national shoots of all kinds while
from South America to Alaska and
from Maine to California are former
Butte men who remain active menu
bers Of the club.
Organized shooting got its start In
Butte during the Indian wars of the
early '70'S. Senator w. A Clark, Henry
Williams and Granville Stuart led q
militia club that shot regularly back
of Columbia Gardens. When the In
dams were Subdued military practice
was thought unnecessary and rifle
shooting on an organized scale was
dropped.
Still a stirring memory where men
know their rifles, the Rocky Mountain
Rifle club was formed in 1896 and has
remained in the field, just a few years
ago merging with the old Rutte Rod
and Gun club under the name Of the
Butte Gun club.
Organizing the Rocky Mountain Rifle
club in 1896 were DR.. Schultz, Frank
Anderson, M. J.. Council, Carl Kruger.
Do1jCo Confo{r Wo1Lor nCltco Ct,iof
Jack Crawford, Christensen and
the only active survivor still with the
club. Those grand old timers shot at
the foot OF Montana street and used
the old Schutzen rifle. a German gun
with many attachments.
In 1906 the club was reorganized on
practically its preSen. scale. as a mill
tary club, using The United States army
Springfield rifle. Of those reorganizers
only Col. D. G. Stivers, for many years
president, and Mr.. Westphal, remain
active and the charter members ot
the N. r. A. in Montana.
On June 20, 1909, the present ex-
tensive grounds at Rocker were fired
over for the first time. Since then I'M
provementS Of many kinds in the way
of ranges, quarters and equipment have
been and are still being made from
time to time. Here the trapShoOters
of Montana gathered for their annual
state tournament in 1923 and here they
will compete again during July in their
annual state race for 1889.
From Jan. l until the hunting sea-
son opens each fall, trapshooters have
their weekly contests each year anG
the rif1emen start their season on the
same date, competing with army rifles
until the middle of May and then
concentrating on small bore shooting
Pistol competition is also staged each
Sunday.
Ranges are open to riflemen at al
distances from 200 to 600 yards. Fir
ing at 200 yards Is done during baC
weather from the club house windows
Small bore shooting, now in vogue
is gaining a large following and de-
voices are dividing into teams. Those
representing the gun club proper
American Legion and reserve officers
will meet in a series of competitions
to select a team or teams for promised
competition with clubs from many
other Montana cities.
Free instruction from experts who
have won national honors, has de-
velOped many new stars with the rifle
and it is from them will be nodded 9
team for Butte's usual big part In the
annual northwest tournament for both
military and civilian experts at Fort
MiSSOula.