Letters from Readers

I am pleased to announce the Board of Directors of the Billings Rod and Gun Club have approved the following “Schuetzen Matches” for May 16, June 20, September 19 and October 17, 2026. The Billings Rod and Gun Club is located at 2931 Rod and Gun Club Road, Billings, Montana 59106.

Registration for the matches will begin at 10:00 a.m., with a competitor meeting following registration. A detailed summary for the competition is as follows:

Northern Plains Schuetzenfest Rules
Billings Rod & Gun Club
Pistol, Muzzleloader and Rimfire Range

This is a traditional 22 rimfire Schuetzen rifle match, organized as close as possible to the Schuetzenfest and Schuetzen rifle matches held in the United States of America during the time period between 1890 and 1917. This period is generally considered the heyday of the Schuetzenfest competitions.

This competition is a single shot rifle, Schuetzen-style match. Eligible single shot rifles are of 22 Short or 22 Long Rifle caliber, patented and manufactured prior to 1917, or faithfully reproduced replicas. However, any contestant may shoot non-Schuetzen style rifles as long as they are single shot and the action and construction of the rifle conforms to the pre-1917 patent date for sporting or military rifles.

The range consists of four tables suitable for two contestants and shooting accoutrements on each table (one shooter on each side) for total of eight competitors for each relay. Ammunition is limited to 22 Short and 22 Long Rifle, loaded with lead bullets, and a factory stated velocity of not more than 1,250 feet per second.

Rifles may be equipped with iron sights, scopes or tube sights. Sights and scopes must conform to the standard of the industry prior to 1917. Scopes will not be larger than ¾-inch tube with not more than a 1½-inch objective bell, no internal reticle adjustments and are limited to 10-power. Tube sights conforming to the previous mentioned restrictions are acceptable. All Unertl, Fecker, Lyman, Winchester, Stevens, Malcolm and Litschert scopes conforming to the previous mentioned restrictions are acceptable regardless of patent or manufacturing date. This includes reproductions of the above-mentioned scopes. No micrometer target sights such as Olympic-style Lyman or Redfield models are acceptable.

All segments of the match will be shot offhand with no support. No shooting coats, gloves or other clothing providing support to the shooter will be allowed. Offhand stands with or without cartridge loading blocks attached, for safety considerations, will be allowed to assist the contestant in removing spent cartridges and reloading the rifle without placing the rifle on the table. The offhand stand must not assist the shooter in any way in making a shot. There is no provision for a sight-in period before or during the match.

Handicapped shooters are welcome but will shoot the matches from an unsupported firing position and conform to safety standards, rules and regulations of the match. The shooter will shoot the same rifle with the same iron sights, scope, or tube sight for all segments of the match. This is to state that the competitor may not change his rifle or sight configuration for the duration of the match.

All firearms located on the premises will be cased and stored in the case until the individual shooter is called to his shooting position, whereupon the shooter will uncase his rifle, placing it upon the bench, action open and muzzle pointed down range. When the match has been terminated, the shooter will re-case his rifle, and it will remain cased until the shooter is called to his next shooting position. In the event maintenance of the rifle is required, the shooter will take the rifle, in the case, to his vehicle and perform said maintenance within the confines of his vehicle, and re-case the rifle and return the rifle to the match.

Every contestant is a guest and will conduct themselves accordingly. Any disrespectful conduct, as determined by the Schuetzenmeister, will not be tolerated. This conduct may result in the perpetrators’ ejection from the property, and forfeiture of all paid entry fees.

All segments of the match will be shot at 100 yards, except for the Schuetzen/Silhouette Match, which will be shot at the following ranges:

The “Schuetzen Match” will be 10 rounds for score on the 100-yard Wyoming Schuetzen Union German Ring target. Each shooter will place 10 rounds in his loading block, and that ammunition will be shot for score. Ten minutes will be allocated to fire the match. Each shooter will post his individual target, corresponding to his shooting position. The following relay shooter will retrieve previous shooter’s target and present it to the Schuetzenmeister. The shooter is not allowed to handle his target after firing for score. The only acceptable alibi will be that of faulty ammunition. One minute will be allowed for the shooter to fire his alibi shot. Scoring of the targets will be to the nearest “leaded edge”. In the event of a crossfire, the contestant that is fouled will deduct the lowest shot from his score, and the contestant that committed the crossfire will be scored with a miss.

The “Honor Match” will be three rounds for score on the 100-yard Wyoming Schuetzen Union German Ring target. Each shooter will place three rounds in his loading block, and that ammunition will be shot for score. Five minutes will be allocated to fire the match. Each shooter will post his individual target, corresponding to his shooting position. The following relay shooter will retrieve previous shooter’s target and present it to the Schuetzenmeister. The shooter is not allowed to handle his target after firing for score. The only acceptable alibi will be that of faulty ammunition. One minute will be allowed for the shooter to fire his alibi shot. Scoring of the targets will be to the nearest “leaded edge”. In the event of a crossfire, the contestant that is fouled will deduct the lowest shot from his score, and the contestant that committed the crossfire will be scored with a miss.

The “Man Match” will be a five-round for score competition utilizing a 100-yard “Man” target. Each shooter will place in his loading block five rounds, and that ammunition will be shot for score. Five minutes will be allocated to fire the match. Each shooter will post his individual target, corresponding to his shooting position. The following relay shooter will retrieve the previous shooter’s target, presenting it to the Schuetzenmeister. The shooter is not allowed to handle his target after firing for score. The only alibi will be that of faulty ammunition. One minute will be allocated for the shooter to fire his alibi shot. Scoring of the target will be to the nearest “leaded edge”. In the event of a crossfire, the contestant that has been fouled will deduct the lowest scoring shot from his score, and the contestant committing the crossfire will be scored a miss.

The “Schuetzen/Silhouette” match will be five rounds for score on each silhouette target, for a 20-round match total. The shooter will place five rounds in his loading block and that ammunition will be shot at the appropriate Silhouette target for score. The shooter will be allocated five minutes to fire that segment of the match. The shooter will be responsible for painting and resetting the targets he shot. The targets are 3/8 scale NRA Pistol Silhouette Targets. There will be no spotters to assist the shooter, or additional sight verification for this segment of the match. These targets are reactive and a hit will only be counted if the Silhouette target leaves the rail in full. In the event of a crossfire, the contestant that has been fouled will count that shot as a hit, and the contestant that commits the crossfire will score a miss.

The “King Match” will be the final match of the competition and will consist of one shot for score by each contestant, firing on a 1908 German Schuetzen target. There will only be one shooter on the line and no other personnel. All other contestants may utilize spotting scopes behind the firing line to confirm and assist the Schuetzenmeister to record individual shots. In the event of a center hit the time- honored exclamation “Funf und Zwanzig” will shouted from the gallery of spotters and spectators to honor the shooter and the sport! At the end of the shoot, all contestants will sign their names on the target to their corresponding shots. Scoring of the target will be to nearest “leaded edge”.

The “Bracket Match” allows competitors to shoot to their potential and be rewarded for their efforts. Prior to the start of the match, each shooter will fill out an equipment list card and estimate his final score for the total match. The contestant will present this signed card to the Schuetzenmeister with their entry fee. The top three contestants shooting the final score closest to their estimated score will be declared the first, second or third place winners of the “Bracket Match”.

Contestants will pay a $10 range, target and expense recovery fee to the Schuetzenmeister. They will also pay a $30 entry fee to be returned to the shooters in the form of prizes. The contestant will present his equipment list and their estimated score for the Bracket Match to the Schuetzenmeister with his $40 entry fee prior to receiving his targets. The funds for prizes will be allocated as follows:

Considering 10 shooters this entry would yield a $300 pot to be paid back via the five individual matches. The funds will be allocated equally to the four matches or $50 per match. The winnings would be allocated to the shooters, 50 percent (or $25) to the winner, 30 percent (or $15) for second, and 20 percent (or $10) for third place. This allocation would be paid for the Schuetzen Match, the Honor Match, the Man Match, and the Schuetzen/Silhouette Match and the Bracket match. The King Match winner takes all (or $50).

The time allocation for the matches is 35 minutes for the match per relay, plus a five-minute sight verification period per relay. This allocates 20 minutes for restaging time between relays, or one-hour total time per relay. Initially, the range will be configured to allow four shooters per relay. Accordingly, considering 10 shooters, there would be two relays or with an approximately three-hour match duration. However, the range can be configured to a full capacity of eight shooters per relay or 24 shooters over the same three-hour time period. Considering that the shooting starts at 10:30 a.m., then possibly by 2:00 p.m. the match should be completed. If necessary, a fourth relay could be added to accommodate 32 shooters, and by 3:00 p.m. the match should be finished.

After the match has been completed, the shooters will retire to the Red Door Bar and Restaurant located in northwest Billings, Montana, close to 32nd Street, a main road when leaving Billings. We will have a private room with a dedicated hostess to take meal and refreshment orders, which will be billed “à la carte” with separate checks. This meeting will include the American Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, presentation of awards and a good time reminiscing about the match. Jokes appropriate to the audience may be told and enjoyed (with awards for the best joke) including “Funf und Zwanzig” in the spirit of the match! The final objective of this match is to promote camaraderie, honor our forefathers who left us this great legacy, as well as the freedom to enjoy Schuetzenfest. 

Sincerely,

Lon E. Morris