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Welcome!
Welcome to the new and improved Quigley Match website! Just because the website is new and improved doesn't mean that the shoot is any different! Please review the information below as well as the safety information provided under the "safety" tab. We hope to see you at the next match!
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Quigley 2022 Information Flyer
History of the Quigley
Tom Selleck in the movie Quigley Down Under. The Forsyth Rifle and Pistol Club has the exclusive honor of using Tom Selleck's image for anything concerning the Quigley Match.
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The idea for the Quigley Match was born on the drive back home to Forsyth from Miles City, MT, by Al Lee and Earnie Cornett after seeing the movie "Quigley Down Under" starring Tom Selleck. With an active gun club in Forsyth, there were a number of members already shooting single shot black powder cartridge rifles. The first Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match was held in 1991 with twenty-nine shooters.
Since that first match, "The Quigley" has grown to be the largest match of its kind in the world with over 600 competitors this year. Over the years shooters have joined us from 46 different states and nine countries. It has evolved into a two-day competition with eight shots for score on six steel silhouette targets at ranges from 350 to 805 yards. The Quigley's success can be attributed mainly to the camaraderie of its shooters who gather annually for an event where the shooting competition is often secondary to the opportunity to visit with old friends and make new ones. |
Breif History of Targets and Ranges
Written by: Gary Campbell
During the 1970’2 and 1980’s the club only had one target range on the Lee Ranch Dry Creek pasture. It was the Muzzle Loading range located just west of the east pasture fence and south of the creek. Al Lee, Ray Landreth, and Chuck Deering started experimenting with 45/70 single shot rifles. Al Lee and Chuck Deering used Rolling Blocks and Ray Landreth had a Sharps Boschardt as I remember. They shot at a cut bank across the creek from the then muzzle loading range.
Due to the bad road down Dry Creek we moved the muzzle loading range to the junction with the county road. As we were shooting mostly paper targets and had our own target carriers we could shoot almost anywhere. At this same time, of shortly thereafter Ray and Chuck came up with a chunk of heavy wall pipe and placed it where it is today. Just below the wind flag at the present muzzle loading range. The “First Buffalo Rifle Target” and the oldest target in the Dry Creek pasture, though it is not used much anymore.
Shooting Buffalo Rifles caught on and the Buffalo Rifle Range east of the county road came into being. The range slowly evolved into what it is today. Also, the program evolved – old – 2 sighters, 3 targets cross sticks, 2 targets off hand for a total of 25 for score. New – 1 sighter, 6 targets cross sticks for a total of 30 for score. This range also was used for a while for 22, long range 22, and lever action.
At the same time a walking muzzle loading range was put in on the west side of the county road and used for a while.
Carl Fahrenbruck moved the muzzle loading range to where it is now. Elwyn and Pat Brunner and I followed by moving the 22 and lever action targets to the new muzzle loading range. We grubbed out a lot of sage brush in the process. Later we moved the long range 22 targets to the same target area and established the long range 22 firing line.
The Quigley targets were started where the are now (some of Them) on the 2n Quigley shoot. Again, the placement of the firing line and targets slowly progressed along with the program through the years into what we have today.
The last range to be established in the Dry Creek pasture is the 1000-yard range. Located 1,000 yards from the Quigley #2 target, 2 square targets were placed to the left of the #1 buffalo, at 1000 yards and we had the Montana Governor’s Cup 1000-yard match. 10 shots at each – 40 for score. Later we decided it would be fun to shoot 800 yds., 900 yds., 1000 yds. and 1200 yds. 800- and 900-yard targets were installed.
The Black Powder Cartridge Rifle range was constructed on the Bruce Shaver ranch. Later a 22 Black Powder Cartridge Rifle course was added. At one time a pistol range and a schuetzen range were there.
Ellis Wolfe, until his passing had a great lever action shoot at his place.
There are several places we briefly attempted to shoot but abandoned. The muzzle loader range is now the most versatile and get the most use.
During the 1970’2 and 1980’s the club only had one target range on the Lee Ranch Dry Creek pasture. It was the Muzzle Loading range located just west of the east pasture fence and south of the creek. Al Lee, Ray Landreth, and Chuck Deering started experimenting with 45/70 single shot rifles. Al Lee and Chuck Deering used Rolling Blocks and Ray Landreth had a Sharps Boschardt as I remember. They shot at a cut bank across the creek from the then muzzle loading range.
Due to the bad road down Dry Creek we moved the muzzle loading range to the junction with the county road. As we were shooting mostly paper targets and had our own target carriers we could shoot almost anywhere. At this same time, of shortly thereafter Ray and Chuck came up with a chunk of heavy wall pipe and placed it where it is today. Just below the wind flag at the present muzzle loading range. The “First Buffalo Rifle Target” and the oldest target in the Dry Creek pasture, though it is not used much anymore.
Shooting Buffalo Rifles caught on and the Buffalo Rifle Range east of the county road came into being. The range slowly evolved into what it is today. Also, the program evolved – old – 2 sighters, 3 targets cross sticks, 2 targets off hand for a total of 25 for score. New – 1 sighter, 6 targets cross sticks for a total of 30 for score. This range also was used for a while for 22, long range 22, and lever action.
At the same time a walking muzzle loading range was put in on the west side of the county road and used for a while.
Carl Fahrenbruck moved the muzzle loading range to where it is now. Elwyn and Pat Brunner and I followed by moving the 22 and lever action targets to the new muzzle loading range. We grubbed out a lot of sage brush in the process. Later we moved the long range 22 targets to the same target area and established the long range 22 firing line.
The Quigley targets were started where the are now (some of Them) on the 2n Quigley shoot. Again, the placement of the firing line and targets slowly progressed along with the program through the years into what we have today.
The last range to be established in the Dry Creek pasture is the 1000-yard range. Located 1,000 yards from the Quigley #2 target, 2 square targets were placed to the left of the #1 buffalo, at 1000 yards and we had the Montana Governor’s Cup 1000-yard match. 10 shots at each – 40 for score. Later we decided it would be fun to shoot 800 yds., 900 yds., 1000 yds. and 1200 yds. 800- and 900-yard targets were installed.
The Black Powder Cartridge Rifle range was constructed on the Bruce Shaver ranch. Later a 22 Black Powder Cartridge Rifle course was added. At one time a pistol range and a schuetzen range were there.
Ellis Wolfe, until his passing had a great lever action shoot at his place.
There are several places we briefly attempted to shoot but abandoned. The muzzle loader range is now the most versatile and get the most use.
The Quigley Match is held on a working ranch north of Forsyth, MT. These are Lee Ranch yearling steers gathered and moving across the Quigley firing line for fall delivery, late September 2011.
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