As far as how many titles have been won, I might be mistaken in my numbers, but somewhere Bassham wrote that he was sitting something like 3rd with 33, don't know who was 2nd, with 36, and Wigger was number 1 with 129. Before the NRA Shooting Sports went to it's current format in magazine style, they ran three articles on the 50 best shooters, it was interesting.

Yes, these people are each very approachable, but I'm always awestruck by genuinely accomplished folk.

JB,
Thanks for posting that , I knew Wigger was runaway with the titles but like you I can't remember who was second.
M

Here is Lones Wigger talking about his election to the Olympic Hall of Fame and how the internet voters put him over the top. I know I voted for him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKQQmqAQs7Q

bragging came from the actual shot show.

Unless you have shot the Southern Nationals in Winnsboro, LA. you have never really shot a Silhouette Match. It is different from any other endeavor I have participated in. In a NRA publication I read, Mike Anti asked Lones Wigger what it took to take the Gold in the Olympics. Wigger replied "You must think about the Olympics every day." I am not the best Silhouette marksman out there but I still think about Winnsboro a minimum of once a day. Sometimes many times during the day. Wigger and Lawton who excelled in other Rifle disciplines(Olympic and Highpower across the course) have shot the Southern Nationals many times. If you run from the Southern Nationals during your Silhouette career, you do not deserve much respect.

Why do most of the other previously mentioned outstanding Marksman in this post avoid the Southern Nationals?

Bobby R. Huddleston

Lawton's first forty in a row was shot at Winnsboro...before the match became famous.

Innocent M

Mr Lawton shot his SECOND Forty-in-a -row at Winnsboro. He had previously shot a perfect 40 at the NRA Nationals in Ft Worth about 1988. Robert Massey was his spotter both times. If you have never seen these two competitors shoot and spot from the line, you are missing a treat.

Atomic, We think about the match every day and how we can make it better for the competitors! We are already thinking about 2011!

Make it better?! Ducky, most of us leave Winnsboro with glazed eyes anyway, even without the beer wagon! Careful that you don't make make the overload toxic...

You can never be good enough. We strive each year to make the match the best ever. What do you think keeps me and Jerry going? We are having too much fun thinking up stuff for the match. Most of what we do, we have stolen the ideas from someone!

For more clarification, we will have more prizes this year than ever. As of this post, we have 9 new sponsors for a total of 125 National sponsors! The Twentieth Anniversary will be really special

If you run from the Southern Nationals during your Silhouette career, you do not deserve much respect. Bobby R. Huddleston[/quote]

Bobby, please explain your comment you made. If I hear you right people who have shot this sport for most of their life and hold many national and state tiltes(more than you can count on your hands) but have not shot the Southern Nationals are not worth "much respect" . I think you need to rethink your comment sir. I shoot with many people who have not shot the Southern Nationals who are better than most out there and I respect them 110% for what they have done for the sport and all the new shooters they mentor along the way and "they do not deserve respect". You sir need to rethink your comment that you posted on this board. I know it's your opinion and that you are intitled to your opinion but this is not the forum to disrespect shooters who have never shot at the Southern Nationals. I have not shot there only because it conflicts with other things that I have planed for the year. I'm a master level shooter and have shot at 56 out of 60 and have won State titles, so does that mean I should be frowned upon just cause I havent been to the Southern Nationals? I have nothing against the Southern Nationals and would VERY much like to shoot them at some time in my life. Maybe next time you'll pull your foot of your mouth before you post a comment like that again.When I do make it down to the Southern Nationals I'll make DAMM sure that I dont show YOU any RESPECT!!! Have a nice day Bobby.


Matthew Hall

Unless you have shot the Southern Nationals in Winnsboto, LA. you have never really shot a Silhouette Match.

That is quit a statement you made there. I guess all the shooters in the CB in PeEll haven't shot silhouette.

Duckgumbo and I have both shot in both CBC and Southern Nationals... I will state that they are two well run and fun matches. As for respect of shooters, I understand Bobby from a different point of view, but then I have met and shot next to him in many matches, as I have with many others that have objected to his remark. There is a slight twist to Bobby's sense of humor that does not come through in his writing, just as many of my cracks are not always taken in the manner that they were intended.
A match that conflicts wtih the Southern Nationals is the Iron Man, one that I have not shot as yet and would like to do, but when you factor in the costs versus the prizes and the distance travelled for me, the Southern Nationals will take first choice. While I have shot with the hosts of Iron Man, and I know many of the competitors that do shoot in it, I still respect the shooters there and will maybe someday have the opportuinty to attend.

As for who is the best all around shooter ( in my book), and a humble man as well...Col Lones Wigger, a man that I have shot next to in many matches over the last 36 years of competitons.

Mary

"Unless you have shot the Southern Nationals in Winnsboto, LA. you have never really shot a Silhouette Match" with free beer.

As once again the voice of reason, I believe I have settled this dispute with those three little words we should all tell our significant others on Sunday.

Thank you Hambone for the clarification! Those three words are PERFECT!

Mary, Thank you for some clarification of Bobby's comments.

I have shot in Washington State and must say that it is a great match and a MUST attend in your lifetime match. Extremely well run and the fastest and most efficient target setters on the planet. The venue is picturesque, the competitors second-to-none and the hospitality equal to our famous Southern Hospitality.

That being said, I want to encourage everyone to try and attend our Twentieth Anniversary Southern National Regional Air Rifle & Smallbore Rifle Silhouette Championship. We will treat you so many ways that you have to like at least one!