The New Jersey Arms Collector's Club Inc.

The Arms Collectors would like to publicly thank the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs for the use of their Cherry Ridge Range Facility, located near Vernon, NJ. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we could not hold this shoot without their greatly appreciated help.

On Saturday January 20, 2018 the New Jersey Arms Collectors Club (NJACC) sponsored its 21st annual Historical Winter Firearms Match in honor of the American men and women who endured the rigors of winter combat from Valley Forge to Korea and to allow participants to demonstrate their personal marksmanship skills using the relics of history.

Thirty plus stouthearted military arms collectors, reenactors, weaponologists, and friends came from the hinterlands of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York to brave the early morning bone chilling sub-arctic like temperature of 27°F and coalesce at the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs' (ANJRPC) Range at Highland Lakes, New Jersey for a day of friendly marksman competition and fine post match cuisine.

Match participants brought prized examples of the now collectable rifles used by soldiers in long ago winter war confrontations to compete for trophies and the chance to become world famous in New Jersey by being mentioned in this report. With the exception of three events requiring the use of scoped rifles, contest rules required shooters fire 10 rounds in 2 minutes at a standard SR21-C target placed at the 50 yard line. Targets for the scoped rifle contests were placed at the 100 yard line.

This year there were a total of twenty-one (21) events in the course of fire consisting of fifteen (15) military battle themed rifle contests along with six (6) additional matches specifically designed to test the participant's skill in the cold hand use of civilian target or hunting rifles in typical winter survival like conditions.

A quick tour of the benches disclosed participants brought a gun show-like assortment of U.S, British, German, Finnish, Russian, Swiss, Swedish, and Yugoslav military rifles along with a respectable collection of civilian hunting and target firearms.

The US was well represented by Springfields, Garands, and ARs. There were a number of fine Mosin Nagant rifles including a near mint Westinghouse Model 91. One shooter brought a collection of outstanding rifles among which were a seldom seen French MAS 49/56 semi-automatic rifle and equally rare Suomi M31 semi-auto. There was a large assortment of .22 caliber rifles both civilian and military trainer models and several of the superbly accurate Swedish Model M96 and M38 Mausers seen on the line. For the aficionados of the exotic and funky there was a Mauser 71 rifle entered in the Klondike black powder event. Ultra-cool even on a cold day. Dwayne P. shot as good as he looked in the Mountain Man contest.

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The match commenced more or less precisely at around 10:00A just in time to prevent frost bite from setting in. The matches were conducted under the sharp eyes and joint supervision of ANJRPC Range Safety Officers Cletis D., Enoch M., and NJACC Shoot Chairman Stan G. NJACC's own mighty hunter Dave J. once again helped fortify shooters on the line by providing the best pheasant stew this side of Hot Dog Johnny's in Buttzville, NJ. Dave also provided hot coffee and tea for those entrants needing a warm-up and break from the cold.

Deputy Shoot Chairman Steve S. assisted by Paul P. once again provided the unheralded but extremely valuable service of registering participants and collecting their money. He also collected targets thereby expediting the end of match results tallying and the awards process.

The rifle events were followed by a hearty lunch prepared lovingly for the match participants in the club house by the NJACC's own Gourmand Tom P. standing in for NJACC Madam laChef Barbara F who was otherwise occupied. This year's near Michelin award winning menu featured traditional boiled military grade Sabrett 100% pure beef hotdogs on buns, slathered with warm and crusty chili or smothered in sauerkraut and mustard along with a helping of enhancedPork and Beans and Vegetarian Baked Beans, all washed down with the finest soda available. A wholesome desert of assorted cakes and pies followed.

At the conclusion of this banquet, the winners of the rifle events were announced by Shoot Chairman Stan G. with some notable achievements:

High scores were the order of the of the day despite the frigid temperature. Top shooter was Jeff A. who scored 99-5X in the Alaska Hunter contest. He was followed closely by Dwayne P. in the Klondike contest with a 99-4X, Jay R. in the Heurtgen Forest contest also with a 99-4X, and Paul M. with a 99 in the Battle of the Bulge Bolt match.

John R. walked away with the coveted Fredericksburg trophy this year using a 1861 Springfield musket to score an impressive 88-2X proving once again that some of those antiques still shoot well. Mike E. took the win in the Simo Haha Winter Sniper match with scoring an "X" using a Desert Tech SRS-15 just squeaking out Andy G. also with an X. Mike's X was closer to the center and he was declared the Winner by a unanimous decision.

Andy did win the Polar Bear match with is Ruger Precision Rifle.


Chase P. shot an outstanding 45/50 in the Battle of Trenton with his SMOOTHBORE FLINTLOCK MUSKET .



The Cpt. Greist/1Lt. Haver Trophy was awarded to Jess D. who used a Ruger Mini 14 in the Afghan Hills Event for the highest score by a female shooter by firing an impressive 84-2X. She was just beat out for the Young Warrior,(highest score for a shooter under 18 years old), contest by Jesse K.(17) who scored 90 in the Scandinavian Bolt Contest with a Swedish Mauser.

Also worthy of note, Jeff A., Chase P., and Dwayne P. were the big winners of the day with multiple wins. Jeff won four events, and Dwayne and Chase each won two (2) trophies.

The NJACC extends a big thank you to all match participants, ANJRPC range officials, and everyone else that came out and helped make the day a big success.

The next NJACC vintage military rifle match which is conducted under the aegis of the Shongum Sportsmen's Association will be held in March or April at the their range in Oxford NJ. A flyer with details will be posted on the NJACC website at www.njacc.info when the match details and logistics are finalized.

The Shongum Sportsmen's Association will be sponsoring a fun shoot on Feb. 10, 2018 This is our TV-Land Cop Show Shoot held at the indoor SSA Pistol Range. Competition is with Handguns of you favorite TV-Cop. This is a fun fund-raiser shoot that benefit the local PBA and Fire Departments. Flyers on the NACC Website.

2018 NJACC Schedule of Events