Jack Parker

[Shoot2Thrill]

Jack Parker passed away. He was a silhouette pioneer in Western Pennsylvania at Jackson Center until Elgin Gates lured him to Idaho.
http://obituaries.sharonherald.com/stor ... -817541141

[Shoot2Thrill]

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[260 Striker]

Read the obit. Sounds like Jack was a great guy. Isn't that really Ron Ricci on the left?

[Shoot2Thrill]

Yes Lynn, it is.

[david bradshaw]

Dear Steel Shooters,
News of Jack Parker's death rips the rug from under me. Today, thanks to a note from Philip Braud, I view IHMSA Forum for the first time. Responded to a thread on temperature and Point of Impact this afternoon, which evidently must be vetted before it is posted.

The photo at top shows, left-to-right, Region One Director Ron Ricci, David Bradshaw, and Pennsylvania Director Jack Parker. Ricci and Parker hold the Vermont flag. This shooter stands on a pile of 80 silhouettes, having just set the 80x80 Record. The scene is Jackson Center, Pennsylvania 1978.The pistol is an XP-100 with Douglas Premium 1:9 barrel, chambered in 7mm Talbot, a.k.a. 7mm Gates, a.k.a. 7mm/308x1-3/4". The stock is a George Petersen Thumbhole from Petersen's Western Gunstock shop. Skip Talbot, whom owned the 40x40 and 60x60 Records, performed the masterful machine work. Front sight a .075" blade, with a Micro rear. Ammo consisted of Twin Cities 1968 .308 brass formed in RCBS dies. The Hornady 139 Spire Point took care of chickens, pigs, and turkeys. Nosler 140 Partition for rams. Powder was either IMR or Hodgdon 4895; I'd have to look up the charge. Primers likely were CCI BR-2.

It was hotter than the hinges of Hell. We shot in the open----those days there were very few covered silhouette lines. Jack Parker spotted, brilliantly. Jack had played football with the semi-pro Pittsburg Ironman. He could toss silhouettes like skipping stones. He possessed a cunning humor and cool demeanor. We hit it off immediately. With Ron Ricci it was something of a trio. Ricci's skill as a match director attracted the likes of Warren Center, Dan Wesson, and Bill Ruger to his tournaments.

Parker went on to work with Elgin Gates at IHMSA headquarters in Idaho Falls. It was in Idaho, shooting rifle silhouettes with Jack, that reminded me buffaloes stand pretty still in a wind. We shot his Ruger M77 bull barrel .308, and I just could not touch him on rams... or chickens.
A great spirit, Jack Parker.
David Bradshaw

[Hosspower]

Those early matches at Jackson Center were some of my dad's favorite stories to tell.

Thanks for adding info about Jack. I didn't know he played for the ironman.

Dave Edney, the late father of shoot 2 thrill and myself.

[westonz28]

I had the pleasure of buying my first XP from Jack. It was a full length 308. You needed it to take the full foot rams of the old days. I still rang some rams with a 168 hornady with 35 grains of 4895. The 308 was built by Sinclair and it shot better than I did at that time. I still have the gun but rebarreled it to 7br. I am glad to see an old friend join us. Welcome David Bradshaw long time hearing from you. Do not be a stranger, you have a ton of knowledge that you can pass on to todays shooters.