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The late Ed Shilen

jamesdmock

jamesdmock

I have been blessed to know many of the icons of Benchrest shooting. I thought that I would share some of my pictures of those who have passed for the young shooters who were not privileged to have met them. I will post more later. Below is Mr. Ed Shilen with his first rifle..a 4-lug design. Thanks for the memories.Scanned 044 (2).JPG
 
I love the history of our shooting roots. I get kind of emotional thinking about it. I can teach my grandkids what I have learned and that is always changing. But I don't think they can really understand my sadness of seeing old memories slip away as many leave mortality.
Jack O'Conner, Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, Shilen and Douglas barrels. Blackburn metal......
 
We also need to remember Bill Hull. Bill ran the Shilen barrel shop for many years and is the father of the present owner Wade Hull. Bill was my shooting traveling partner for many years. Bill was a Marine Corp vet, a tunnel rat in Vietnam, and passed away too early from cancer and kidney failure attributed to chemicals used in the Vietnam War (conflict). He was a MARINE until he passed!
 
Probably worth a mention but a lot of that early success up in Dryden NY was owed to Ross Sherman, one of the all time great machinists. He made some impressive stuff.
 
If any of you care... Ed was more than a gunsmith. I first met him in the 70s and we flew gliders together for 15 years. His competition number was TM and we called him the "Texas Munchkin". His personal airplane was a beautiful Cessna 337. Fast forward 20 years and we again met up in Vintage motor racing where he campaigned a very quick Formula Ford. He was also a member of the Society of Antique modelers and built quite a few vintage style ignition model gas model airplane engines. All that time I had no idea who he was in the real world and it wasn't until I got involved in shooting about 5 years ago that I found out. FYI I put a Shilen select match barrel on my Savage 10 and it shoots great.
 
I am constantly surprised how many shooters were in the race business--I am a new shooter but built race cars and engines for decades--over and over I discover fellow shooters have racing backgrounds--the skills cross over pretty well. The winning mindset , the tenacity, the testing rigor, the precise measuring and machine work--and..the Grit to persist and Win!
I retired and had a couple of years where my wife kept asking what next? I kept saying I will find my next passion--and Finally I did! Shooting , rifle building, reloading has a lot of the same thrills on a Much lower budget--and the friendships and camaraderie are exactly the same.
I have to say that this site has been a life saver for me--Thanks ACCURATE SHOOTER!!
I have a Shilen barrel that simply Hammers--The legend lives on--Thanks for the history lesson
 
Way back in the early ’70’s in one of the Gun Publications there was an article about the new trend in Benchrest, with the advent of the new synthetic stocks and short barrels. The rifle shown on the bench was built on maybe a little Remington 600 or perhaps a XP100 With about a 20 inch barrel.

The guy sitting at the bench was Ed Shilen.

I wish I could find that picture.
 
That rifle in the first picture is or recently was at Bob White's Shooter's Corner. I think it sold to the Shilen people after being in the estate of a gent who collected 4 lugs and Superiors. (Sherman's)
 
dusterdave173 said:
I am constantly surprised how many shooters were in the race business--I am a new shooter but built race cars and engines for decades--over and over I discover fellow shooters have racing backgrounds--the skills cross over pretty well. The winning mindset , the tenacity, the testing rigor, the precise measuring and machine work--and..the Grit to persist and Win!
I retired and had a couple of years where my wife kept asking what next? I kept saying I will find my next passion--and Finally I did! Shooting , rifle building, reloading has a lot of the same thrills on a Much lower budget--and the friendships and camaraderie are exactly the same.
I have to say that this site has been a life saver for me--Thanks ACCURATE SHOOTER!!
I have a Shilen barrel that simply Hammers--The legend lives on--Thanks for the history lesson
Click to expand...
This is me in 1977 at the Shrimp and Petroleum Regatta at Morgan City Louisiana Running a 399 CID Big Block Chevy in APBA 5 lap competition.

Like many who frequent this Web Site, I was rather insane in my younger years.
Al Nyhus is another shooter who has spent his life seeking speed and continues to work in the Hot Rod World figuring out ways to eke out every last bit of power in NHRA Stock and Super Stock Engines.
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Does anyone know if Ed shot silhouette handgun. I was told I have his pistol built on a Shillin BPS action by Dever. Thanks, Bruce
 
Nice write up, James. One of the most enduring memories in shooting is being part of the team that won the Ed Shilen Memorial Trophy at the 2022 NBRSA Score Nationals. Long after we're all dust in the wind, people will look back and continue to be impressed by Mr. Shilen's contributions to the accuracy game.

Good shootin' :) -Al
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