Shiloh Rifle Forums

One of the pioneers of BPCR Silhouette passed yesterday in Cheyenne. Ron Long, my friend and long time BPCR shooter, maker of the Cody highwall and Ballards in Cody Wyoming and custom BPCR riles in his garage in Aurora, Colorado before moving to Cody, will be missed by everyone who knew him. I shot muzzle loaders with Ron for years and he made and shot wonderful front loaders also. Too many championships to list. He was instrumental in the BPCR Silhouette game. He was the first national champion!!! I could go on forever about his accomplishments and how he was a good friend but....... Here is a brief article outlining those early days:

"The competition was initiated in 1985 as an idea of some of the NRA’s Black Powder Committee members. In September an experimental match was held at the NRA’s Whittington Center outside of Raton, NM. More than 30 shooters from around the country got the word and made the trek to Raton. I was one. The next year another trial match was held. Attendance broke 50.

By this time the NRA powers-that-be decided BPCR Silhouette would be a viable sport and thus the very first National Championship was sanctioned. This time 71 competitors showed up. Ron Long of Denver and Steve Garbe of Montana tied for first place with scores of 60 out of 120 possible. Long won the shoot-off."

RIP Ron, I will miss spending time in your garage in Cheyenne talking and just being with you.

Dick/40-65RL

Sincere condolences for the loss of your friend. He sounds like someone who would have been good to ride the river with.

Dave

yeah, me too.

""he was such a good friend that when there was trouble you didn't have to look over your shoulder to see if he was standing there.
You knew DAMN WELL he was standing there'
Mr. Louis Lamour

Condolences on the loss of your friend.

Definitely a pioneer in the BPCRS game.
He has fought a long hard battle against Cancer.
I was fortunate enough to know him.

Kenny Wasserburger

Ron is a legend in the world of single shot rifles, and was extremely well known previously with muzzleloader rifles also. He was indeed instrumental in the success of Ballard Rifle co. in Cody, and the quality of the guns coming from there was due to Ron and all the other great talent employed at that company. Probably will never ever be another group of talented gunsmiths all at one company like there was at Ballard Rifle.
I knew he'd been struggling with health issues for years, but sad to hear of his passing.

Rest in the Lords Grace, my friend.

The shooting sports are greatly diminished.

Sad to hear that. I was a friend and shot with Ron when I lived in Colorado but lost touch. I remember like i5 was yesterday helping him manhandle a Bridgeport down into his basement. He was a printer by trade but loved muzzleloaders. He was always there with help and suggestions...he was a hell of a shot. He made his mark...Godspeed.
Richard

Met Ron at my first Silhouette match in Denver in 98. Bent the lever on my Shiloh trying to force a stubborn round. He was there with the solution and fixed it between two boards on a table behind the lines. I didn't know him well but appreciate what little time I did. Rest In Peace Ron.

Woody

Service is Friday, April 22 at 10:00 am at the North Christian Church, 2015 Tranquility Road, Cheyenne, WY.

My Hawken, purchased from Green River Rifle Works in the mid-'70's, has a Long lock and trigger.

He was certainly a leader in the types of fifle sports we all enjoy.

Clarence