The McLean County Peacemaker’s Club organizes monthly cowboy action shooting matches reminiscent of the wild west of the late 1800’s. The events are governed by the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and are open to anyone who can handle firearms safely regardless of gender, shooting skills, or age (parental supervision is required for all competitors under 21 years of age). Every match provides entrants with fun shooting challenges, a chance to practice their shooting skills, and an opportunity to build friendships among people with common interests.
Peacemakers’ Apr Cowboy Match Results
It was more than a little chilly this morning as 22 shooters blazed away at the steel bandits. I was unable to get the second tablet to sync with the main one, so posse 2 kept only a paper scoresheet and we hand-entered their scores afterwards. The 50/50 drawing was won by Father Fib, who donated his winnings back to the club.
The results are in. Top five are: Flaming Star, Midnight Justice, Wild Pike, Comstock Charley and Dangerous Dan McGrew. Five clean shooters are: Midnight Justice, Comstock Charley, Marshall RD, Tomahawk Johnson and Katie Twoshots. The scoresheets are linked below.
The Quigley match has been delayed one week to May 11 because of a date conflict at Darnall’s Range. Re-mark your calendars if you plan to shoot with us then.
Comstock Charley
aka: Jim Nelden
Peacemakers’ Spring Quigley Match Changed to May 11
Next month’s Quigley rifle shoot is being rescheduled to May 11 due to a date conflict at Darnall’s Range. I’ve attached a revised flyer to reflect this change.
Also, last minute reminder that our April cowboy match is TODAY (April 20). Dress warmly.
Comstock Charley
Peacemakers Pursue the Trivia Bandit
Twenty-two Peacemakers cowboys and cowgirls attended the annual Peacemakers’ Banquet at Pizza Ranch. An amusing and entertaining party was enjoyed by all. Pizza Ranch turned out to be a good choice. We had our own private room and we all got plenty to eat. Tomahawk Johnson highly recommends their chocolate chip cookies. Several of our new members attended and it was great to get a chance to get to know them.
Our fearless leader, Mackinaw Jack, lead the business meeting portion of the evening.
The slate of officers presented by Comstock Charley was elected for the upcoming season.
Mackinaw Jack - President
Marshal RD - Vice President
Tomahawk Johnson - Treasurer
Comstock Charley - Secretary
Arizona Buffalo Joe - Director
Sherriff Boo Boo Bottom - Director
Dangerous Dan McGrew - Director
Special recognition was given to the following club members:
Prairie Trail Ranger retired from the board after serving many years as President and director. Special thanks for all his years of leadership and his many contributions to the club.
Dangerous Dan McGrew has been our web master for the past several years and continues to keep our website up to date with announcements, match results, videos, humor, and style. Special thanks for all the time spent keeping our website in such great shape.
Under new business: We recently purchased some new targets, plus we now own a trailer to move targets, stands and props between the storage shed and the shooting bays.
Lady Lou led our boistrous group in a cowboy trivia contest.
“Oh no! I didn’t know there was going to be a test.“
Out of our three teams, team rifle and team pistol tied for second place with 39 points. Team shotgun pulled off the trivia game win with 44 points. For the number of 38 Spl brass in the glass jug (506), team pistol got the closest with 480.
Tomahawk Johnson kept the evening lively with the door prize adventure. Everybody’s a winner!
Many thanks to Arizona Buffalo Joe for this article’s photos:
Peacemakers’ March Cowboy Match Results
The Peacemakers had 20 shooters for the March indoor cowboy match today. Score sheets are linked below. Top Five: Dangerous Dan McGrew, Flaming Star, Mackinaw Jack, Comstock Charley and Chenoa Tim. Four clean shooters are: Dangerous Dan McGrew, Flaming Star, Chenoa Tim and Marshall RD.
Roy Spurs won the 50/50 drawing and contributed his winnings back to the club. Monday, March 18 is the last day to RSVP for next Saturday’s Meet and Eat at Pizza Ranch in Bloomington.
We are planning an outdoor match on April 20. Hope you can come shoot with us then.
Comstock Charley
February Cowboy Shoot Results & Banquet Reminder
Snow on the ground didn’t stop the 17 shooters from attending today’s indoor cowboy match. We welcomed a new cowboy, Ranger Runner from the Decatur area. Dangerous Dan McGrew won the 50/50 drawing and donated the proceeds back to the club.
Top five finishers are: Dangerous Dan McGrew, Mackinaw Jack, Comstock Charley, Marshall RD, and Chenoa Tim. Only three clean shooters this month: Dangerous Dan McGrew, Marshall RD and Chenoa Tim.
Our next match will also be indoors on March 16th. Here’s hoping that we can shoot outdoors in April!!!
Please remember that the members’ meeting and eating is scheduled on March 23 at Pizza Ranch in Bloomington. Anyone interested in becoming a club officer should contact me, Mackinaw Jack or Tomahawk Johnson. The Banquet flyer is below.
Comstock Charley
Gwynne “Pokey” Pirtle Has Passed Away
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Gwynne “Pokey” Pirtle, wife of longtime member Johnny Whitehawk. On January 26th, she left us, leaving behind a void that will be deeply felt. The officers and members of the McLean County Peacemakers extend our heartfelt condolences to Leland and the entire Pirtle family during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Trent “Tomahawk” Johnson
January Cowboy Match Results
Nineteen hearty cowboys (and girls) braved the sub-zero weather to attend the January Peacemakers indoor shoot. The range heater did its job, but the concrete floor sure was cold.
After 5 stages, the top five finishers are: Comstock Charley, Dangerous Dan McGrew, Flaming Star, Chenoa Tim, and Marshall RD. Exactly one second separated first place from third place. The five clean shooters are: Chenoa Tim, Marshall RD, Katie Twoshots, Okie Pete and Tomahawk Johnson. Scoresheets are linked below. The 50/50 raffle was won by Comstock Charley (I had a good day).
Please remember that the members’ meeting and eating is scheduled on March 23 at Pizza Ranch in Bloomington. Anyone interested in becoming a club officer should contact me, Mackinaw Jack or Tomahawk Johnson.
Comstock Charley
aka: Jim Nelden
December Cowboy Shoot Results
Fifteen shooters came out of the cold rain into Darnall’s dry and heated indoor range to shoot the Peacemakers’ December cowboy match. It’s not too strange of a coincidence that our six clean shooters AND the top six finishers comprise the same list: Arizona R. Tillery, Katie Twoshots, Marshall RD, Tomahawk Johnson, Okie Pete, and Sheriff Boo Boo Bottom. Congratulations cowboys and cowgirl.
Our January Cowboy Match will be January 20, 2024. The complete MCP 2024 schedule is below.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 
Dangerous Dan Mcgrew
FYI – SASS has once again certified that we are official in 2024.
Nov Cowboy Match Results
It warmed up Saturday afternoon, but the cold morning made the Peacemakers’ November match an indoor affair. Twenty-five competitors arrived to slay the steel bad guys. Several new shooters were welcomed: Stagecoach South from central Wisconsin, Father Fib, Tatanka Tilly, Viktor Thorbob, and Rattlesnake Jake.
Top five finishers are: Dangerous Dan McGrew, Mackinaw Jack, Comstock Charley, Chenoa Tim, and Marshal RD. Eight shot clean: Dangerous Dan McGrew, Mackinaw Jack, Chenoa Tim, Marshal RD, Katie Twoshots, Tomahawk Johnson, Arizona Buffalo Joe and Sheriff Boo Boo Bottom. Katie Twoshots not only shot clean and came in sixth overall, she also won the 50/50 drawing.
Our December indoor shoot will be on Saturday the 16th.
Comstock Charley
October Cowboy Match Results
The weather started out cool/cold but sunny with calm winds and warmed steadily until the end of the match when the wind picked up a lot. Twenty-six shooters in two posses came for five stages of cowboy action shooting. This is our last outdoor match of the year, so we sold miss and procedural tickets which generated $165 for the club. That helped create eleven clean shooters; 42% is likely a club record.
Top five shooters are: Flaming Star, Midnight Justice, Wild Pike, Dangerous Dan McGrew and Mackinaw Jack. Final scoresheets are attached.
The 50/50 drawing was won by Billy Badlands.
Our November 18th match will be indoors. This means no shotguns, black powder, or carts. Hope to see y’all then.
Comstock Charley
aka: Jim Nelden
MCP Members Blown Away by Land Run
Four McLean County Peacemakers traversed their way Southwest to tornado alley for four days of windy cowboy shooting, hosted by the Territorial Marshalls of Oklahoma City, OK. The event is called Land Run in reference to the famous land run of 1889 into unassigned lands of former Indian territory. Land Run is the SASS National Championship and is a 12-stage match over three days.
Wednesday, Oct 11 was side-match day. Lady Lou won the Lady Silver Senior Speed Pistol match. A hearty “Yee Haw” to Lady Lou!
Dangerous Dan McGrew (me) shot the Big Bore Single-shot Black Powder side match, shooting at the pig knock-downs at 330 yds (green rectangle on photo). I’m a big “Porky the Pig” fan so I decided to let all the pig knock-downs live <grin>. Comstock Charlie had an “ace high” time at the 220 yd Big Bore Lever Action Smokeless side match, shooting at the ram knock-downs (red rectangle on photo). Comstock hit 5 of 10. Don’t you just love the sound of that ding on steel?
The main match started on Thursday, Oct 12. We shot 4 stages per day (Thursday – Saturday). Mackinaw Jack finished in the top 10 in the Silver Senior category. Congratulations, Bill!
I shot the match “Clean”. Congratulations, me.
Comstock and Lady Lou only had one miss for the whole match. Now that’s pretty bodacious. Mackinaw Jack said when Comstock pulled his “hog leg” and missed that dang Bear (bear-shaped steel target) in stage 11, he started “airin’ the lungs” and hollered “Thunderation” three times.
If you’re interested, click here for full Land Run scores.
Dangerous Dan McGrew
Peacemakers’ Fall Quigley Shoot Results
Twelve Brave Cowboys and Cowgirls came out and shot our “Bucket” targets. It was a cool morning with temps in the 40’s at 9AM. The single shot Rifle “Rifle Caliber” and Lever action rifle “Pistol Caliber” categories were highly contested as always. We shot our new BAM category for just the second time. Thanks to Tomahawk Johnson for printing all the certificates and score sheets. There was a lot of Great Shooting from everyone. This was a great group of Shooters that worked very well together to spot, score and help each other shoot better. Thanks to everyone who participated. Tomahawk
Revolver 50 Yds : 1st Midnight Justice 9
2nd Wapiti Waldi 8
3rd Dangerous Dan McGrew 4
Ladies Revolver: 1st Lady Lou 1
Lever Action Rifle Pistol Cal: 1st Wapiti Waldi 20
2nd Midnight Justice 19
3rd Chenoa Tim 18
Ladies Lever Action Rifle Pistol Cal: 1st Galva Girl 11
2nd Katie Twoshots 8
3rd Lady Lou 7
Lever Action Rifle “Rifle” Cal: 1st Wapiti Waldi 16
2nd Comstock Charlie 12
Single Shot Rifle “Rifle” Cal: 1st Wapiti Waldi 18
2nd Tomahawk Johnson 16 – 3 Bottles
3rd Chenoa Tim 16 – 2 Bottles
Ladies Single Shot Rifle “Rifle” Cal: 1st Galva Girl 8
Single Shot Rifle “Rifle” Cal B.P. 1st Dangerous Dan McGrew
BAM 1st Wapiti Waldi 18
2nd Comstock Charlie 15
September Match Results
The Peacemakers’ September 16th match attracted 24 shooters. Weather stayed cloudy and moderately cool, plus the promised rain waited to fall until well after the match finished.
The match top five are: Midnight Justice, Wild Pike, Flaming Star, Dangerous Dan McGrew, and Comstock Charley. The four clean shooters are: Chenoa Tim, Marshal RD, Tomahawk Johnson and Missouri Sunshine.
This is our first match using Practiscore software and the new Amazon Fire tablets. Overall, I believe they worked well and with more experience we’ll find some operational shortcuts. I’d also like to increase the font size on scoresheets.
Our next outdoor match is October 21. Hope to see y’all there. The new cowboy match schedule flyer is below.
The fall Quigley Long Range rifle match is the first Saturday of October (7th). The Quigley flyer with details is also below.
Comstock Charley
aka: Jim Nelden
Clean Shooter Annual Award Winners
A hearty “Yee-Haw” congratulations to our McClean County Peacemakers’ 2023 Annual Clean Shooter Award winners – Marshal R.D. and Flaming Star. This honor is awarded to our club’s cowboy and cowgirl who had the most “Clean Shoots” (no misses or procedural penalties) at club matches for the entire year. And it’s plumb wonderful that they are each other’s granddad and granddaughter.
Dangerous Dan McGrew (a.k.a. John Muir)
Peacemakers Have a “Blast” at Ill State Match
The McLean County Peacemakers’ members who attended the Illinois State Cowboy Match in Milan Ill last weekend had a “blast” <grin>. It was warm and sunny on Friday (side match day), hot and sunny on Saturday (main match day – 6 stages), and even hotter on Sunday (main match – 4 more stages). Fortunately, the Illowa Irregulars’ stages have lots of shade so there was usually a place to escape the hot sun. On the other hand, with all the brass picking, score keeping, knockdown resetting, and spotting duties, we got lots of sun too. I’m glad Deb and I brought our sunscreen.
The Stage designers came up with some really challenging and interesting stages. My favorite was the all-shotgun stage: Shoot two knock-downs, move to the right of the post and shoot two more knock-downs, move past the first fence and shoot a snake and a knock-down, move past the second fence and shoot a swinger and a knock-down, and finally move to the end and shoot two stationary clay pigeons. And I liked how the range officer checked that everyone’s shotgun was clear immediately after you shot your last round and BEFORE you made your way back to the starting position.
We were super glad to have Dana join us as an observer and as a supporter of Tim and Sean.
Saturday Evening Celebration Belle Riverboat Dinner Cruise:
Main Match Photos:
Awards Banquet – McLean County Peacemakers’ Members:
Grey-eyed Rider – Main Match 3rd Place B-Western
Comstock Charlie – Clean Shooter
Mackinaw Jack – Steel Target Raffle Winner
Grey-eyed Rider – Gun Sleeve Raffle Winner
Grey-eyed Rider – Costume Winner B-Western
RePeeter – Main Match 1st Place El Rey
RePeeter – Illinois State Champion El Rey
RePeeter – Illinois Record Stage Record Holder El Rey
Mackinaw Jack – Main Match 2nd Place Classic Cowboy
Mackinaw Jack – Illinois State Champion Classic Cowboy
Lady Lou – Main Match 3rd Place Lady Silver Senior
Lady Lou – Main Match Illinois State Record Stage Record Holder
Appaloosa Doc – Main Match 1st Place Elder Statesman Duelist
Appaloosa Doc – Illinois State Champion Elder Statesman Duelist
Appaloosa Doc – Illinois Record Stage Record Holder Elder Statesman Duelist
Dangerous Dan McGrew – 2nd Place Speed Derringer Side Match
Champion, and Illinois Record Stage Record
Holder Elder Statesman Duelist
John Muir
(a.k.a. Dangerous Dan McGrew)
July Match Results
Twenty four cowboys and cowgirls shot the July Peacemakers match today. Humidity and sun got to everyone, but the match finished before noon. Thanks to those who helped tear down the stages.
Top five finishers are: Wild Pike, Flaming Star, Comstock Charley, Marshal RD and Chenoa Tim. Clean shooters are: Flaming Star, Comstock Charley, Marshal RD and Tomahawk Johnson. Tomahawk also won the 50/50 drawing.
The August match has been CANCELLED because most of the officers who run our matches will be in Milan for the Illinois State Championship that same weekend.
Our next match will be on September 16. By then some of the bugs will be worked out of our new scoring software, Practiscore, and new tablets.
Comstock Charley aka: Jim Nelden
June Cowboy Match Results
Bright but smoky skies greeted twenty-six cowboys this morning for the Peacemakers’ June match. A little more breeze would have been welcome, but temps stayed below 80.
There were only two clean shooters, both from the same family: Flaming Star and Marshal RD. The top five shooters were: Flaming Star, Midnight Justice, Wild Pike, Comstock Charley and Mackinaw Jack. Full scoresheets are attached below.
The 50/50 was won by Comstock Charley
Our next match is July 15. The Illinois State Championship match will be in Milan on August 18-20.
Comstock Charley (aka: Jim Nelden)
May 20 Match Results
Beautiful weather today started a little cool then got perfect. Two posses with 22 total shooters finished a fast and fun match by 11:20. Two cowboys returned after a long absence: Max Muletrain and Wild Pike. Our thanks for everyone who helped keep the match moving and for tearing down targets.
Top 5 finishers: Flaming Star, Midnight Justice, Wild Pike, Mongo and Comstock Charley. Six shot clean: Chenoa Tim, Fire Marshal Bill, Flaming Star, Galva Girl, Katie Twoshots, and Marshal RD.
Roy Spurs won the 50/50 and donated his winnings to the club.
Our next cowboy match will be June 17 and we’d like to see you there.
Comstock Charley (aka: Jim Nelden)
Spring Quigley Match Results
Thirteen competitors shooting 31 total matches attended the March 6th Quigley Shoot. Rain forced the competition under cover, so everything was shot at 50 or 100 yards. Top three finishers of each men’s smokeless category are:
50 yard Revolver, 10 shots
- Midnight Justice – 9
- Comstock Charley – 5
- Appaloosa Doc – 4
50/100 yard Pistol Caliber lever action, 20 shots + 5 tie breaker
- Duncan Greenwood – 20 +3
- Midnight Justice – 20 +2
- Wapiti Waldi – 19
100/100 yard Rifle Caliber lever action, 20 shots
- Comstock Charley – 20
- Wapiti Waldi – 14
- Appaloosa Doc – 13
100/100 yard Rifle Caliber single shot, 20 shots
- Tomahawk Johnson – 18
- Chenoa Tim – 17
- Wapiti Waldi – 16
100/100 yard Bolt Action Military, 20 shots
- Wapiti Waldi – 20
- Comstock Charley – 17
- Dennis Rainville – 5
Galva Girl won the women’s first place in 50/100 yard Pistol Caliber lever rifle and 100/100 yard Rifle Caliber single shot, both smokeless.
Congratulations to all the winners. There was some great shooting and even several perfect scores. Since this match has grown so popular, in the future we will have multiple, alternating shooters at the line. We tried this at the end of the match, and it worked out fine. It really helped speed up the match. Everyone had a great time, thank you all for coming out. Tomahawk
Our next Quigley Shoot will be held on October 7.
April Match Results & Quigley Flier
It felt like summer, but I’m not complaining. Sunny 80s on a day that earlier forecasts had rain. Twenty-three shooters in two posses came to enjoy this year’s first Peacemakers outdoor match. A new shooter, Duncan Greenwood was added to our merry band, and he shot clean. Good to see our old friends 3 Deuce Cowhand and Cheyenne Cinder.
Top five for the match: Midnight Justice, Flaming Star, Comstock Charley, Long Fingers and Chenoa Tim. Clean shooters: Chenoa Tim, Duncan Greenwood, Flaming Star, Mackinaw Jack, Tomahawk Johnson and Wapiti Waldi. The 50/50 drawing was won by me (first time).
Our next cowboy match is May 20.
On May 6 the Quigley Rifle Match will be held at Darnall’s. See the flier below for details.
Hope to see y’all soon.
Comstock Charley (aka: Jim Nelden)
McLEAN COUNTY PEACEMAKERS 
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