Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Gylling’s varmint shoot score being evaluated for record
HAMILTON, Mont. — A Colfax man may have broken a shooting world record June 4.
Paul Gylling, 67, of Colfax, placed first in several events at the National Bench Rest Shooting Association Varmint for Score competition.
While Gylling’s final score is still being verified by organization officials, his shooting record speaks for itself.
The Varmint for Score competition has shooters firing at 25 paper targets evenly distributed across five timed matches. Scores are determined by how close the competitors can aim for the center dot of the target, with a shot placed within the smallest ring earning 10 points.
Additionally, a dead-center dot earns the shooter an “x,” making a perfect shot 10-1x.
In breezy and drizzling conditions, Gylling placed first in the 200- and 300-yard competitions, shooting at a combined 50 targets over the course of a single day.
“For all 50 shots, every single one went inside the 10 ring,” Gylling said. “Nobody had done it before.”
In the 200-yard competition, Gylling earned a perfect score of 250 points and six on the mark "x's".
Later, in the 300-yard event, Gylling secured another 250 points with three “x's."
The association holds records of combined scores from multiple events, meaning that Gylling may have earned a flawless total of 500 points and nine “x's," enough to constitute a possible world record.
According to the organization website, the current Varmint for Score 200-300-yard aggregated world record is 499-14x, which has held the No. 1 spot since 2016.
Competitors often make use of personalized modifications to their firearms; Gylling himself uses a Bat action, Hart barrel, Jewell trigger, McMillan stock and a Nightforce scope.
“They’re all custom guns,” he said. “You’re trying to eke out every bit of accuracy you can.”
Gylling has been competing in association shoots for 15 years, but he maintains that his recent accomplishment may have been aided by some good fortune.
“It’s kind of like a hole-in-one in golf,” he said. “There’s a little luck involved, a little skill involved.
“Somedays you’re on, some days you’re off. Evidently that day I was on.”
Reid Thompson is an intern reporter at the Whitman County Gazette. Reid is enrolled at Syracuse University, where he studies journalism and international relations.
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