Author Topic: Conrad Bernhardt (Read 906 times)

ajj · « **on:** July 27, 2004, 07:31:43 AM »

I'm a fan of the sport and interested in its history. I know nothing about Conrad Bernhardt except that he is a legendary figure. Can someone supply the legend? Since the match that bears his name is called a "memorial" I assume he is no longer with us. I know he still holds a long run record. Did he really shoot three 40's in two days? Did he shoot smallbore only? I was just hoping someone could supply some details about the man. Many thanks.

shootingpaul · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2004, 05:54:44 PM »

AJJ!
Conard was the greatest silhouette shooter, as far as I am concerned, yes he passed away 10-13 years ago, his fellows shooters are putting a Heavenly match in his memory, which is loaded with prizes, I attended 2 CBC shoots and I have some pics, scores and a story on my site. As far as I know he still holds "all" long run records with, I think, pigs being 183 or something like that, i have been very fortunate to meet his fellows shooters and to hear stories about him, one of them - a Great Gentelman name Gary Malmberg was setting up the targets for Conard on the record pigs run - and it took over 2 hours for him to shoot that. One of the fellows that can shine more light on Conards history is Keith Cairns and if you are interested email me PM and I will provide you with his email address.
by the way maybe next year I will talk to Keith and maybe set up his biography on my site?

ajj · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2004, 06:58:12 AM »

I haven't bothered Paul, partly because Jbeckley was kind enough to send me a copy of an article on the Nationals from the October, '86 "American Rifleman." In addition to a nice picture there was was a lot of interesting info for the trivia buff.
'86 was the first year for Ridgway to host the HP Nats. "...nearly 300 riflemen..." attended. Mr. Bernhardt was 56 years old. He felt he was continuing to improve as a competitor and that: "My nerves are better than they used to be. I just don't get quite as jittery before a match." He won the standard rifle championship with a 98 aggregate, completing his career sweep of all four, SB and HP, championships. D. Tubb won hunter with an 88 to Bernhardt's 86.
Bernhardt's heavy rifle was a Rem 788 with a Schneider barrel in 7-08, Anschutz trigger, Brown Precision stock. "Reputedly one of the ugliest rifles in competitive shooting..."
Mr. Bernhardt was a partner in an auto front-end and brake shop in Olympia, Washington. "Sometimes I wonder whether all those cars have all the nuts and bolts they came in with because I think so much about shooting."
Thank you, Jbeckly, for your thoughtfulness in helping me flesh out my knowledge of one of silhouette's great legends.

CB · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2004, 04:45:25 AM »

AJJ,
any chance at a copy of that. Sounds interesting
CB

ajj · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2004, 04:59:57 AM »

CB: Not a prob. PM me your snail mail address and I'll send it out, along with a few of those 145gr Finn bullets we discussed.