Spring/Piston The story of Norma Jean, my Blonde TX200

[isledweller]

Congrats on your finishes!! A very good year for NJ!!

As to the troubles of late, we have ALL been there one time or another....glad you were able to figure it out, fix the issues and rally back!

Greg

 

[Shortcut]

You are one of the nicest dumb a$$’s I know so just keep on being you.

 

[duchunter007]

Great shooting season Tony!!

 

[flintbolt48]

You are one of the nicest dumb a$$’s I know so just keep on being you.

It seems to me that it's much easier for fools to live in this world, so he's a lucky guy

 

[Shortcut]

Tony and Barb are the nicest people and fierce competitors you will ever meet. Tony would help you even if it meant you might beat him. Which for me will never happen

 

[Jonah]

I picked up my used TX200 in September 2023, about 1 month before EBR. It was a basic TX200 in a factory stock. After testing a few pellets, the H&N 10.65 squeaked by the best group.

Had a few practice sessions on the bench at 50 yards. I then shot it at EBR at the 50 yard benchrest competition. The wind was howling and a lot of colorful words were heard up and down the shooting line…..Well, we did pretty good and got the Silver medal. Missed Gold by 3 points. Podium was Tony T, Tony P. Tony S. Yeah they had to call us up by last name

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I put a Vortek kit in it and continued my journey with the TX. Tony T. was selling a LP Custom birch laminate stock unfinished that I couldn’t resist. I used 2 coats of Odie’s oil and 1 coat of Odie’s wax keeping the stock blonde. Team Centercut likes to name their rifles. It was Mike who said Norma Jean….Heck the stock even has a beauty mark on the cheek rest so Norma Jean she became.

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Next competition was the Sonoran Classic Grand Prix and I competed with Norma Jean. After 2 days of shooting we won the Silver Medal again. Missed the Gold by 4 points. Who was on the podium you may ask ….Tony T. Tony P. and Tony S. We all were shooting TX200’s.

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At the Sonoran Classic I spoke to Cameron K., a springer guru, and he shot Norma Jean. He said she was shooting a little hot and could use some internal smoothing out. He said he could have her done and back to me before the Arizona Piston/Springer State Championship. I pulled the workings out of the stock and handed them to Cameron. About 4 days later I received a package at my front door and Cameron had worked his magic on her.

Back into the stock and pellet testing. I had 4 days until the State Match to get her ready. Well a surprise to me was this time the H&N pellets came in 2nd. A beat up old tin of QYS 9 grainers took the top spot. They didn’t squeak by, they blew by. So I set up the ranging wheel and at a local practice match I whopped Tony T’s butt!!!! I also won my 5 dollars back I had lost at the Sonoran Classic from him.

The big day arrived, but my springer mentor, Tony T couldn’t make it. We had a 52 shot course and Norma Jean nailed it! We got 49 out of 52, the top score out of all shooters. Norma Jean took the Gold Medal and the Arizona State Springer Championship home. Terry and Scott had a shoot off with 44 each and Terry pulled off second place.

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Well Norma Jean and I are signed up for the Cajuns in a few weeks. Barbara and I will be down that way so why not. But alas my mentor and good friend Tony T. won't be there.

Normal gene is a beauty. Never let her go.