Jack Shelley
Hall of Fame Shooter Information
Jack Shelley (4)
Jack was already known to the shooting fraternity well before he became a regular benchrest competitor via his hunting stories. He had many stories published in shooting magazines in this country during 1960s.
He came to benchrest for the same reason as many hunters the quest for accuracy and better performances from their equipment. November 1969 Jack won a monthly LV event at Tynong range using a 22/250 Weatherby and shot in the Victorian titles some three months later for 6th Sporter, 11 in HV, 3rd in LV, 6th in Open (Exp) and 4th in 4 Gun.
His attendance at Nationals began in 1971. In 1972 he was the story of the Nationals with close to the Grand Slam winning Sporter, HV, Open (Exp) and 4 Gun with a 2nd in LV. The rifles he used in these events had Remington actions, Douglas barrels chambered in 222Mag with Bill Marden as his Gunsmith but his Experimental was on a M98 action and the Douglas barrel was chambered in 22/45.
His attendance at Nationals ran through to 1980 winning aggregates and classes at almost every one and collected his qualifying point into the HOF as #4 in 1978. Jack never really got the recognition he deserved as the 1st and until 1999 (Charly Beck) the only Victorian HOF member. A theory for such seems to be that Victoria had for just on three decades an obsession with one discipline to the exclusion of all others.
In the early 1980s shift work, rise up the ranks of the Victorian Fire Service plus family commitments had Jack time poor so without hesitation competition took a back seat. He continued field shooting as a relaxation and spending quality time with his growing boys.
Jack is alive and well living in Melbourne enjoying his retirement years with wife Nola and looks forward to regular fishing trips out with his sons.
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