It was the rattiest looking 303 I have ever seen.

 

The Stock was more bondo than wood. Earl often added or sanded it off during shoots. It was before adjustable combs.

I was shooting the same gun, and we often talked about the 303.

Of course, he only used his for doubles, but was lightning fast with it.

He was the one that told me you have to clean the piston rod every time you use it. We carried a small piece of steel wool for that purpose.

His gun was 30" full.

 

I was by one time in El Paso as Earl was pruning the tree branches with the autoloader! He said the bigger branches took a couple shots.

 

He was a piece of work! Shot with him at the old SLC Utah Western grand a couple times.

 

His TM1 was the same way. There was hardly any blueing left on it with about a 13 1/2 lop but he sure could shoot it.

 

Saw him shoot both at the Remington Classic in Lonoke, AR at the Remington Gun Club in about 1991. Both guns looked like wrenches in my toolbox. Well worn with no original finish. Earl was a very polite and nice guy to talk to.

 

I got to know Earl really well at the Southern Grand few years ago, he got to the club late one day to find out he was the lone shooter on the last squad of dbls..
He pulled out that 303 quickly gave it a rub down with some steel wool and went out by himself and ran the 100.

 

Whatever became of Scripture?

 

He passed away

 

Several years ago I remember seeing those two guns listed for sale... Thought I had a photo in my files from the listing.
Maybe one of our TS.com members is the present owner...

 

Maybe Doug Hubbert had it for sale?

 

I remember one year at the Missouri state shoot he went by me dragging it by the barrel in the gravel. Must of been a rough day at doubles!!! Lol.

 

I met Earl at Linn Creek years ago when I sat down on a bench to watch Leo shoot. He was also sitting there and had one foot up on his knee. I commented on his nice ostrich boots. He offered to let me “feel them”.
Later I told Leo about this guy but had no idea who he was. Leo told me it had to be Earl. He was a character!

 

I might have told this story before but I have to tell it again because it’s true as well as entertaining.
One time at the Grand years ago I walked in the bathroom by the Budweiser tent and I noticed an old beat up Perazzi TM1 leaning up against the outside wall of the bathroom. When I came outside the bathroom I saw Earl holding the TM1 as he was talking to some guys.
Lo and behold I looked down at the stock on the TM1 and the recoil pad was turned upside down. it was what looked like an old flat Morgan pad. I looked again to make sure and sure enough the pad was upside down.
I have to say that the gun was as rough as you will ever see.
Don’t guess it made any difference to him.
He could shoot the hell out of it.

Over the years I told several friends about what I saw. Years later at Hog Heaven he scored for me and he was dressed up wearing overalls.
I told him about it and he laughed and said he did shoot the TM like that.
He was a true trap shooting character!

 

Found the TM1 photo... now that`s a shooter!

Sportalluring

 

We lived in El Paso when Earl ran the gun club over there. But for the provenance his two guns together wouldn’t bring $500 on this forum. But boy could he shoot them.