All About Harry Reeves

by
posted on March 24, 2021
reeves-1.jpg

Harry Reeves took to pistol shooting as the proverbial duck to water. Three years after first firing a pistol (as a Marine recruit) he won the Individual Navy Championship in the first match he entered. He didn't stop there; he was the first person to break the 2600 mark in the bullseye pistol three-gun aggregate (.22, center-fire and .45). In 1940, it was a stratospheric accomplishment—equivalent to breaking the four-minute mile. Between 1940 and 1954, Reeves won six National Pistol Championships and 15 medals (including five gold medals) in International Pistol competition.

Reeves enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Great Depression. One of his shooting companions was Capt. David Shoup, who showed Reeves his first set of match pistols (.22 LR, .38 Spl. and .45 ACP). (Shoup would become commandant of the Marine Corps and Pistol Distinguished.)

In 1937, Reeves joined the Detroit, Mich., Police Department, where he quickly established himself on the pistol team. He retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1964 as an Inspector.

The February 1947 issue of American Rifleman described his equipment. It was classic for the day: Colt Woodsman for .22 matches, .38 Spl., Colt Officers Model for center-fire and a Model 1911 .45 ACP. All had been tuned up in one way or another, and all had grips by fellow Detroit policeman Lew Sanderson. Harry Reeves retired from competition in 1964 and served as a team official on the 1968 and 1972 Olympic shooting teams.

Harry Reeves

Harry Reeves
b. December 3, 1908 – d. February 5, 2001


Read more: All About Charles Bayard Lister

Latest

Matarese 2024 NSCA Winch 1
Matarese 2024 NSCA Winch 1

2024 NSCA National Championship: Team Winchester’s Matarese Secures Third Place In Main Event

Team Winchester and White Flyer shooters claim top finishes at 2024 NSCA National Championship, including Anthony Matarese, Jr., taking third in the Main Event and Joe Fanizzi in third for juniors.

Magpul’s New PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3 Magazine Has Round Count Verification Window

Magpul adds windowed PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3 variant to its 7.62x51 mm NATO/.308 Win. magazine lineup.

CMP Class Teaches Advanced M1 Garand Rifle Maintenance

Civilian Marksmanship Program releases dates for 2025 Advanced Maintenance classes to be held in Anniston, Ala.

Classic SSUSA: The Inaugural NRA World Shooting Championship

Begin with 159 world champions, run them through 11 shooting stages, all with standard guns provided by the match sponsors, and you end up with a new trophy and $50,000 awarded to the inaugural NRA World Shooting Champion.

Legends: Sue Ann Sandusky 1952-2024

The shooting sports community mourns the loss of Sue Ann Sandusky, a three-time NRA All-American, Army veteran and Distinguished service rifle shooter, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Gunwerks Spike Feet Set Designed To Improve Grip And Add Stability In Uneven Terrain

This new set of spike feet for the Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod promises to maintain a solid grip in tough terrain.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.