AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: Seth Isaacson on August 05, 2022, 04:15:58 AM

Title: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 05, 2022, 04:15:58 AM
We have been doing a lot of shooting from the standing position, but this month, we are going mix things up a bit and sit down. We’ll keep the range at 25 yards, but this time we’ll be shooting from the seated position.

Your butt should be on the ground, but if getting up and down from the ground isn’t feasible for some shooters, sitting on a stool, stump, etc. that doesn’t provide any extra support seems fair. You can support your arms with your knees and body, but do not use any other form of support (no benches, shooting sticks, other barrel supports, back support, etc.). Any caliber, smooth, rifles, flintlock, percussion, etc. is fine but traditional iron sights only please (no peeps).

As tomorrow is my 11th wedding anniversary and my wife is an avid gardener, we’ll be shooting this flower target.

Submit targets in pairs. Submit two targets you shot back to back rather than your best two out of a group of targets. Feel free to color the target to make it easier to see, but try to keep all of the original lines visible to make scoring easier. Please show them with your guns if you can. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who likes to see what everyone is shooting.

You get 3 shots per target.
Scoring: The center of the bloom is +10 points. The petals and leaves are +5. Breaking the stem is +15. The pot is -5 (those things can be expensive!). The max score would be 3 shots through each of the stems for 90 points.

https://www.targetz.com/targetzlib/20030.pdf
(https://www.targetz.com/targetzlib/20030.pdf)
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: alacran on August 05, 2022, 03:45:49 PM
Congratulations on winning the July match Seth.
Though I will feel silly shooting a 25-yard target anything other than offhand. I will print some and shoot them.
The sitting position is one of my favorite military shooting positions. Glad you didn't say kneeling.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 05, 2022, 03:52:25 PM
Thanks and great shooting as well!

Shooting at 25 yards sitting might make things a bit easier this month, but I'm hoping that it encourages more people to attempt to break both stems multiple times rather than just plug away at the "bulls-eye" on the flower. That should be a good challenge for most of us, especially since I'm sure I'm not the only one that rarely shoots from this position.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Daryl on August 05, 2022, 07:34:04 PM
Seth - if a ball cut the stem and a leaf of petal, wouldn't that shot score 20?
Thus each target has the potential of scoring 60. Not that I could do that, but
it seems possible for someone.
Interesting match indeed.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 05, 2022, 09:21:16 PM
Let's keep it simple and say that breaking the stem trumps any points scored by hitting a leaf or petal, so even if it hits a leaf/petal and the stem, the shot would still be 15 points not 20. When we shoot normal targets, a shot mostly in the 10 ring but partially in the 9 ring counts as a 10 not a 19, so that seems consistent.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Nessmuck on August 05, 2022, 09:55:44 PM
Good target for .610 ball.....
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 05, 2022, 11:36:19 PM
Good target for .610 ball.....

I'm trying to be inviting to as many people as possible. Some don't have more than one rifle to choose from.  Feel free to shoot with whatever you want, but if your goal is to challenge yourself and get better, I'd think shooting one of your smaller caliber guns would be more appropriate. I'll be trying out my .38 caliber rifle again and maybe an attempt or two with my .45 pistol. All that is on the line is pride and picking next months target.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Daryl on August 06, 2022, 08:27:28 PM
Let's keep it simple and say that breaking the stem trumps any points scored by hitting a leaf or petal, so even if it hits a leaf/petal and the stem, the shot would still be 15 points not 20. When we shoot normal targets, a shot mostly in the 10 ring but partially in the 9 ring counts as a 10 not a 19, so that seems consistent.

Tks for the clarification, Seth. Good luck with your shoot.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: taterbug on August 07, 2022, 01:19:00 AM
just to clarify for me, does 'cutting the stem' mean cutting BOTH sides of the stem, or both lines?  is so, might be a bit of a challenge with the smaller calibers?  Sorry to be picking fly dirts out of pepper, but I'm sure it will come up... :)
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 07, 2022, 05:31:07 AM
The stem is very narrow, if you get one side cut, you are very likely to cut both sides I would think even with a pretty small caliber. One of the uncommon .25 cals would still be able to cut the stem completely, but let’s say you have to cut at least half the width for it to count. Barely grazing the outer edge won’t count.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on August 08, 2022, 12:05:53 AM
We have a horizontal string cut on our trail. The string must be cut into two pieces that are obvious.  I would suggest the same is true for cutting the stem of a flower.  f you don't hit the string with the centre of the ball, it simply moves out of the way, jiggles a bit, and sustains a grey smudge where the ball passed.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 08, 2022, 03:53:16 PM
We have a horizontal string cut on our trail. The string must be cut into two pieces that are obvious.  I would suggest the same is true for cutting the stem of a flower.  f you don't hit the string with the centre of the ball, it simply moves out of the way, jiggles a bit, and sustains a grey smudge where the ball passed.

Sounds good to me.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 15, 2022, 10:17:47 PM
 No one has been out to give it a shot yet? I’ve been out of town, but hope to try it out this week or weekend.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: oldways on August 16, 2022, 02:08:23 AM
  I did get a chance to shoot it the other day. Haven't had a chance to post pictures yet, it is very challenging. I need to have more of a contrast to see the target better. At 68 the eyes aren't what they use to be.                                                                                                                 Walt
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: oldways on August 16, 2022, 02:39:00 AM

(https://i.ibb.co/Tcy6s2Q/thumbnail.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F6p2F3Q)

(https://i.ibb.co/JCrzRbs/20220812-115501.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fQrCYKx)
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Nessmuck on August 16, 2022, 06:46:00 AM
Old ways….percussion of Flintah ?
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: oldways on August 16, 2022, 03:07:00 PM
 It is a TC percussion kit rifle that was given to me that was already finished.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 16, 2022, 04:26:40 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/Tcy6s2Q/thumbnail.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F6p2F3Q)

(https://i.ibb.co/JCrzRbs/20220812-115501.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fQrCYKx)


So I score the top target 15, and the second target is a 5 for 20 points.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 16, 2022, 04:28:36 PM
  I did get a chance to shoot it the other day. Haven't had a chance to post pictures yet, it is very challenging. I need to have more of a contrast to see the target better. At 68 the eyes aren't what they use to be.                                                                                                                 Walt

My kids and I sat down and colored the petals, center, and stem different colors to give it some contrast. We'll see if that makes it easy enough to see later this week hopefully. Both of my kids got COVID while I was out town, so hopefully I don't get sick too now that I'm home.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Mike Brooks on August 16, 2022, 04:55:15 PM
No one has been out to give it a shot yet? I’ve been out of town, but hope to try it out this week or weekend.
I don't have a gun. ::)
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 19, 2022, 03:52:36 AM
(https://i.ibb.co/3TqG1vq/513633-F7-6462-465-E-9267-06-E13-D446-FD2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Prn3xMn)
(https://i.ibb.co/68bP88t/0-A87-CCA3-4-B69-4252-A9-B5-5-AFC9138998-C.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8b25bbx)

Not my best shooting for sure. 5 points.   :o The details on the target are difficult to see, at least for me shooting at sunset. I thought this would show up better than it does once colored. I tried for the stem for the yellow target trying to use the flower or the leaves as a point of reference.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: taterbug on August 20, 2022, 04:08:48 PM
Mike, you want to borrow my 45 year old CVA ugly-tucky?  It's what I'll have to use since it's the only complete gun I have round balls for. 
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 24, 2022, 04:11:09 PM
We are running out of days to submit targets! Aside from my sad outing on the 18th, it looks like Oldways is the only one to have submitted targets and is in the lead currently with 20 points. I plan on shooting at least one more set of targets sometime this week or maybe on Monday.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Jakob on August 25, 2022, 06:40:40 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/wnjVPQJl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KYymSSPl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/0LA808sl.jpg)

Lymans Great Plains, .54 cal percussion.

This target is deceptively hard.

I thought I cut the stem on the second target, but no.
I'll try to get to the range again this week.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 25, 2022, 04:09:09 PM
Agreed Jakob! The early comments on the post had me concerned I made things too easy, but clearly not so far. I found it challenging and also thought I had more good hits than I actually did. Nicked the edges and whatnot, but not score-able shots.

Looks like yours adds up to a 5 like mine but with the rest of your shots close to scoring hits on the stem. Definitely try again! I'm hoping to get out and shoot a couple more times. Maybe one target or a pair of targets still hunting for the stems and the rest going for the flower which is easier to score on.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: alacran on August 29, 2022, 01:25:49 AM
I went out today to do some load development on my new .40 skwerl rifle. I shot it a couple of times but haven't really spent time off the sticks with it.
We have been getting quite a lot of rain and haven't been able to get to the creek bottom because of it. I really don't like to do this at the range.
Anyway, my new rifle has a 38-inch B weight .40 cal. Getz barrel. Also, it sports a very early L&R Durrs Egg lock, as well as a WalterCain single set trigger.
I started the morning shooting off of crossticks. I had shot it offhand at the range using 40 grains of Old E.
I didn't want to use that powder because I have a lot of Schuetzen 3f, and that is what I will use hunting the tree rats.
I figured I would start with 40 grains of the Schuetzen. Was not impressed with that group. I bumped it up to 50 grains and cut the group considerably.
I had a couple of ignition hiccups and realized that I forgot to drill out the liner to 1/16th of an inch.
I was planning to shoot out to fifty yards off the sticks. I saw no point in it till I opened up the liner.
However, I felt the gun is shooting good enough to shoot the August match. So, I put the sticks away and proceeded to shoot off my butt.
(https://i.ibb.co/QFpSjnN/0828221442-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TBYjqR8)
My first shot was the one out in right field, I had a heck of a hang fire. I saw that the flint was the culprit.
My second shot cut the stem all the way through. The third shot was well inside the lower petal.
I scored that target a 20


(https://i.ibb.co/9vPbR9C/0828221443-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3sKptyL)
The second target started much better. The first shot was well inside the 5o'clock petal. My second shot cut through the stem again. My third shot was well inside the 6'oclock petal.
I scored that target a 25, for a total of 45 points. Of course, Seth has the final say.

(https://i.ibb.co/9Zf2t8m/IMG-0726-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z6LbJnW)

(https://i.ibb.co/hKM8VCB/IMG-0727.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VvNBT3g)
I had posted more photos of this rifle in the gun building section back in July.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Kevin on August 29, 2022, 04:05:16 AM
Hello All,

I went to the range today with the smoothbore to shot the August match.  Turns out the safety feature of a wooden rail across the front of the firing line blocks my line of sight when trying to shoot from the sitting position.  So I just had at it while standing on my two hind legs.

Not a lot to see here points-wise (photos below) but I had fun.  Hope to be part of next month's match as well.

Kevin

Just the Facts:
20 ga. smoothbore  by Tim Williams (no rear sight)
70 gr. 2F GOEX behind a .595 RB in a .018 pocket drill patch with DGL lube rubbed in


(https://i.ibb.co/nzVZxnn/DSC04105.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vZrg0QQ)

(https://i.ibb.co/hR3JL0N/DSC04106.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DD0HzdF)

(https://i.ibb.co/M7pKMTh/DSC04111.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pdZNJDP)
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Daryl on August 29, 2022, 07:19:40 PM
Good targets, Alacran. Nicely done.
I just happened to be in town and saw your post.
Well done.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 30, 2022, 12:32:29 AM
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch20O8BJd_B/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
Got out while my daughter was napping to shoot a couple pairs of targets. Swipe right on the post above to see the targets and rifle. First pair scored 35 point. The second pair, I made two flower shots and one stem attempt, but the latter missed the stem and hit the pot, so that’s is only a 5 point target. I tried all three for the stem on the last target. The first was high right and scored 5 points. I adjusted slightly down and right for the last two, but over corrected slightly and missed. So round 2 only scored 10 points. This target is more challenging than I thought it would be. Even with some color added, it’s hard to see the details.

I shot my .38 caliber "percussion conversion" Lancaster rifle by Scott Coy. So far I'm finding a .375 round ball, .020 oiled cotton patch, and 40 grains of 3f to be a pretty good load. I still need to do some more load testing. I haven't shot it from a rest at all yet nor tried bumping the charge up to 45 or 50 grains to see if that tightens the groups at all.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 30, 2022, 12:37:54 AM
I went out today to do some load development on my new .40 skwerl rifle. I shot it a couple of times but haven't really spent time off the sticks with it.
We have been getting quite a lot of rain and haven't been able to get to the creek bottom because of it. I really don't like to do this at the range.
Anyway, my new rifle has a 38-inch B weight .40 cal. Getz barrel. Also, it sports a very early L&R Durrs Egg lock, as well as a WalterCain single set trigger.
I started the morning shooting off of crossticks. I had shot it offhand at the range using 40 grains of Old E.
I didn't want to use that powder because I have a lot of Schuetzen 3f, and that is what I will use hunting the tree rats.
I figured I would start with 40 grains of the Schuetzen. Was not impressed with that group. I bumped it up to 50 grains and cut the group considerably.
I had a couple of ignition hiccups and realized that I forgot to drill out the liner to 1/16th of an inch.
I was planning to shoot out to fifty yards off the sticks. I saw no point in it till I opened up the liner.
However, I felt the gun is shooting good enough to shoot the August match. So, I put the sticks away and proceeded to shoot off my butt.
(https://i.ibb.co/QFpSjnN/0828221442-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TBYjqR8)
My first shot was the one out in right field, I had a heck of a hang fire. I saw that the flint was the culprit.
My second shot cut the stem all the way through. The third shot was well inside the lower petal.
I scored that target a 20


(https://i.ibb.co/9vPbR9C/0828221443-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3sKptyL)
The second target started much better. The first shot was well inside the 5o'clock petal. My second shot cut through the stem again. My third shot was well inside the 6'oclock petal.
I scored that target a 25, for a total of 45 points. Of course, Seth has the final say.

(https://i.ibb.co/9Zf2t8m/IMG-0726-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z6LbJnW)
(https://i.ibb.co/hKM8VCB/IMG-0727.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VvNBT3g)
I had posted more photos of this rifle in the gun building section back in July.

Good shooting! I agree, 45 points. Good job getting two stem hits! I couldn’t get one for the life of me.

You are currently in the lead.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: alacran on August 30, 2022, 12:53:00 AM
Thanks Daryl.
Seth of the three common sitting positions, you are using the least stable. The crossed legged or the crossed ankle positions are far superior.
The one you are using is slightly better than the kneeling position.
I like to use the cross-legged position. However, it really hurts my left shoulder because of the angle. This position is almost as good as shooting prone.
Shoulder still hurts today.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 30, 2022, 01:51:03 AM
Thanks. I shot my first pair earlier this month cross legged. That position feels awkward to me. Maybe I just need to practice from that position more. Trying these positions out was part of my motivation for this month’s challenge.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on August 31, 2022, 04:05:54 PM
Last call! Alacran's score of 45 is the score to beat.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Maven on August 31, 2022, 10:09:09 PM
I had every intention of shooting the match today, but some minor carpentry and redecorating issues needed to be addressed first.  Good luck to those who participated.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on September 01, 2022, 04:10:31 PM
Alacran is the winner for August and gets to pick the match for September. I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Jakob on September 02, 2022, 04:53:18 PM
This one was fun!. I had to go away and didn't have the chance to get to the range again, but really enjoyed this one.
Title: Re: August Postal Match
Post by: Seth Isaacson on September 02, 2022, 05:05:14 PM
This one was fun!. I had to go away and didn't have the chance to get to the range again, but really enjoyed this one.

Glad to hear it! Fun and practice is what these monthly shoots are supposed to be about right?