First Frontier Militia Shoot, 12 June 2011 - PHOTOS

[xring2245]

First Frontier Militia of Bowmanstown, PA held their second Sunday monthly shoot two days ago.  Attendance was a little sparse as there was a threat of rain all day (and it didn't rain afterall!!!).  The shooting was still good and this shooter had a lot of fun shooting his smoothbore.

This was the first time I had shot the aggregate (metal targets, railroad spikes, and coin-sized medallions) with a smoothbore and I had done reasonably well, finishing the event with hits on the 75 yard woodchuck and 100 yard ram.

I shot with Dale Atkinson and the humidity played havoc with his .36 cal. flintlock.  A bigger bore was needed to help control the humidity-caused fouling.

Here are some photos.  


Chuck Beasley was originally from NJ, but got smart and relocated to PA.  Now, to get him to start shooting a flintlock.


I haven't seen this gal before, but she was having a lot of fun.

I will post more photos before the night is over.  Please enjoy.

James

[xring2245]

Here are some more.


Roger Fisher looking over the line during a target change


Where have the shooters gone?


Loading at the bench


Proud owner of an original percussion rifle


Closeup of the original lock

More photos coming.  Please enjoy.

James

[xring2245]

Here are some more...


Dale Atkinson is on the right; Carl Schmoyer on the left.


Roger loading "Sissy Gun"


Roger shooting "Sissy Gun"


Dale Atkinson helping a new shooter with a stuck ball


Greg loading for the over-the-log match

[xring2245]

More photos...


Greg


Ollie Solt, 97 years old


A helping hand


For Chuck Beasley, a good day at the range


Powder and ball for my smooth rifle

The last few to be posted.  I hope you are enjoying the pics from our shoot.

James

[xring2245]

Final group of photos from Sunday's shoot...


Aggregate targets, they were small.


Dale

That's it.  Maybe more next month.

James

[Roger Fisher]

The attendance was 18 shooters (down by abt 10 from our average). Good ol Chuck Beasley once from Jersey now from Pa and happy to shoot with us.  The Orange T shirted shooter: Carl Schmoyer with us for many years and a $#*! of a shot.
You will notice our range is set in the woods and we left most of the trees stand except the oaks and hemlocks that the gypsy moth killed in the 70's.  We finally covered sections of the line and left sections open so you can pick your spot covered or not.  The aggregate is always breakables, silohuettes etc. changed overy month so no sameo sameo.  Used RR tie bunkers. Shoot offhand plus the over the log match (rentry) at 50 yds.  We pay back abt 75% of the take to the shooters that win or place down to 3rd place unless only a couple shoot that match i..e the smoothbore match which we are strugling to build up with more shooters....We have volunteers that sign up at years start to take a turn in the target shack.  It works for us since 1976.  We are getting very long in the tooth and have a terrible time to interest young shooters.  Did I say we are shocked when we look at ourselves in the photos good ol Jim takes.  !@*%&@ bedraggled looking for certain.

We urge you other clubs to get photos of your setups etc posted here so we can watch and see good ideas to adopt at our many clubs.  Photos and questions welcome.  Plus we can all use some good PR.  Plus some folks lurking here may see that this game is competitive and fun.  (And safe)   More/more!!

[greybeard]

Thanks for the pics. I aleays  enjoy these posts.  Bob

[jim meili]

Thanks guys, a great run of photos. We just had our second annual skeet shoot at the Hope Rod and Gun Club in McFarland, WI on June 5th. One fellow took a bunch of photos, I will see if I can get them to post.
Thanks again,
Jim

[Daryl]

James - TKS for the photo's - much appreciated.  You have some incredibly old people shooting.

[xring2245]

James - TKS for the photo's - much appreciated.  You have some incredibly old people shooting.

Yes, they are ALL old, except for me, of course.  Seriously, though, I am one of the younger shooters there, although I don't qualify as being young.  There seems to be a problem getting young shooters involved in muzzleloading.  What can we do?  Does anyone have any suggestions?

James

[bob243]

Is the next one on July 10 ? 

[KennyC]

Thanks for the post. So you want to get young people involed good luck. You need to build your club up by adveristing FREE womens shooting lessons . Cuz as ya know where girls hang men will show up

[Roger Fisher]

Is the next one on July 10 ? 

Yes!

[Candle Snuffer]

Great pictures.  Always enjoy seeing pictures of folks having fun with their smokepoles.

[Harnic]

There seems to be a problem getting young shooters involved in muzzleloading.  What can we do?  Does anyone have any suggestions?

James

Maybe if we add texting capabilities & a touch screen to muzzle loading rifles we'd attract more young shooters...  They seem entirely consumed by their I-phones & Blackberries!  Great crowd James & the range looks fantastic!  Thanks for the post!