Cody, Jan. 2012 Turkey Match

[SPG]

Gentlemen,

A good turnout for our first turkey match of 2012. Seven shooters, 32 degrees, slight breezes (about two inches), and a bloody diabolical mirage off the warm gun barrels made for an interesting match. With the mirage the turkey head would bob completely out of the sights...much like a live turkey would. This generated lively conversation and comment. Ten shots, plank rest, turkey head target. Everyone remarked on how fun this match is...laid back but still demanding of serious accuracy and ability. We missed Mr. Phariss and his new match rifle...several people wanted to see how the carving was coming along. Steve Herberger brought along some of the nice powder horns he is currently producing and all parties went away "jagged up" on Rev. Robinson's infamous Wheelhouse coffee. A great way to start the New Year.

Steve Garbe- 9 5/16"- 9 turkeys
George Markum- 13 11/16"- 7 turkeys
Ron Gerondale- 15 15/16"- 8 turkeys
Wilson Crawford- 28 3/8"- 3 turkeys
Bob Jam- 29 3/8"- 4 turkeys
Robbie Robinson- 30 3/8"- 4 turkeys
Steve Herberger- 37 3/4"- 2 turkeys

Equipment List-
Steve Herberger- .54 flint Lancaster, spit patch, ticking, Goex powder.
Robbie Robinson- .53 Hicks/ Large/Goodein/ Phariss flintlock, 120 grains 1 1/2 FG Swiss, WSO, .013 linen, .530 ball, wiped.
Bob Jam- .54 Lyman percussion, ticking, wiped, .530 ball.
Wilson Crawford- .50 percussion Thompson Center, .490 ball, ticking, wiped.
Ron Gerondale- .50 percussion Lyman, .490 ball, Goex powder, ticking, wiped, Rem. caps.
George Markum- .45 percussion Garbe underhammer, .446 ball, 65 grains 3FG FG Swiss, oiled .015 ticking, wiped, CCI caps.
Steve Garbe- .45 flint D. King/ Armstrong, .446 ball, .015 linen, sperm oil, 65 grains 3FG Swiss, wiped.

[Don Getz]

Steve.......I noticed the name "George Markum" on that list.    Is this the same George Markum that used to live in this
part of Penna. ?   He used to visit our shop on a regular basis, just didn't know where he moved to.    At one time he was inteerested in muzzleloaders, then graduated to cowboy action shooting, and it appears that he is now into black powder
cartridge stuff..............Don

[SPG]

Don,

Yep...it's George, all right.

He has backburnered the cowboy-action stuff and shoots mainly the round ball matches at the Cody club now. He's mentioned being in your shop several times in our conversations.

Steve

[excess650]

Back when George lived in Milroy, Pa he and Diana freqented the Shippensburg BPCRS matches.  We sure do miss her...   I swear he brought her along to distract everyone else.

[Daryl]

That's a nice string, Steve, - considering the wind & mirage.  Do you have an dimensions on that plank settup?  It looks like something I might like to try. Easier than chunk (as to getting up and down) as well as an easy settup for load testing?  I assume it's quite steady.

[SPG]

Daryl,

I'll get some dimensions for you when I'm out at the Reverend's after the Tuesday gallery match...the rest lives at his camp.

I would not use the plank rest for load testing as versus a regular bench-rest set up. Whereas it is steadier than offhand by a bunch, it is not as solid as a bench with double rest or even a prone over-the-log rest. We don't even want to talk about how it compares to a machine rest...

One thing that I have noticed is that it is very critical where one rests the rifle...resting in the same place being absolutely required for best accuracy. I'm well aware of the desirability of this in all benchrest scenarios, but the plank rest is really picky in this regard. So far, my best spot on several different rifles as been about 12 inches in front of the balance point, with the left hand under and gripping the buttstock, as versus holding on to the forearm. This is a whole new discussion which crosses over to other rest-rifle scenarios. Uniformity is always important in resting a rifle but it seems even more so when shooting from the plank, vertical dispersion being the obvious bugaboo.

This match is a hoot, and is @!*% sure no "gimme". It is also practical enough to be good practice for rifles used in the field. An interesting development is that whereas many of us have used, or are using heavy log rifles, it seems that they don't represent a real advantage. The .45 King rifle that I've shot in the last two matches weighs just under 8 pounds. This is a plus when new shooters show up as it doesn't require a target rifle to do well at the match...just a good rifle and the ability to put a shot where you want it. Also, shooting at just the turkey head target with no complicated sighter targets appeals to many folks as being much more of a "practical" test of skill.

The turkey matches have become popular here...a few years ago there was virtually no round-ball shooting in Cody. Anything that gets guys to blow the cobs off their rifles and come to a match is good.

Steve

[Daryl]

Tks Steve. I've found on two of my rifles, resting the first rod pipe (not the entry thimble) on/in a bag on my chunk is the proper place for them. Resting further out opens groups - still round, but open.

A harder rest like a folded blanket or folded leather rifle case would exacerbate the problem, just as you say.

We've started having a competition once a month - $5.00 entry, with the pot being split 50% to First place and 50% goes into a pot for a draw amongst the participants. That's the one to win!! The scoring winner gets to buy lunch for everyone the next Sunday, with his winnings.  

This Montana "Plank Match" might be a good 'monthly match for the spring/summer.  It's easy enough to set up and for shooting, to kneel on a tarp, as the ground is usually a long time drying out for chunk shooting.

[SPG]

Daryl,

Oh, man... don't confuse us Wyotes with those Montana guys. Wyoming Plank match...please!

Steve, a recovering Montanan.

[Daryl]

 
And the Montana plank match is different how? Perhaps they don't have one, yet? Gives new meaning to the phrase 'getting planked'.

Does the Plank Match have any background in history?

[SPG]

Daryl,

Sure enough...Dan Phariss posted a vintage painting of a turkey match being shot from the plank a while back. It was a common way of resting a rifle, especially in the Northeast, seems like. I have seen old illustrations of shooters almost laying prone on the plank...I'm thinking that this is what one would run into at a "Montana Plank Match"...but having no experience in that regard, I can't say for sure.

Getting "planked" might also refer to some of the poker games that I have been lured into in Montana...

Steve

[Daryl]

 

[Dave R]

Can someone please post a picture of a plank and someone shooting off one?

Dave R

[Dphariss]

Can someone please post a picture of a plank and someone shooting off one?

Dave R

[Daryl]

tks Dan- that's the picture I wanted.  Appears you have a notch on the upper edge for the rod and part of the forend to fit into?  that would help with holding windage, however would also introduce another 'binding' location if one wasn't centered properly, just as a non-rocking bipod effects shooting. There is more to this 'plank shooting' than meets the eye, just as there is in chunk shooting. Your holding position is quite similar to the one I use when shooting prone over a chunk, except my left hand is actually touching my shoulder and holding the stock against it. Each to his own.

I'm sure we could rig something like this quite easily with wood at hand at the BP club house.

[Dphariss]

The "saw horse" is likely a little overbuilt, but everything tends to blow over at Cody so it needs the be a little more stable than in some other areas.
I suspect that this was pretty common back in the day.




Dan

[Candle Snuffer]

The "saw horse" is likely a little overbuilt, but everything tends to blow over at Cody so it needs the be a little more stable than in some other areas.
I suspect that this was pretty common back in the day.




Dan

I find it interesting in the picture that there is someone keeping score.  The picture puts me in mind of a time when they would have used live turkeys.  However, I do understand that this plank shoot may very well not be a turkey shoot, but instead a target that would be scored as a hit or miss.   I like the picture very much.  Thanks for posting it.  Gives me some ideas.

[T*O*F]

Looks like Dan put his nosecap on the gun upside down.