Oakridge Tn

[snapper]

This past weekend was the long range ML shoot at Oakridge, TN.

200 and 300 yards the first day, 600 and 1,000 yards for the second day.

27 shooters from around the USA and 2 from CN made the shoot this year. 

No rain, but the wind was not very kind this year.

fleener

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N327UhNah_s&feature=youtu.be

[smylee grouch]

Looks like you had a nice turnout. The NMLRA-Western National Shoot last month had a long range match but I think it was advertised too late and they had few shooters. Maybe next year.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

That looks like a hoot!!

[snapper]

Sometimes it is a hoot, sometimes it is a PIA. 

At 600 and 1,000 yards it was a tough match.  At 1,000 you would go from shooting over the target to shooting short into the dirt. 

My 9th bullet at 1,000 hit in the dirt short for a miss.  My 10th and last bullet was a 10x and no sight adjustment.

My 5th bullet at 1,000 I think it hit short and skipped into the target, and counted for a score.

After 1.5 hours of shooting at 1,000 yards, getting my sight settings, plenty of misses, sighters and 10 shots for score I was pooped.

Fleener

[nosrettap1958]

Any wind at that range has to be brutal. Looks like all half stockers, custom built?

[snapper]

At least one full stock, not in the picture.  Some custom built, some originals and some Pedersoli's.

Fleener

[nosrettap1958]

Pedersoli, their Gibbs rifle?

I wish the list would include what rifle everyone was using.

[okieboy]

 My goodnessie! What size charge would I need in my .45 to compete at 1000 yards? 200 grains maybe?

[snapper]

here you go, the list of rifles, loads, scores, shooters.

I only use 86 grains of powder.  You can see that this is on the light end for quite few of the guys.  However it works for me.

fleener

[nosrettap1958]

There we go!!! Great information. I see that in the top 10 shooters 5 were shooting the Pedersoli Gibbs rifle. Swiss powder also dominating with only one shooting GOEx powder.  Both at 200 and 1,000 yards the shooters with Pedersoli Gibbs came in with top score. Interesting that the Pedersoli keeps coming up at all of these black powder rifle competitions cartridge or otherwise.


Thanks Fleener!!!

[snapper]

The Pedersoli Gibbs has been a great rifle for shooters to get into this game.  It is the only off the shelf gun that you can buy and be competitive with.  I salute them for the Gibbs and they shoot very well.  I think they are a bit of a club and I had one as a spare rifle in 2009.

Fleener 

[nosrettap1958]

They're 2 x 4 dot com??? 

[nosrettap1958]

Kind of surprised more people didn't show up with long rifles. Did they ever?

[snapper]

Long rifles as in most of the rifles discussed on this list?

A round ball rifle would not be able to compete in this sport.

We shoot .45 cal. rifles with peep sights and 540 grain bullets.

fleener

[WadePatton]

Thanks for the great report.

What sort of twists are y'all cranking those fat bullets around with?

(I did a quick search but found junk, and thought others here might be interested or know).

[T*O*F]

What sort of twists are y'all cranking those fat bullets around with?

1 in 18" for 1000 yard rifles.  Up to about 500 yards a 20 or 22 twist will work.

[WadePatton]

What sort of twists are y'all cranking those fat bullets around with?

1 in 18" for 1000 yard rifles.  Up to about 500 yards a 20 or 22 twist will work.

Guess I'll have to make my target rifle a switch bbl/switch sights  gun.  OTL/LD.  Love to shoot York and Oak Ridge only have one hunk of bodock...

[Mike Brooks]

Love to shoot there. I'd be bringing a MUCH different kind of gun though....

[nosrettap1958]

What would you bring Mike a big honkin 'chunk' gun?

[Mike Brooks]

What would you bring Mike a big honkin 'chunk' gun?

We can't discuss what I would bring ......VERBOTEN!

[Militant_Hillbilly]

Is that a once-a-year event like the York?

[snapper]

for the most part, sometimes he host a fall shoot, but lately he has only had the one in the Spring. 

I have never been to the fall shoot, it is a 14 hour drive each way for me.

Fleener

[Bob Roller]

Kind of surprised more people didn't show up with long rifles. Did they ever?

The long rifle can't begin to compete in this highly specialized shooting sport.
As pictured,the long bullet if melted will make nearly 4 round balls and even
with heavy powder charges the round ball sheds velocity quickly.
The long range muzzle loader is a precision instrument in all aspects from
the barrel,lock,sights and the shape of the stock. It has one purpose and that
is to punch a hole in a target that may be 1200 yards away.The breech MUST be
designed and made in such a way that does not allow high pressure to come up under
the nipple and the nipple itself has a platinum insert in the base to prevent burn out
and loss of accuracy.Every item needed to make one of these guns can be had from
different sources but the best is Rod England <rtengland864@aol.com>who now has
all the tools,moulds etc.for the Alex Henry LRML and the best breech.
These are my favorite rifles and have been for years because of the extreme level
of craftsmanship in all the components.My upper back has a glitch that no longer
allows me to shoot prone but that will not stop me from hanging out at the 500 yard
range at Friendship.

Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

What sort of twists are y'all cranking those fat bullets around with?

1 in 18" for 1000 yard rifles.  Up to about 500 yards a 20 or 22 twist will work.

Guess I'll have to make my target rifle a switch bbl/switch sights  gun.  OTL/LD.  Love to shoot York and Oak Ridge only have one hunk of bodock...

There is no reason a dual use rifle won't work.Just make sure the breech is designed with the 1000
yard rifle in mind. This quality of breech is not cheap and you will need 2 of them for 2 different
barrels.A bullet mould and sizer is also needed and the sights are micrometer precise and the front
sight usually has a level built into it.
The 1 in 18 twist is the new standard but the old ones like 20 and 22 worked well as proven at Sandy
Hook back in the 18andwhatevers when the lowly trap door Springfield with a 1 in 22, three groove
barrel defeated the legendary Martini-Henry 577/450 at ALL ranges from point blank out to over 2000
yards.The shooting was done along a very long stretch of a beach along the coast (New Jersey?).
Interesting history to look at.

Bob Roller

[snapper]

My original Rigby made in 1864 I was happy to discover after I bought it has a 1 in 18 twist.

Fleener