First Woods Walk

[Ray Settanta]

Went on my first Woods Walk the other day. It was a lot of fun and a good learning experience. My physical problems, (bad shoulder, back, diabetes and age) could have meant that I would not have been able to indulge in this sport. So I accomplished two things. I was able to do it physically and to see the sights and the targets. I even hit a few! What was really interesting was that it started to rain about halfway through and during the last two stages was a heavy downpour. The rifle was soaking wet and the ramrod was so slick it was difficult to use. But the rifle continued to fire. Someone with a Hawken style rifle had to drop out because of misfires but everyone else in my group, including two flintlock shooters had no problems. I learned a lot and am looking forward to the next one in November.

[Daryl]

Good report, Ray.  Shooting doesn't get much better than when 'done' with kindred spirits.

[Ray Settanta]

You're right! The pot luck supper afterwards and the people at the shoot were outstanding as well.

[John SMOthermon]

Congrats Ray, now you're hooked!

[Ray Settanta]

Yeah, I am. Now I have to make a light rifle that is bigger than .32 caliber. The .32 did not work well on the distant metal targets. The scorer could not tell if they were hit or not.

[Daryl]

I've found with some of our targets, even a .40 RB will result in the odd 'lost' point due to no one

seeing or hearing it 'plink' on one of the thicker plates. 

Too, the older the judges get,  not only visual but hearing problems compounded by ear plugs,

will likely frustrate those who shoot .32's and .36's in contests, due to lost points.

Shooting paper of course, negates much of this sort of trouble, however also brings up another problem,

that with scoring.  Knowing what you are looking at, comes from experience & instruction. Those who have

competed at the National Level and received training, make better scorers due to gained knowledge of scoring.

Lost points due to poor scoring, is as nasty an experience as losing them due to the 'judges' failure to hear the hit. 

As an example, this is a 10 shot group from a bench-rest, at 50yards.

There are only 5 quickly identifiable holes or partial holes made by the balls, not 10 as were actually fired. A closer

study of this target will reveal 2 more ball cuts due to elongation of the bottom and top right ball cuts.

Placing a round ball in those holes and lifting the target up, easily makes this easily observed.



images shares

[Hungry Horse]

I would suggest a .40, or .45 cal. I am particularly fond of .40 cal. With a 1in 48” twist.

  Hungry Horse

[nosrettap1958]

I agree Daryl.  Scoring and getting it right for all shooters involved is a constant problem.  Sometimes as simple as is this a 10 or a 10X score which could decide a match.

[hanshi]

I've only been on a couple of woods walks but they are mucho fun!

[Daryl]

Spot - hanshi - our trail was is a LOT of fun! You are all welcome to come shoot it with us.

[hanshi]

Spot - hanshi - our trail was is a LOT of fun! You are all welcome to come shoot it with us.

From Va that's a little far; but we are preparing a move to Maine, maybe next year.  Thanks.