April's Covid Rifle Postal Match

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

This is the target I've selected for April's match.  It is on the targetz.com web site and is #10013 on page one.  The centre dot is 1" and the squares are 2".
Rules: 

Offhand @ 25 yards
One shot on each black shape, scored by the half ball
Centre dot scores 5 points
Squares each score 3 points
Shots on page but outside the black targets score 1 point
So your total possible score is 17/17 on each of two targets.
Submit two of these five shot targets for your aggregate score, ie:  total possible 34/34
Ties:  if there is a tie at the end of the month, I will issue a tie-breaker target which will be a one shot deal
I will come up with an award and will post it here soon.

[Nessmuck]

Flintahs only ?

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

No, percussion rifles are also permitted.
I shot last month's event with my percussion Hawken, and won.  About middle month, I wrote to Justin who was sponsoring the event, and told him that if someone else shot a perfect score but with a flintlock, that I would concede to the more difficult rifle.  I would hope that the same would happen for this shoot and those that follow.  And I'd like to see some perfect scores turned in this month.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Speaking of percussion rifles, until now, I have been ignoring those of you who like to shoot percussion rifles/pistols/shotguns, when it comes to awards for this match.  Flint knapping tools are fine for flintlock shooters, but what about the 'cussin' crowd?

So here's the prize I'm providing for the April Match:  it's a capper made of heavy leather.  the caps are set into holes along the outside edge of the capper which hangs from a whang upside down.  That way, they are protected to some degree from inclement weather, and they are in the attitude ready to place on the nipple of your gun.  Simply slip the cap over the nipple, and tug gently sideways and the cap slips out of it's holder through the slit in the capper.  I've been using one of these, made from a piece of an old saddle, for about forty years, and it has never dropped a cap.  this one holds 22 #11 caps...pictured are CCI # 11's.
the upper piece with the holes is 10 - 12 oz. saddle skirting, and the base piece sewed to it is 10 oz. ... the holes do not go through both pieces, so the base piece acts like a pad to press the cap firmly onto the nipple.

[OldMtnMan]

That's really nice. Do you want to sell one?

I won't be ready to shoot this month and I can't beat you guys anyway.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

PM to ya, Pete.

[Maven]

Taylor, How'd you know I was siting in my Mowrey .50cal. cap lock rifle today?  From a rest @ 50 yd., it's pretty much where it needs to be, but who know what it'll do offhand @ 25 yd.? 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Only one way to find out.  Cast off and see where the wind takes you!!

[Nessmuck]

Very nice capper ..right there !

[Daryl]

Those are deluxe cappers, hand stitched.
These are simply contact cement glued after hole punching and slicing the exits.
Without the backing, the caps are very much less secure, thus I feel the backing
as Taylor makes them, is necessary.
Using a wheel like these, I was able to load and shoot in 8 seconds & using paper ctgs. of course.

[Daryl]

I'll start it off with a pair what looks like 15's to me of course, Taylor will give the final talley.
That little spot in the middle was more difficult than we thought.
30/34
.69
.682" ball 10 ounce denim (.021")
water soluble oil/water 10:1.
25 yards offhand

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I concur Daryl, ie:  30/34.  My pair of targets scores the same, though no one need be concerned about mine...don't qualify.

.60 Calibre Chambers' Virginia
85 gr. FFg GOEX
10 oz denim (.021")
Moose milk 1:10 oil to water
25 yd. offhand.
30/34

[Maven]

With targets like Daryl's and Taylor's, I'm embarrassed to post mine.  The good news is that I finally got the sights regulated, so I can't blame my shooting on the gun.  Indeed, I spent so much time sighting in the rifle yesterday that I forgot t cut new patches and had to recycle some of the once fired ones.  My humble efforts are pictured below:

[Daryl]

You get another entry, Paul and lots of time to improve your score.

It is early in the month. 3 nice ones on the left target & the low centre & right hand shots are only out in elevation!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I had to shoot alone today...Daryl otherwise engaged.  But I didn't improve4 my score...same as last time. 

T. Allison Western PA longrifle (inspired)
.25 cal.
30 gr. FFFg GOEX
.018" patch/ moose milk lube
25 yds. offhand
scored 30/34

[Daryl]

Glad you got out, Taylor. Good shooting - almost. IT happens.
So close.

[OldMtnMan]

Taylor.............Looking at your targets. It looks like you put more concentration on hitting the small center circle than you do on the squares.

I bet if you work harder on hitting the squares you can shoot a perfect score.

Good shooting.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Pete:  it is true.  The smaller dot requires really solid concentration and a perfect trigger break, and a hard follow through.  The smaller the target, the easier this is to accomplish.  A big target allows one to be overconfident.  I thought this target would be easier than it is, for me, anyway.

[alacran]

Have to pick up new toner cartridges. Hope to shoot it sometimes this week. Perfect target for break I,g in new rifle.

[longcruise]

Here's my example of some poor shooting.   Should trashed the targets and been done with it  but that would be contrary to the ALR Spirit. 



I've made no effort to score these.  I'll leave it to the Shoot Master!! 

I went on to shoot a six target match after these two and reduced the charge from 90 to 70.  That improved things but still not a very good showing.   I have been shooting this gun with 535 balls but was out and the 530s made for a much looser fit.  At least that's my story.

Thanks Taylor for putting this on.

[alacran]

I shot these on Thursday. Nothing t brag about. However it is Shot with a .58 Jaeger I built three years ago but had't shot till the Friday before. It is a long boring story of why I had.t shot it so long after being built.  Any way I just started sighting it in the week before but it was still shooting low. I like to sight in a offhand rifle offhand. Actually this target is good for sighting in.


Since I was shooting low I was having to hold on the top edge of the squares.
On the dot I was trying to hold a couple of squares above, but failed miserably. I was using 80 grains of Goex 2f. Jo Ann's pocket drill, and a 570 ball. I haven't taken any pictures of the rifle yet.
I know most of you like to have long arduous bench sessions with your rifles before you shoot offhand with them. I go about it differently I will sight it in offhand then I will shoot for group off crossticks or a bench if I find a suitable one. The best load usually shoots where I sighted it in offhand. Maybe a little elevation difference.  I really dont care where it shoots off a rest, only that it groups.

[Daryl]

Glad you got a target in, alacran. It's a tough target, made even worse if the sights are not true. Taylor
has that trouble with his old Lang 16 bore.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

alacran:  thanks for posting your targets.  I score it 11 + 9 = 20/34.  Now go do it again, with feeling.

[bob in the woods]

The rain finally let up this morning. Here's my two targets.  The centre hit on #2 has a luck factor, based on the hits on the square targets.

[bob in the woods]

I had a chance to shoot another target, but didn't do any better