May's smoothbore match,

[bob in the woods]

I am exceptionally happy to have the smoothbore match continue on.  I initiated this because I  am fascinated by them , especially since they were the predominant firearm here in the 1700's and the " Milice" were noted to use them with great effect.  Far more temperamental than a rifle, they have their "sweet spot" re loading. There is a degree of luck, but as with most things, the more I shoot, the luckier I get 
This month I will  continue with the target from April , shot offhand at 50 yards, 5 shots per target
The difference is that any smoothbore with or without sights, flint or percussion is allowed.
Maybe we'll even see a matchlock, which is OK too. 
1/2 ball rule.  If we have a tie, the distance from centre for each shot will be added up to determine a winner .  This is all about getting out and shooting that smoothbore ! 
Looking forward to many many entries.
BTW- for those of us who are used to shooting without a rear sight, I don't think it's a big deal to allow the use of one in this month's match to gain additional entries, since it still is shot offhand.
The prize is a bottle of my bear oil, courtesy of last Fall's black bear and my smoothbore 

[Daryl]

Ahh - string measure for tie breaking - good idea.

[Nessmuck]

Maybe I can get 5 shots on the paper now....lol

[Clark Badgett]

While rifles get all the glory, the smoothbore did the actual grunts work of settling the new world.

[mwal]

What are the targets?
Mwal

[Daryl]

From Bob's post about the shoot. Now, I am not sure if we shoot 2 for score, or one per "score" but a number of times if we want to.

"This month I will  continue with the target from April , shot offhand at 50 yards, 5 shots per target
The difference is that any smoothbore with or without sights, flint or percussion is allowed.
Maybe we'll even see a matchlock, which is OK too.
1/2 ball rule.  If we have a tie, the distance from centre for each shot will be added up to determine a winner ."

[bob in the woods]

One submission for score.  Shoot 5 if you want, but only one needs to be counted.

[alacran]

Shot this back on May 5th,but I forgot all about it. Don't know why there haven't been any submissions since Bob opened it up to sighted smoothbores. Any way I hope to get out and try this again. Still a little confused about submission for score but posted this anyway just to get the balls rolling, pun intended. Did not really have a great day . I will fall back on my best excuse, my underwear was too tight.

[Maven]

Wish I could use that excuse, alacran (Good target though)!  Although I would dearly like to submit a few targets for the May Frolic, a rib injury (playing softball with my grandchildren + re-injury at the gym last Friday) makes my participation problematic.  If I shoot at all, it will be from a rest and therefore not for record.  (I want to try tow wads + a bore sized RB one more time.)

[bob in the woods]

I hope this will clear up any questions re the match.   You can shoot and show as many targets as you want .  Your best score is the one that counts.    Off hand, round balls only, 50 yards, front and rear sights are fine.  I'm hoping we'll see lots of entries.

[martin9]

I shot one of my smoothbores yesterday...with sights. Wished I'd have thought to have a couple printed off targets with me. Had one of those can't miss days yesterday...prolly won't shot that well again all summer:>). I'll give it a go later this week.

[Daryl]

Personally, I feel, perhaps selfishly, that SB matches should be "held" to 25 yards or meters.😀
Too, with summer upon us with expected time at the Lake(s) and rivers for many of us, I'm not sure how much monthly covid match shooting I will get "in".

[bob in the woods]

Daryl, I agree with you re the 25 yards.  I left this May match at 50 yards simply because of the fact that it was opened up to sighted smoothbores, and also because of the pervasive 3 in or less at 50 yards capability so often talked about .  Personally, I seldom see that kind of performance.
If a gun will shoot into 3 inches [ or less] at 50 yards, then getting 5 shots on an 8 1/2 in by 11 sheet of paper of hand should be doable by a good # of folks.  If not, then they have no business shooting at game at that distance...but that's just my opinion.  Rifles take some work to arrive at a load that is accurate.  I believe that smoothbores take a lot more work, and are finicky about it.
It took a lot of shooting with different combinations before I got mine to give the accuracy I was looking for.
Perhaps we should give these matches a rest until Fall , although I'm up for a June shoot if others are willing.

[tddeangelo]

I’ll try to shoot this one. The last match I didn’t think about till late in the month (turkeys on the brain), and then weather was not conducive to range time.

I’d like to give it a go this time around.