July Postal Match

[Daryl]

Talked with Taylor today at the range (rendezvous) today and he is in agreement, same target and rules as June's match.
I know a bunch of you will have targets printed, as-do I.
"Same site for targets and here is the link.
https://targets.s3.amazonaws.com/PDF/Bullseye1.pdf
Printing the target from this address, will give the correct sizing. If uploaded to your computer as a PDF, then
printing it from there, will likely print a smaller target. My computer will make it 1/16" smaller in size for each ring
if I do this.
The 10 ring is just a hair over 2" in diameter, so there should be some good scores. 1/2 ball touching or across the
outer edge of the line for higher score.
For this match, 5 shots, standing or offhand with body resting if that is what you do - fine.
25 yards No other types of "rest" please
5 shots per target, a "possible" is 50 5X.
Submit as many targets as you like, only top score on a single target wins.  Maximum # of holes per target is 5.
Open sights only, but if you want to submit a peep sighted target for acclaim, so be it, but please label it so. (recurve- this is directed at you)
Flint or percussion ignition only. Patched round ball.
The reason for a single bull, is some people have difficulty with multiple bulls on the same page.
Good luck and good shooting!!! "

[Nessmuck]

Sweet !

[MuskratMike]

I am on it! Happy 4th to everyone. Be well, safe and happy. As for me I'm off to my monthly club shoot to make some white smoke.

[Daryl]

The reason I am doing this for Taylor, is due to him running the rendezvous, so he is camping there, with no access to the forum.
I hope you all understand. He should be 'home' on the 4th or 5th.

[Daryl]

What? No targets yet?

[Nessmuck]

I have to sober up first…

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

As Daryl has pointed out, our local Black Powder Club hosted our annual rendezvous last weekend and as Booshway and chief scribe, I was busy.  On the last day of our event, we had some in-camp shooting events, and one of our targets was the one we are using for this month's postal match.  So I had an opportunity to shoot a target and here's the result. 
I used my T. Allison Western PA rifle in .25 cal., .250" buckshot balls, 30 gr. GOEX 3Fg, and .018" precut and lubed patches...25 yards offhand unsupported.

[bob in the woods]

Nice looking target, and rifle . 

[smylee grouch]

I actually got one shot, my first postal target on the 2nd and my computer's boogey man wont let me upload the pic. It was a 43 or 44 but I will DQ it as I shot it sitting on my walker and might have  rested one elbow on my fake leg and the other on the armrest. Will try again when the weather quits melting candles. 70 grs. 1&1/2 swiss 610 ball. I was shooting high so wonder if the slightly longer barrel time recoils my shots high. Gun was sighted in with 100+ grs. of the same powder.

[MJBush]

Good for you! Getting out to shoot, is always a good thing.
 I shot with a man in Idaho who lost his right leg in a truck accident, did not slow him down much. He was tough to beat. I miss him.
Michael

[smylee grouch]

Hi MJ Bush, I know of who you speak, Arnold IIRC. He shot at the Western in AZ at least once may be more. Good luck on your upcoming shoot. There are a few from the SFRC headed out there.  Flintlocks Forever

[MJBush]

Yes, it was Arnie. We are headed to Oregon next week.
Michael

[alacran]

Very nice target Taylor. Those little balls leave no question as to where they landed.
Just got back to AZ. Will print some targets and hopefully do some shooting.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Thanks alacran!  One thing that makes for nice holes is the 65 pound paper I had these printed on.  But the ball size and velocity is the main thing, I know.

[bob in the woods]

I just shot a target with my 10 bore.  Off hand, 25 yards. Bayonet lug for a front sight.  Kind of a mess in the centre , but clearly one is a 9 and 1 is an 8 ...so 47 
Rice barrel, 46 inches long oct/round . Bore measures .768 in at the muzzle
.715 ball, .022 [compressed] denim patch, bear grease lube, 100 gr Fg
{ There are a few stray #4 shot holes, since I pulled a shot load that was in the gun, and then loaded the first ball ]   I  normally shoot paper cartridges in this gun, and use  the .715 balls . For patched loads , I have a .735 mold, but was out of those balls at the moment.  I haven't used patched loads in the 10 bore for a long while. It's my main hunting gun.

I'll be using something smaller, next target 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I'd say anything downrange of that ten bore is in mortal danger Bob...nice target.

[alacran]

Got out to the range yesterday. I didn't expect the range to be so well attended.
Had the usual mix of pistol shooters, AR shooters and Magnum Monsters.
Again, I was the only one with a muzzleloader of any type. I was shooting my .58 Jaeger. I used the same load for the first two targets 60 grains of 2f Goex,
.562 ball, bear lubed .022 twill. The third target was the same except that I used wheel weight balls. I did that as I only had 12 soft lead balls.
The first target I shot is on the left one X, two 10s and two 8s for a 46. The second target three 10s and two 9s for a 48.
The third target with the wheel weight balls gave me one X, one 10 and three 9s for a 47 one X.
I put the same target at fifty yards to see how the wheel weights would do. I was shooting about four inches high with them, though the windage seemed ok.
I shot one soft lead ball holding the same way and shot a 10. This test is indicative of nothing. I need to do this off the bench and at least 3 five shot groups with both hard lead and soft lead balls to come to any conclusion.
I know how this gun shoots offhand to 100 yards with soft lead balls. So, I doubt that I will do that test any time soon, until I get a better supply of 2f powder.

[Daryl]

God targets alacran. Nicely done. It's one thing to shoot when alone. Quite another to do so well with distractions

[MuskratMike]

Well a few days ago I went out and shot a few targets. Just can not for the life of me see the front sight in the sea of black. The best score was a 41. I went home and taped a white piece of paper over the 10 ring and X ring then drew in the X ring circle. If this is deemed not fair then don't score the targets.
It was a good day today with 65 degrees low to zero wind and slightly overcast skies. Using the same rifle my new Don Bruton .36 caliber Soddy Daisy with 45 grains of Goex 3F a .20 cotton drill greased patch and a .350 ball. I shot offhand with my back leaning against a vertical 4x4 post. Made all the difference in the world. I shot (as I see the scores) as a 46 2X, a 47 1X, and a 49 2X.
Again if the match director this month deems this unfair then I will understand and accept the 41 as my best score.

[Seth Isaacson]

Well, I haven’t had my new .38 Lancaster “percussion conversion” rifle out much, but if I do my part, 40 grains of 3f, two .01 patches (.02 on the way!), and a .375 round ball will do the trick at 25 yards it looks like. I got antsy about the second two shots after the first one was right in the ring, so I had to take a couple deep breaths and focus and put the last two where they belong.

[Nessmuck]

Muskrat….looks like you were just warming up ! Nice Shootn.

[alacran]

Good shooting Seth.
I got out yesterday with my .45 flint target rifle. Don't think that I've shot it since a postal match from last summer.
It has a Douglass xx barrel one inch across the flats. 40 inches long. The beast weighs 12.25 lbs. Any how I wanted to take it out and see if I could still hold it up. I normally shoot .451 balls out of it. It turned out that I was out of them, so I decided to use the .440 balls that I have plenty of.
I up patched to a heavy .023 twill with bear lube.
While I was waiting for a cease fire to post a target, I shot three shots at a target that was left on another stand to see if it would be a viable ball patch combo.
My first three shots grouped pretty close. Then we had a cease fire for some unknown reason. They have a cease fire every 15 minutes. Then I shot the other two shots. I didn't shoot another target because I'm not used to holding up that much weight anymore.
However, I was happy with the 48 1X.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Now we're starting to cook!  There's been some very fine shooting fellows.  Still lots of time left this month.

[Nessmuck]

Good shooting Seth.
I got out yesterday with my .45 flint target rifle. Don't think that I've shot it since a postal match from last summer.
It has a Douglass xx barrel one inch across the flats. 40 inches long. The beast weighs 12.25 lbs. Any how I wanted to take it out and see if I could still hold it up. I normally shoot .451 balls out of it. It turned out that I was out of them, so I decided to use the .440 balls that I have plenty of.
I up patched to a heavy .023 twill with bear lube.
While I was waiting for a cease fire to post a target, I shot three shots at a target that was left on another stand to see if it would be a viable ball patch combo.
My first three shots grouped pretty close. Then we had a cease fire for some unknown reason. They have a cease fire every 15 minutes. Then I shot the other two shots. I didn't shoot another target because I'm not used to holding up that much weight anymore.
However, I was happy with the 48 1X.

Do you find ..a lot of folks don’t have a spotting scope. So they are constantly wanting to walk 100 yards after shooting 5 shots...drives me nuts.

[Seth Isaacson]

Well, I haven’t had my new .38 Lancaster “percussion conversion” rifle out much, but if I do my part, 40 grains of 3f, two .01 patches (.02 on the way!), and a .375 round ball will do the trick at 25 yards it looks like. I got antsy about the second two shots after the first one was right in the ring, so I had to take a couple deep breaths and focus and put the last two where they belong.

Question on scoring since I haven't really scored targets in the past and don't generally compete except for informally with my friends: This target would be 47 correct? Do the top 10 ring and possibly the left 10 ring shot qualify as an Xs? I presume that in a competition if two or more scores are tied the one with more Xs takes the win? Is that how that works? Thanks for your information. I hope to get back out soon and see if I can best this one and practice up more and maybe also try the Muzzleloading Forum's postal match as well just to keep practicing.