Author Topic: September Postal Match  (Read 3367 times)

Offline okawbow

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September Postal Match
« on: September 01, 2023, 04:12:34 AM »
Archery style target. 25 yards, 5 shots standing or sitting offhand. Shoot a second target, 5 shots, 50 yards standing, sitting or kneeling using a wall, tree, post or bench for support. The gun cannot touch the support, only your arm, back of the hand or shoulder, no bags. Shoot up to 4 times at each distance, but would like to see your best consecutive targets at 25 and 50 yards, not the best mix. Link-  https://www.crooked-bend.com/uploads/1648394280972.pdf
« Last Edit: September 01, 2023, 05:42:46 AM by okawbow »
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline Molly

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2023, 05:44:50 AM »
These printable targets on 8.5 x 11 are pretty small at 50 yards.!!!

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2023, 05:47:25 AM »
Shoot up to 4 times at each distance, but would like to see the best consecutive targets at 25 and 50 yards. Not the the best 25 yard first try with the best 50 yard third try. Shoot it like you would at a club match.
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2023, 05:49:11 AM »
These printable targets on 8.5 x 11 are pretty small at 50 yards.!!!
That’s why you can shoot from a rest as long as the gun doesn’t get supported by anything but your arms and hands.
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2023, 06:04:46 AM »
Got it, good idea. It is about marksmanship, but still fun to do.
"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline Dutch

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2023, 03:38:34 PM »
These printable targets on 8.5 x 11 are pretty small at 50 yards.!!!
Use the link, not the image to print from, still very small at 50 but a bit better

Offline Seth Isaacson

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2023, 10:06:33 PM »
This sounds fun. I like the variety of it. Now that it isn't 100 degrees here I hope I'll actually get out and shoot this one.
I am the Lead Historian/Firearms Specialist at Rock Island Auction Co., but I am here out of my own personal interests in muzzle loading and history.
*All opinions expressed are mine alone and are NOT meant to represent those of any other entity unless otherwise expressly stated.*

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2023, 11:20:02 PM »
Okay, some one has to get the ball rolling. Last night I printed 8 targets and labeled them 25 yard #1, #2, #3, #4 and did the same for the 50 yard ones. This way I can't mix them up and "improve" my score by taking the best ones. It was a beautiful day with bright sun and no wind. I shot the 25 yard targets seated on a stool with my body, legs and elbows for support. On the 50 yard line I rested by back against the 4x4 upright on the covered line (didn't work so good) then I tried resting my hip against the side of the shooting bench (not much better but helped). I shot my .40 caliber Jim Kibler built SMR. 60 grains of Goex 3F, .395 ball with a .012 greased ticking patch. Targets #1 I scored a 42 (25 yd.) and 31 (50 yd.) for a score of 73. On the 2nd group I score them as 47 (25 yd.) and 35 (50 yd.) for a total of 82. Well I am half way through the September match. Won't take much to beat these scores but I did the best I could. NOTE: These targets are actually fairly easy to see even with my old blurry eyes.
Happy shooting to all,
"Muskrat" Mike



"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2023, 12:56:54 AM »
Good shooting, Mike! You can shoot from the bench at the 50 yd target as long as you have your hand under the stock and don’t use a sand bag or pad.
Chuck
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2023, 01:15:04 AM »
Well that will make a difference on the next targets. Thanks, I just didn't read the rules.
"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline Daryl

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2023, 02:05:41 AM »
Not bad, Mike. I see a 31, 42, 35 and a nice 49.
Daryl

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Offline MuskratMike

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2023, 02:12:40 AM »
Okay everybody it's a 3 day weekend lets all get out there and make some smoke and get some targets posted. it won't take any great shakes to beat mine. I will try and get out in a week or so and post my final ones.
"Muskrat" Mike
"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2023, 02:52:23 AM »
Here’s my 50 yard target shot at my club range. . Had to leave before I could shoot the 25 offhand. Won’t count this month, but I’m sure many of you can beat this.

Chuck

As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline Daryl

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2023, 05:08:12 AM »
Looks like a fun target. Unfortunately, I won't be able to shoot it.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2023, 12:04:17 AM »



These don’t count since I am doing this month’s match. I shot my .30 caliber Home made SMR flintlock this time. Been a while since I had it out. Had a couple slow fires for some reason. Don’t recall it ever doing that before. Still happy with the results after shooting percussion for several months. It was nice to get back to flint. 43 points on each target. Actually, the round balls I used were buckshot I made with a gang mold. First time I tried them out. Seem to work ok.
« Last Edit: September 09, 2023, 01:43:49 AM by okawbow »
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline foresterdj

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #15 on: September 09, 2023, 10:22:13 PM »
.45 with .440 RB, .018 patch, spit lube (forgot my bottle of Hoppes).
Fact - 30 years ago I was steady as a rock, now wobble all over off hand
Excuse - stiff breeze straight in face made wobble even worse

Shot 2 sets, sadly, set A was my best, B was terrible.
Target arrangement shown. The 25 off hand was standing, no rest; the 50 I rested forward hand against the post to left of bench while standing, which helped a lot.





I score the 25 yard as 13 and the 50 yard as 43.



Offline alacran

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #16 on: September 10, 2023, 12:36:25 PM »
These printable targets on 8.5 x 11 are pretty small at 50 yards.!!!
Dear Molly, when shooting at Friendship or other NMLRA events the 50-yard 7 ring black is only 3.89 inches in diameter. That is about 1/8th inch wider than the yellow area of this target. There is one other target that is used at fifty yards and that is the hundred-yard 8 ring black target with black area being 6 inches in diameter. Overall this target is 1/8th of an inch smaller than the target we shoot at 100 yards.
A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #17 on: September 10, 2023, 06:42:18 PM »
Alacran:  in Molly's defense, I agree that a solid black bull of significant diameter is easier to see than these coloured targets, regardless of ring size.  Dayl enjoys shooting a multi-bull target, and a target with both black and white rings alternating.  I find these targets far more difficult to see and thus shoot, preferring single black dot bulls.  But this is the target for this event, and I'm ok with it...everyone has the same opportunity.
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Offline alacran

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2023, 03:50:12 PM »
Taylor, instead of just saying the target isn't small, I thought that giving comparisons would be more enlightening.
I agree with you that a solid black target is much easier to see than this multihued one.
I printed some up in B&W and hopefully will get to shoot them today.
A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline alacran

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #19 on: September 12, 2023, 08:19:14 PM »
I shot these yesterday. I know it is not the way you want them Shot, but I do not have my own range.
Simply put it is inconvenient to say the least to shoot one at 25 and then shoot one at 50.
I shot all these targets at 25. Very windy and the light was never the same on any Shot.
I used my .54 Hawken which I haven't shot for quite a while.
Ill shoot this same rifle next time I go out and shoot them at 50, and number them in the order that I shoot them.
All shot offhand.





A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.  Frederick Douglass

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #20 on: September 15, 2023, 04:13:33 PM »
The month is half over. Highest posted score is Mike’s with an 82. This is a fairly easy match, so get out and shoot!
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #21 on: September 19, 2023, 12:43:47 AM »
A perfect shooting day, but probably the last time I will get out. Shot my 3rd set of targets today. Slightly overcast and only a 2 mile per hour wind.
I shot the 25 yard target sitting on a bucket with knees and elbows for a rest. The 50 yard target I shot from a bench with only hands and elbows for stability. Both were shot with my Jim Kibler built .40 caliber SMR. 60 grains of Goex 3F a .015 ticking patch that was greased with a 50/50% mix of T.O.T.W. mink grease and pure Neatsfoot oil. I use a .395 ball. The 25 yard target I score as a 43 and the 50 yard target I score a 37 for a score of 80.
Getting toward the end of the month so lets all get out and shoot the "Postal Match!
"Muskrat" Mike



"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.

Offline Seth Isaacson

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #22 on: September 19, 2023, 04:15:30 PM »
Went out and tried this over the weekend. First shot was right in the bullseye at 25 yards, and then it was all down hill from there.  :o  42 at 25 yards with three shots in basically a vertical line above the bullseye and at 50 I didn't even bother totaling my score, as I again shot mostly high. I ran out of my usual .018 patches and had to switch to doubled up .010 patches since that is all I happened to still have in my pouch. Those had to be mallet started which may have lead to the high shots.
I am the Lead Historian/Firearms Specialist at Rock Island Auction Co., but I am here out of my own personal interests in muzzle loading and history.
*All opinions expressed are mine alone and are NOT meant to represent those of any other entity unless otherwise expressly stated.*

Offline okawbow

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #23 on: September 20, 2023, 02:18:08 AM »
Keep shooting! Good target at 25. Remember, you can use a rest at 50 as long as your hand or body is the only thing touching the rest. No sand bags. Good luck!
As in life; it’s the journey, not the destination. How you get there matters most.

Offline MuskratMike

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Re: September Postal Match
« Reply #24 on: September 21, 2023, 10:30:46 PM »
Well as the rains are coming Saturday and are forecasted to rain every day into the beginning of October I thought I better get out today and shoot the last two targets. i tried something different and used my .36 caliber Soddy-Daisy. 350 round ball, greased .018 ticking and 45 grains of Goex 3F and 4F in the priming pan. My first target at 25 yards was shot of a bucket with knees and elbows for support. I score it as a very respectable 46, then the wheels came off the bus. At 50 yards shooting off a bench with hands and elbows as my only support I was only able to score a 22 for a total of 68. ONLY 9 DAYS LEFT!




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"Muskrat" Mike McGuire
Keep your eyes on the skyline, your flint sharp and powder dry.