November Postal Match

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Thanks for the accolades lads!  I hadn't shot a postal match all summer until October.  Feels great to be back into it.
November's match is going to be very simple, yet fulfilling, I hope.  Here's the link to the target: 
https://targets.s3.amazonaws.com/PDF/Bullseye1.pdf
Rules:  5 shots offhand (unsupported), 25 yards, Black Powder only (no subs), round ball only, fixed open iron sights, half ball to score higher .
Submit three targets for aggregate score, possible 150 15X.
Submit as many targets as you like. I'll keep a running aggregate score for you, so you can improve your aggregate as the month goes on.

[MuskratMike]

Thank you. Finally a proper target. Count me in once the river of moisture has subsided here I will get out and try not to embarrass myself! happy shooting to all.

[Nessmuck]

Taylor...is this the target with a 2 inch black 10 ring

And a 5 inch ...black 8 ring ?

Sorry I don't do the metric system...lol

Thanks Ness

[Maven]

Good choice, Taylor!

[Justin Urbantas]

Nice. I'll definitely play this month, probably sooner rather than later while we have this warm spell. I printed out targets for last month, but I got too busy.

[Daryl]

Taylor...is this the target with a 2 inch black 10 ring

And a 5 inch ...black 8 ring ?

Sorry I don't do the metric system...lol

Thanks Ness

Exactly- same target used a year ago, June2022.

[alacran]

I have to get a new toner cartridge, but I found two unshot targets from"22. Hope to shoot them this weekend after the turkey shoot.

[Justin Urbantas]

Usually you can print black and white at a public library for like 10 cents. I don't bother with ink anymore.

[MuskratMike]

Since the torrents of rain coming to the Pacific NW wouldn't be here until this afternoon I took the opportunity to shoot 4 targets to start my aggregate score for the month. Normally I don't take these "Postal Matches" very seriously but this time I thought I would. Using my Jim Kibler built .40 caliber SMR (my most accurate rifle), last night I actually weighed out charges ahead and put them in vials, I decided I would go back to my old "target" load of 45 grains of Goex 3F, .395 round balls and a .012 ticking patch using good 'ol spit for lube. I loaded everything up in the truck and took off this morning because it was 53 degrees, ZERO wind and slightly overcast skies. These were shot offhand at 25 yards. This is the best set of targets I have shot in a year or more, maybe even longer. Using the top three out of four I score them a 48 1X, 49 2X and a 50 3X for an aggregate of 147 6X. Now I have no illusions that this score will hold up but I am proud of it and will try to shoot another set after the rains have subsided.
"Muskrat" Mike

[Justin Urbantas]

Wow. That last one's a dandy.

[alacran]

Good shooting Mike!

[okawbow]

Good shooting Mike! Will be a challenge to beat!

[Daryl]

Good one. I see maybe 3X's.

[JBJ]

Excellent, Mike! With an aggregate of 147 and 6x's so far I am wondering what you will pick for next month's target  ? As my shooting buddy Marc says, "There's not much meat left on the bone." after that score. Challenging indeed!

J.B.

[Seth Isaacson]

I was having an on and off day.  I haven't shot paper lately, so I had to fight the instinct to pull the trigger when lined up on the black in general which is fine for steel but not shooting for groups. I knew after firing some of the shots that they would be right or high before the smoke cleared.

Rifle: "Percussion Conversion" Lancaster Longrifle by Scott Coy with .38 caliber, 34" Bobby Hoyt barrel. Shot with 40 grains of Swiss 3F, .018 pillow ticking patches for first target and .020 oiled cotton for second and third target (ran out of the former in my pouch), and Hornady .375 round balls. Pouch by Eric Ewing. Antique powder horn that came out of an auction in the Pacific Northwest.


It was all down hill from here!


Target 1: 46 2x


Target 2: 45


Target 3: 43

Total: 134 2x.


Ignore that top left, I am way out of practice with my pistol after having the lock repaired. I used to be able to shoot it pretty well, but that was an embarrassing group this weekend.

[taterbug]

okay, my printer-fu is failing me.  Is this on 8.5x11 paper?  ending up with about 1/2" borders on the sides, 1-7/8" 10-ring, and 4-3/4" black 8-ring.  I'm sure it's just a setting somewhere that im missing. 

It's probably gonna ruin my scores... NOT!   

Any holes on the paper made by flying lead will be a win for me!  LOL!!

[Daryl]

Make sure you have no borders in settings, and printing 100%.
Nice try, Seth. Man, that first centre X is hard to follow.

[smylee grouch]

Yes that first X would be called a spider in the chunk gun matches.

[Seth Isaacson]

I believe it was the second or third shot that hit just above, and I knew I pulled a few of them on that first target. I’m going to go out again this weekend and try to stay focused and improve my score. I don’t have much hope of overtaking Muskrat Mike unless I shoot better than I ever have before somehow.

[HighUintas]

I was having an on and off day.  I haven't shot paper lately, so I had to fight the instinct to pull the trigger when lined up on the black in general which is fine for steel but not shooting for groups. I knew after firing some of the shots that they would be right or high before the smoke cleared.

This may be a little off topic, but in reference to your statement about pulling the trigger when lined up... Do you typically try to time your trigger pull with the POA float so the trigger pull would happen just before your sight floats back into the black?

[Daryl]

For me, timing the trigger pull for the 'swing' only happened when I shot scoped 3-postion competition. I cannot see well enough with open sights to do that, so I try to hold centre
as best I can while squeezing the simple trigger on the .69.

[Marcruger]

That 147 tells me I don't need to go out this month.  My wobble is such that I cannot guarantee all of my shots will be a ten, which is what would be required to beat that.  My muscles are not that steady now, if they ever were.  As JBJ said, "No meat left of those bones".  Even the vultures moved along.       God Bless,   Marc

[Seth Isaacson]

My approach is like Daryl's. I try to hold pretty center and then carefully press the trigger. When shooting steel, I'm far less concerned at hitting dead center, just ensuring my sights are lined up to hit the target.

Marcruger, plenty point in going out to challenge yourself! I never do these challenges to prove I'm the best shot. I know I'm not, but I enjoy the challenge, variety, and the comradery.

[Daryl]

I always try to aim small. My wobble-aim's a bigger "small" than I like.

[BOB HILL]

Great shooting fellows.
Bob