Author Topic: 2025 February Postal Match (Read 2482 times)

alacran · « **on:** February 01, 2025, 05:53:37 PM »

I didn't expect to be writing this today. I thought there would be more and better entries. January's weather was dismal for just about everyone.
We only have 28 days for this match, so I thought I would post right away.

This target can be printed from my targets.com
The rules are simple you can shoot it at 50 yards from a bench or you can shoot it standing offhand at 25 yards.
One shot at each bullseye.
The center ring counts as X, next ring is a 10, then a 9 and outer ring is 8.
Tie will be decided by x count, followed by position. That is a tie between bench and offhad, the offhand shooter wins.
I/2 ball rule.

taterbug · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2025, 07:27:57 PM »

ambitious target, but not sure I'll be here in 900 years?

Tony N · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2025, 08:25:25 PM »

Alacran, congratulations on your January target! I like your target choice for February, looks like some warmer weather ahead for some of us!

Tony

JBJ · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2025, 09:12:35 PM »

Alacran, looks like fun. Good choice.
J.B.

bob in the woods · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2025, 09:40:09 PM »

That looks like a nice target. The last one was pretty difficult, especially for my smoothy. I just aimed at the centre more or less and hoped for the best

Congratulations on your win. I hope you get a chance to try this one yourself

Daryl · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2025, 11:50:54 PM »

Ours just went colder -24 right now.

bob in the woods · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2025, 05:55:23 PM »

Quote from: Daryl on February 01, 2025, 11:50:54 PM

Ours just went colder -24 right now.

Same here

Loading with gloves on is not too bad, but loading with mitts is awkward

Daryl · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2025, 10:38:16 PM »

Especially with a .36, Bob.

Targets printed on 32 pound Whitest and Brightest paper.
Now, warmer weather and access to our range. That won't happen until we get a thaw, I expect.

Daryl · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2025, 10:29:39 AM »

Drove past the black powder range today just after noon. Snow was about 4' high blocking the driveway.

bob in the woods · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2025, 04:16:32 PM »

I snowshoed out to the back 40 yesterday, and shot this target with my 20 bore. Bare
.610 ball, wwf/oil blanket wad, 100 gr FFg 25 yards standing, arm braced on tree
I hope to be able to get out again before month's end { we are getting lots od "winter" this year

]

alacran · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2025, 05:36:47 PM »

Glad to see you braved the elements to shoot some paper. Your photo is a bit fuzzy and the best I can make of it is that you scored a 33.
Good shooting with a smoothbore even if you are supporting with a tree.
Hopefully the weather will improve. I hope to shoot this myself, but the wind has been a problem.

Daryl · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2025, 05:07:34 AM »

Was out at the range today (indoor air rifle) and the access to the BP range has been plowed out.
Now, we need some warmer weather and Taylor and I can shoot this month. Supposed to warm up
in another week or so.

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2025, 05:47:36 PM »

Same here Daryl, re. warming up in a week.
Weekend is supposed to be minus 30 here.

alacran · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2025, 04:20:11 PM »

We are more than halfway through February. Punxsutawney Phil appears to be correct about six more weeks of Winter. Pretty much everything East of the Mississippi is a mess. The Northwest and the Rockys aren't much better. Here in the Southwest, it has been very windy.
Hopefully some more of you will brave the elements and have a go at this target.

foresterdj · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2025, 06:32:20 PM »

Minus 26 this morning, not forecast to even break zero for a few days. But a glimmer of hope, next Sunday forecast says +39!

Daryl · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2025, 12:29:59 AM »

Supposed to warm up here by Thursday, but forcasting snow/rain every day. We want to shoot it, but will
have to wait a bit.

JBJ · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2025, 01:25:44 AM »

Just as soon as we can get a break, we will give it a try. Between the rains which turned the range into a swamp and now the winter precip called for Weds., conditions are not "happy" at the range. Being is north of us, the range will catch enough snow to make the ground and roads a "rotten" mess. It's going to be a few days before Marc and I can safely get to the range. Our not shooting is not a voluntary thing!

J.B.

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2025, 01:40:40 AM »

I’ve been wanting to do this for some time and finally getting to it.
Dennis

Daryl · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2025, 03:26:57 AM »

Good work, Dennis. Zat a 44/50?

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2025, 03:43:30 AM »

Daryl,
Right barrel 54 cal fast twist, left is straight rifled 28 gauge. The left barrel with .021 patch and .530 RB prints in the midst of the right barrel groups.
Dennis

Tony N · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2025, 04:14:51 PM »

We are supposed to get a break in the weather this weekend, I hope to shoot this target then. I’ve had them printed for a couple weeks now, but too much snow and cold

Tony

alacran · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2025, 04:55:19 PM »

Good shooting Dennis. A 44, puts you in the lead. Hopefully we will get more entries. I was wondering why the puny load in your .54 until I read your post on that barrel being a fast twist barrel. What exactly is the twist in that barrel. Being a cape gun, is the purpose to shoot conicals out of it?
What is the length of the barrels?

Dennis Daigger · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2025, 08:07:48 PM »

alacran,
Barrels 28 1/2” long. The twist is 1:38” and unfortunately the groups open quickly much above 50 grains of powder. It is nicely accurate at 50 though. Someone on this forum some time ago pinpointed the issue by asking about the twist rate.

I’ve just started seriously shooting this rifle and rather than clutter this thread with what is a somewhat long story I can start a new thread if anyone is interested. I had a conical mould made, have made a short starting device and now have a means of seating the bullet at the breach so that it is concentric with the bore. Just need to start shooting the 367 gr conicals.

Too, sorry Daryl, I thought the 44/50 was a question about barrel calibers, thus the odd reply.
Dennis

Daryl · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2025, 10:22:04 PM »

Not an issue, Dennis. All's good.

foresterdj · « **Reply #24 on:** February 26, 2025, 12:39:28 AM »

Put my Kibler fowler 20 gauge together this winter, took it for first shots today. Took a couple with shot, 3 with patched ball and one with loose ball, figured I was ready for the February target (or not).

Temp 45 degrees, no wind, range melting out fast the last couple days.

All loads were with 70 gr 2Fg Grafs powder.
First 2 targets were .600 RB a .010 neatsfoot lubed patch, shot at 25 yards left hand bracing on post.

This last target was loose ball, I had a thick nitro over powder card, the ball, now using .610 RB and a thin over shot card to hold it in. (Though in all honesty, gun was so fouled by this last set that the loose ball had to be pushed down so it might not have rolled out even without the over shot card.)

Looks like an 8, a zero and a 27, which was all luck, or maybe I was getting a better idea where to hold by this time.

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Author Topic: 2025 February Postal Match (Read 2482 times)