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Sorry for the long read .
"Cliff's Notes Version " :
Find a load that your rifle likes....
Shoot that load often , as well as shooting with the same method often / always...then you will get more hits.
Last weekend at our club shoot , we had a fun shoot.
A gong was the target and we all took turns shooting one shot at it.
If you made your hit...you made it to the next round...if you miss you were out.
We started at 25 yards , then moved back to 50 yards and on until we ended up going to about 90 yards.
Shots were to be made off hand , without a rest ( unless due to age of the shooter ).
I came in first place with no misses.
Throughout the shoot , many a good natured and fun heckle was tossed about as well as comments like :
"Andy makes it look easy " or "There he goes again"....
I post the above not to brag far from it , please don't read it that way.
It just seems that in the club that I belong to...
Many folks just view their muzzle loading rifle as a "rendezvous toy" and not worthy of serious practice .
Or they use it as a hunting rifle , but only because of the rules regarding what you animals you can take during muzzle loading season ..
As well as an extended hunting season.
When I was asked : "How do you shoot like that ? "
Many were amazed with my simple answer of : "Practice , this is my favorite rifle I shoot it a lot."
The rifle I used was my Hawken Rifle.
I have the greatest respect for the rifle maker...its a good looking and good shooting rifle.
It took a lot of work to get the money to buy this rifle.
Also as noted above its a good looking rifle...as well as one that was meant to be used.
So it became "My Rifle". as in the rifle that I shoot , a lot , as in almost every time I go shooting or hunting.
I took time to find a good load that the rifle likes and learned how to shoot that load well.
I don't change my load...I use it for all of my shooting and hunting*.
To my way of thinking....
Just using your rifle at rendezvous ...or as means to extend your hunting season , does your shooting practice ( and enjoyment ) a disservice.
Rifles , be they custom built or off the shelf factory models , were meant to be used and shot....So do so , as often as you can.
*
My loading for my Hawken is :
80 grains of 2F ( actual black powder )
A .15 patch ( Spit as a lube ) and .530 round ball.
I have at times"upped" my powder charge to around 100 grains....for bear and for a distance shot at a antelope.
But my "everyday" load is the above.
I have taken game and won many a rifle match with it.
I also always shoot "from my shooting bag " , as in no table / bench or with a box full of stuff...
Andy
"Cliff's Notes Version " :
Find a load that your rifle likes....
Shoot that load often , as well as shooting with the same method often / always...then you will get more hits.
Last weekend at our club shoot , we had a fun shoot.
A gong was the target and we all took turns shooting one shot at it.
If you made your hit...you made it to the next round...if you miss you were out.
We started at 25 yards , then moved back to 50 yards and on until we ended up going to about 90 yards.
Shots were to be made off hand , without a rest ( unless due to age of the shooter ).
I came in first place with no misses.
Throughout the shoot , many a good natured and fun heckle was tossed about as well as comments like :
"Andy makes it look easy " or "There he goes again"....
I post the above not to brag far from it , please don't read it that way.
It just seems that in the club that I belong to...
Many folks just view their muzzle loading rifle as a "rendezvous toy" and not worthy of serious practice .
Or they use it as a hunting rifle , but only because of the rules regarding what you animals you can take during muzzle loading season ..
As well as an extended hunting season.
When I was asked : "How do you shoot like that ? "
Many were amazed with my simple answer of : "Practice , this is my favorite rifle I shoot it a lot."
The rifle I used was my Hawken Rifle.
I have the greatest respect for the rifle maker...its a good looking and good shooting rifle.
It took a lot of work to get the money to buy this rifle.
Also as noted above its a good looking rifle...as well as one that was meant to be used.
So it became "My Rifle". as in the rifle that I shoot , a lot , as in almost every time I go shooting or hunting.
I took time to find a good load that the rifle likes and learned how to shoot that load well.
I don't change my load...I use it for all of my shooting and hunting*.
To my way of thinking....
Just using your rifle at rendezvous ...or as means to extend your hunting season , does your shooting practice ( and enjoyment ) a disservice.
Rifles , be they custom built or off the shelf factory models , were meant to be used and shot....So do so , as often as you can.
*
My loading for my Hawken is :
80 grains of 2F ( actual black powder )
A .15 patch ( Spit as a lube ) and .530 round ball.
I have at times"upped" my powder charge to around 100 grains....for bear and for a distance shot at a antelope.
But my "everyday" load is the above.
I have taken game and won many a rifle match with it.
I also always shoot "from my shooting bag " , as in no table / bench or with a box full of stuff...
Andy
Last Edited:
