Muzzle Loading Hunting Challenge, October 18, 2009

[Maven]

Marbletown Sportsmen's Club (105 Scarawan Rd., Stone Ridge, Ulster Co., N.Y. 12484) will host a muzzle loading hunting challenge on Sunday, October 18, 2009, starting at 9:30AM. The "challenge" will consist of 20 shots fired off hand at a variety of animal targets at 25-, 50- and 100 yards. Any muzzleloading long arm may be used, but without slings. NMLRA rules will be observed with respect to not only range and gun safety, but scoring as well. The entry fee is $10.00 and registration will begin at 9:30AM. If you need more information contact Rich Rockwell at 845-687-8750 (evenings) or mzldr@aol.com; or me, Paul Brasky at 845-331-9415 or pwbrasky@hvc.rr.com Hope to see you on the 18th of October!

[Maven]

Anyone planning on attending this?

[725]

Boy, that sounds like fun. Too far for me, but I wish I could go.

[Maven]

725, I knew our club is almost in the middle of nowhere, but I didn't realize just how far off the beaten path (3 - 4 miles) we are. Btw, I practiced on one of the targets (animal heads of varying sizes and contrast) @ 25 yds. the other day and believe me, it was a challenge. I hope to get to the range once more for 50- and 100 yd. attempts to hit the target!

[725]

Good luck.

[Maven]

"I knew our club is almost in the middle of nowhere, but I didn't realize just how far off the beaten path (3 - 4 miles) we are."

All, It's been 6 weeks since our shoot and I realized that I didn't give you an update on it. Apparently. we're so far from "civilization" that even our members couldn't find our range that day. In short, it was a miserable day: rainy, windy, raw, which no doubt didn't boost our attendance one bit (but the firing line is covered & reasonably dry). Only 5, including me, attended: 2 flintlocks and 3 caplocks, all firing homecast Pb RB's, although inlines and Pb conicals were permitted. The swirling winds so typical of our range made shots at 50- and 100 yds. quite difficult. Indeed, no one had an easy time with the 100 yd. buffalo target (NMLRA), meaning it took at least 30 mins. for everyone to get sighted in. Btw, we all missed easy shots at the closer targets too. Lastly, I'm a bit embarrassed to write this, but I took first place that day*. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out!


*I was shooting a Mowrey .50cal. caplock rifle (nominally .495" RB cast from a Lee mold + .018" patch) that wears a T/C Patridge front sight (from a Renegade) since the original one didn't match the rear sight notch very well. I used anywhere from 40 grs. - 90 grs. Graf & Sons FFg, which it seems to like.