BP Ramblings

Muzzle and breech loading black powder firearms. Military and sporting.
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dbm
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BP Ramblings

Post by dbm » Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:36 am

Been pretty quiet here of late.... So who's been out shooting?

The MLAGB's series of mid and long range National Rifle Championship matches has commenced at Bisley. So far we've had the 200 and 300 yard matches, with events for muzzle loading match rifles and military rifles. Weather conditions have not been favourable to date, with cold strong winds and occassional rain.

The Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB shoot primarily percussion match rifles at ranges of 600+ yards. We also have an Enfield rifle aggregate of 15 shots at 600 + 15 at 800 yards - and yes that is the muzzle loading .577 Enfield rifle, not one of those fancy modern .303s! :) I was pleaseantly suprised to score better at 800 than 600, and the top string of the day was made at 800 yards. You'll never get good scores using a modern certre fire rifle target and just staying on target is satisfying! ;) Mind you if the target had been a Civil War artillery crew they'd have been suffering quite badly. It's an interesting exercise shooting military muzzle loaders at these extended ranges.

The MLAGB match in aid of the Overseas Team Fund was fun. Musket, rifle and pistol shooting...... I just shot the Enfield matches and was pleased with my 95 kneeling at 50m.

Been playing with a .40-65 Rolling Block and am starting to get some decent groups now at 100m - even scored 98 prone with a wrist rest a couple of weeks ago! :D

Had chance to do some shooting with an original Whitworth match rifle which has been fun. I have a 100m zero and will be trying it at 600 and 1000 yards in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday spent a bit of time with the .40-65 and fireforming some cases in my wife's 45-70. We also working on loads for that and have a variety of powders and bullets to try. Kim also shot her SMLE No.1 Mk.1*** yesterday..... there wasn't any smoke though... that seemed strange! :shock:

David
Last edited by dbm on Mon May 01, 2006 2:20 am, edited 2 times in total.
David Minshall - www.researchpress.co.uk
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
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Post by Niner » Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:47 am

David, those Enfields at 600 and 800 yards. How big was the target and what kind of powder load were they using?
dbm
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Post by dbm » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:05 am

The 600 yard target is 70" wide by 60" high with a 39" diameter aiming mark and 13" bull.

The 800 yard target is 118" wide by 70" high with a 48" diameter aiming mark and 24" bull.

I was shooting a 570 grain RCBS Minie with 75 grains of TPPH (the Proof House Powder). Others were shooting 80-85 grains of the same or similar powder.

David
David Minshall - www.researchpress.co.uk
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
dbm
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Post by dbm » Mon May 01, 2006 2:17 am

Just returned from five days shooting at Bisley! :D

A friend from the US arrived Tuesday to compete in muzzle loading rifle matches on Saturday/Sunday. A small group of us got together and shot at 600yds Wednesday am, and 1000yds Thursday and Friday am.

Wednesday I played with a Whitworth match rifle and a .40-65 Rolling Block. Thursday I gave the Whitworth an airing at 1000 yards and sighted in my wifes SMLE No.1 Mk.1*** while she sighted in her .45-70. Friday I fired my Pedersoli Gibbs match rifle.

Saturday was the Long Range Rifles (LRR) Branch of the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) annual 1000 yard championship. This is an aggregate course of 2x 15 shots; one detail in the morning and one the afternoon. Conditions were difficult with a fresh changeable wind, and varying light/mirage - add to that poor NRA markers and for some it was a frustrating day. For me things went well and I won the match seven points ahead of second place. :)

Sunday was the MLAGB National 500 yard Rifle Championships. This was the calmest day, although there was some light rain in the morning. Conditions were right for high scores, and in the free rifle match four shooters actually beat the previous MLAGB's 500 yard record score. The winning score was 45.4 - pretty good with a muzzle loader! I had an unaccountable miss, dropping below the target - and am still baffled as to where it came from as I called it a good shot. Anyway that wiped any chance of a top score, but I was pleased to follow that up with 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4 for my last seven shots. (NRA targets bulls scores 5).

I redeemed my self somewhat in the military rifle match where I came 3rd firing an original 2-band Enfield.

A splendid few days shooting with great company. So anyone else been shooting much this bank holdiday weekend?

David
David Minshall - www.researchpress.co.uk
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
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