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March 2022 Postal Match

Muzzleloading Forum

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Welcome to springtime everyone (at least I hope!). After a snowy frigid February here in the midwest I'll take any warming thoughts I can get! I am sure you guys feel the same! This months target is brought to you by thoughts of warmer weather and gentle breezes turning the world green again. May the Luck of the Irish guide your round balls to their mark!

Download and print your target attached below. Write your forum screen name on the front of your target as soon as you print it!

This is a 7 shot target. Fire 1 shot at each bull, misses count! scoring is as indicated. If multiple shots land within the same bull, only 1 will be scored for 10, the other will be scored as 5.

The shooting distance for this contest is 25 yards.

No do-over’s. Print and shoot one target only. One rifle and one pistol is acceptable.
Only registered forum members may participate.

If you would like please take a picture of your target and post it on the forum under this months (March) shoot to share with other members.

Only traditional, open iron sighted muzzle loading firearms; peeps are allowed under the condition you mark your target so I know you used a peep. (Tracking it) NO Cannons. Percussion, flintlock or matchlock ignition only. Pistol will be in their own class. Cap and Ball revolvers are OK.

Single patched round ball only. No restrictions on caliber. (a patchless ball may be used if so desired)

Shots shall be taken off-hand at the stated distance. Standing or seated is allowed, elbows unsupported by anything other than the shooters torso. In the event that a member is not physically able to hold his rifle up unsupported, a "prop-rod" that is supported only by the shooters torso, no part of which prop-rod may touch the ground, may be used to hold up the fore-end of the rifle.

Old Eyes - Small Targets, What To Do?
Considering the nature of the event being, a print and mail target and there being no prize other than bragging rights, the object is to encourage shooters to shoot and share their results, whatever they may be, in hopes we can all learn a bit. In September 2020 shoot participants overwhelmingly voted to adjust the rules to allow adding color to the target(s) to add contrast to better see the intended point of impact. This can be done at the individual shooters desire, this is optional.
Note: This may not be necessary with all targets but it has been adopted as a standing rule.

Pistol Class:
For those who would like, you can shoot one target with long gun and one with pistol. Please mark your target accordingly.

How close is close enough? Over half the ball must penetrate inside the scoring ring to be counted at the highest value. In other words, the ring in which the majority of the ball hits the target will be the score value. The center of the shot placement on the target will be determined by the judge. Judges decisions are final.

Fire 7 shots only, misses count! Mutilated targets or targets with more than 7 holes will be disqualified. If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me.

I am going to continue to allow targets to be submitted via the postal service or electronically, as long as the Target images / scans are clear I will continue to allow it.

Option 1 (preferred):
Mail your target, postmarked no later than March 31st to:

Chris Duncan
1260 N Osage rd
Mulvane, KS 67110
Attn: March Target

Option 2:
Scan or photograph your target and email it no later than 11:59pm March 31st to:

[email protected]

Subject: January Target

As long as I can CLEARLY make the target out I'll accept it. ** Not having the original in hand, If I cannot easily determine which ring the majority of the hole lies within the lower number will be scored**

(I recommend using a dark backing paper when you scan / photograph it if possible so that the holes show clearly)

If you don’t mind sharing I would also like to know what you’re shooting. Include type of firearm, caliber, ball diameter, patch thickness, lube, powder type and grains used, barrel length and twist rate. This isn’t required I’m just the curious sort.

Thanks for shooting, now lets get out there and make smoke!
 

Attachments

  • March 2022 Target.pdf
    107.9 KB
Last edited:
3Setters, Maybe a smoothbore with 7 balls fired at center? I've always been tempted to try that myself!

In all seriousness I design targets like this with a large 5pt scoring area so that if one choses to "lay up" they are pretty much guaranteed 30-35pts. That score beats someone who shoots for the bulls and errors to the outside for a few no scores. I really enjoy there being some perceived risk involved.....helps check a few of the expert marksman I think (maybe).

Chris
 
That's a pretty nice .22 LR precision rifle target ya got there. So what do you figure? Each of those circles is a 4 MOA target at 25 yds. for a BP rifle with iron sights? Sweet.
 
doubleset, the 3 scoring areas "petals" should measure out roughly 4.25" x 4" thats apretty good target. aim for the centers of the petals at the widest points and you'll find the bull. adding color or stick on aiming points works well, alot of folks here use what looks like birchwood casey 1" orange stick on bulls on alot of the targets.

I personally treat alot of these like cutting a card, aim for the center of the "stick" that you can see, not the edge of the card that you can't. Besides it's all for fun, practice and making smoke together. :)

Chris
 
In terms of strategy, it looks as though if you're confident of placing something reasonably within a 4" circle at 25, yds, then you should just aim for the center of one of the lobes and take what you can get. If you're confident of mostly hitting a 1.5" circle, then aim for one of the 10s. Given that, the center 10 makes it appear that that would give you the greater probability of a somewhat higher score. But I think that aiming center lobe would in fact yield higher scores overall. I haven't fully done the math on this, but that's how it's looking to me. 😂

Of course, the shamrock should really be green.

I couldn't manage to get my sights quite right to shoot the Feb. target. But I should be able to do this one.
 
Not a bad day here in northeastern Indiana. 50's, sun, light wind.

.40 flintlock poor boy
40 G of 3F
.390 Round Ball
.T/C bore butter lube
Pillow Tick patch

Target in the mail today.
004.jpg
 
I'm gonna get a green highlighter, and go from there. And I will definitely shoot a pistol target also this month. It might be ugly.
 
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