A Man Has to Know His Limitations!

[LME]

Consistent ignition is a real advantage and when linked up with learning to hold through the flash of the pan and discharge (ball exit), adds up to higher scores.
This gives the sights time to come back into alignment with the target before ball exit.
With most shooting, holding through the trigger break works very well but with flint shooting one must learn to hold sight alignment through the discharge.
I describe this as reacquiring sight alignment until the recoil makes it impossible.
This technique will also help to counter inconsistent ignition timing from poorly tuned locks, but when both are working well in tandem, one can expect higher scoring. One mans opinion that seems to work for him.

Well said! Also hold on target after ignition. It is easy to flinch aswell throwing you off target,

 

[Sun City]

Offhand ‘ain’t’ the way to test a load or the potential accuracy of any firearm! Using a good and sturdy bench is the proper way to confront the issue and once the load has been verified…..then one can test their offhand ability if so desired! Whatever zero is established at the bench for whatever range selected will change a bit because of the different position selected and the altered way the rifle is positioned into the shoulder! In my opinion the offhand position should only be used for competition events as in hunting a rest is easy to obtain! Just my two cents based upon 70 years of active hunting!

 

[user 53891]

Went to the rifle range today with my Pedersoli Frontier in .45 in flint. I am an OK shot with a caplock, but just plain suck with a flinter. All these shots were at 100 yards, circles are off-hand, "X"'s are from a rest. I limit myself to about 40 yards when actually hunting deer, and only about 25 when firing off-hand. Like I said in the title, a fella has got to be aware of his limitations.

Speaking of deer hunting, I live in Missouri and I choose to limit myself with a traditional muzzleloader. We now have an abomination called "Alternative Method Season", whereas we used to have a Muzzleloader Season. You had to chose to buy a modern rifle tag, or a muzzleloader tag. Now anything goes, except regular centerfire rifles for Alternative Season. One tag is good for all seasons, and you can buy as many antlerless tags as you like. The woods used to be empty for ML season, now they are full of guys with modern handguns, including scoped bolt action single shots, and dudes with short barrels AR's with detachable stocks that are qualified as handguns here in MO. If you live in a state that still has real Muzzleloader Season, count yourself very fortunate. Missouri game laws are driven by tags sold by the MO Dept. of Conservation, and car insurance companies wanting to eradicate deer populations to avoid paying claims on deer/car collisions. Yeah, we got big bucks on private ground, if you can afford a $1000 per day deer lease. Commoners like myself are left without options, and since Alternative Season became a reality, the public areas are even packed during that season. I'm done ranting, just as I am about done hunting. Had a good 50 years of so.

As Donald Sutherland once said..."Have some faith baby"!

 

[user 53891]

I've been shooting flinters for 30+ years now, and percussion for about 50+ years. I just have never been able to shoot a flintlock worth a hoot, but I really enjoy them, even though I am a terrible shot! Nothing wrong with the rifle, I shoot my higher dollar flint rifles just as bad. If I just want to kill game, I use a modern centerfire. That is boring. If I want to wait for the perfect opportunity so I can get one with a flint, that is a real hoot! I am very careful with my shot selection, knowing that I am awful, so it is very satisfying to get a nice buck with one of my flinters. Sadly, due to reasons stated in my previous post, those days are probably over. I am gonna keep shooting a lot however, just bought 10 more lbs. of powder!

Why do you say that you can't shoot a flintlock worth a hoot? Details please.

 

[Africa58double]

Offhand ‘ain’t’ the way to test a load or the potential accuracy of any firearm! Using a good and sturdy bench is the proper way to confront the issue and once the load has been verified…..then one can test their offhand ability if so desired! Whatever zero is established at the bench for whatever range selected will change a bit because of the different position selected and the altered way the rifle is positioned into the shoulder! In my opinion the offhand position should only be used for competition events as in hunting a rest is easy to obtain! Just my two cents based upon 70 years of active hunting!

Definitely sight in on bench, develop load data, adjust sights and then………

Get off bench for field positions.

No bench shooting in my woods.

 

[Sun City]

Definitely sight in on bench, develop load data, adjust sights and then………

Get off bench for field positions.

No bench shooting in my woods.

A box blind offers a rest position! Treking through the woods these days is an excellent way to get your arse shot off!

 

[Africa58double]

A box blind offers a rest position! Treking through the woods these days is an excellent way to get your arse shot off!

I wear blaze orange.

And I’d say 90 % of hunters walk into the woods and hunt from field positions, not a bench. Like Men have been doing for ages upon ages.

Do you have a Tv in the box blind… ha

When it’s real cold I’ll bring a blind tent with me to keep wind off. Orange on exterior also.

I’ve used a shooting stick. Otherwise, field positions

 

[user 53891]

A box blind offers a rest position! Treking through the woods these days is an excellent way to get your arse shot off!

Spot & Stock is the way we hunt out west.....

 

[Africa58double]

Spot & Stock is the way we hunt out west.....

Same here in the East.

In last decade… I’ve seen 8x as many deer when out on stalk walk

Take three steps… wait and look
Take another three… wait and look.

Just came up on a beautiful buck at 25 yards like that earlier this month. Unfortunately I leaned my rifle against a tree and took a snack break.
He jumped up and was at 100 yards before I thought about grabbing rifle.
Fun tho!

Spot & Stock is the way we hunt out west.....

 

[Sun City]

Spot and Stalk all you want but ain't no trees here dude!! Bulldozers raped this country in 1964! The only trees are along a ditch bank!!

IMG_3555 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[Africa58double]

I hunt multiple areas and hunted different states in same season

Various tools for the job include a long range rifle, walking carbine, Double Rifle, Flintlocks.

Adapt and adjust for the terrain.

 

[user 53891]

Spot and Stalk all you want but ain't no trees here dude!! Bulldozers raped this country in 1964! The only trees are along a ditch bank!!

IMG_3555 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

Well sorry, but it ain't that way in the Rockies....

 

[Africa58double]

Treking through the woods these days is an excellent way to get your arse shot off!

I had learned… Know your Target, and what is behind it. Shoot only if you want to destroy it.

If I’m deer hunting, and someone is walking… and Isn’t a “Deer”. I wouldn’t shoot.

I guess there are guys who don’t wear orange… and those other guys who hear a twig break in the brush and randomly shoot at a noise.

Yet I don’t think that’s the norm.
It’s not responsible as a sportsman.

If that’s what it’s like where you hunt…… (It sure isn’t where I hunt)

I suggest fishing be a safer sport in your area.

 

[Art Caputo]

Eyes wide open and TOTAL concentration on the front sight…..Sqeeeeeeeze!

 

[Sun City]

I had learned… Know your Target, and what is behind it. Shoot only if you want to destroy it.

If I’m deer hunting, and someone is walking… and Isn’t a “Deer”. I wouldn’t shoot.

I guess there are guys who don’t wear orange… and those other guys who hear a twig break in the brush and randomly shoot at a noise.

Yet I don’t think that’s the norm.
It’s not responsible as a sportsman.

If that’s what it’s like where you hunt…… (It sure isn’t where I hunt)

I suggest fishing be a safer sport in your area.

Lots of stuff that's NOT NORM......kills you!!

 

[Africa58double]

Lots of stuff that's NOT NORM......kills you!!

Very true.

Yet like driving on the highway… walking into the woods for hunting…. Is simply a risk, I guess.

Stay at home? If that’s your concern.

Multitude of Hunters Walk in woods every year all over the earth. A small percentage get there “Arse shot off”
Was the point.

Just pointing out the statistics are actually very surprisingly low to get your “Arse Shot off”

Here are some Stats, not opinions.

Comments like yours will keep new hunters from entering and from knowing most people are ethical and safe hunters in the sport. Let’s be alert,ethical,cautious and safe… Yet accurate with our shots and INFORMATION. Wouldn’t you agree?

Here is some actual intelligent information from Data related to our sport providing that it’s a very low chance of a hunting with firearm accident.

 

[user 53891]

Very true.

Yet like driving on the highway… walking into the woods for hunting…. Is simply a risk, I guess.

Stay at home? If that’s your concern.

Multitude of Hunters Walk in woods every year all over the earth. A small percentage get there “Arse shot off”
Was the point.

Just pointing out the statistics are actually very surprisingly low to get your “Arse Shot off”

Here are some Stats, not opinions.

Comments like yours will keep new hunters entering and from knowing most people are ethical and safe hunters in the sport. Let’s be alert,ethical,cautious and safe… Yet accurate with our shots and INFORMATION. Wouldn’t you agree?

Here is some actual intelligent information from Data related to our sport providing that it’s a very low chance of a hunting with firearm accident.

Very well said my friend. Fact is more people die from heart attacks, kidney disease, the common cold, and a score of other accidents, than getting shot hunting. As you say, if you're that afraid, stay in the bubble!

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

I've found that a three-legged folding portable chair with a back rest measurably helps my shooting.

 

[Africa58double]

Very well said my friend. Fact is more people die from heart attacks, kidney disease, the common cold, and a score of other accidents, than getting shot hunting. As you say, if you're that afraid, stay in the bubble!

In these days, We want more people to participate in our sport. Knowing it’s safe… and to be safe. Hunter safety courses and correct information is the key to that.

Otherwise…. We could see a dramatic loss of participation in our sport and eventually our rights.

I and Millions of others have legitimate reasons for our rights… Every time I walk into the woods.

I’d like that number of people that share that thought to increase, Not decrease.

So correct information is Paramount.

 

[stephenprops1]

Offhand ‘ain’t’ the way to test a load or the potential accuracy of any firearm! Using a good and sturdy bench is the proper way to confront the issue and once the load has been verified…..then one can test their offhand ability if so desired! Whatever zero is established at the bench for whatever range selected will change a bit because of the different position selected and the altered way the rifle is positioned into the shoulder! In my opinion the offhand position should only be used for competition events as in hunting a rest is easy to obtain! Just my two cents based upon 70 years of active hunting!

My dad was a combat veteran. He told me even in combat if you could take advantage of a rifle rest you did it.