My shooting has been going downhill for several years since my shoulders have gone bad. But, it has been good enough to stay in the game and bring home the occasional ribbon. But, yesterday, at our regular club shoot it got as bad as possible :shocked2: , well almost. I didn't even finish all the targets. Using my fine flint longrifle, I put in Swiss 3Fg for the first time. Results were very inconsistent and, at first, puzzling. Some shots the sound was distinctly different than with Goex. Sometimes I got a very satisfying 'crack' on ignition instead of the common 'boom'. Sometimes I got a long ignition delay then 'bang'. Once it all came out the touch hole with an unwanted 'foof' to the right. Had to pull that one. Then I ran out of the patching I was using, a blue ticking. Switched to a brown ticking with same lube. Now when I bought the brown I measured with the mic and it is the same .020" as the blue. But, it did not want to load, required pounding something fierce to start and seat. I know same thickness but definitely different, mebbe tighter weave. Dunno. :idunno: They look the same except for color. Then I noticed I was darn near priming on loading and discovered my touch hole was big enough to stick yer thumb into. :shocked2: Now, this is a new liner with under 100 rounds shot using it. My old liner lasted 45 years and jillions of rounds. I don't know the brand, a friend had it on hand and gave to me. Methinks therein lies the problem. It burned out almost instantly. Will have to order a Chambers and replace. If all that wasn't bad enough, my shoulders were acting up worster than usual and I couldn't hold steady no way, no how. My old favorite rifle may be retired. Not sure yet. On top of all that the silver front sight glared sumptin fierce in the sun light. I have shot this at that range many times but this day it decided to just destroy my day completely. So, I'll be going to a .440" ball from my current .445" and replacing the touch hole. I'm also going to do some work with weights to strengthen my shoulders. Hope that helps since some of the muscles just ain't there anymore. In the meantime, I'll switch to using my wife's light target rifle. Don't want to, it's a precussin' and I think precussion guns are the work of the deevil hisself but if it has to be, it has to be, heck with my soul, I want to shoot. :wink: Postscript note for beginners:
This game ain't for sissies. 'stuff' happens even to experienced shooters and often there isn't an easy answer for problems encountered. In this instance, it the game were golf, the clubs would have ended up wound around a tree. :shocked2: Not gonna happen with my fine flinter. I just have to regroup and shoot another day.
BTW, today is Easter. A case of the worst happening and turning into the best ever. :grin:
Griz
