Best Shot You Ever Had

[PathfinderNC]

It’s Bragging Time!
What’s the best shot you ever made with your muzzleloader? Everybody has one
To start off, I’d boast of me actually splitting a .45 flintlock rifle ball on an ax head at twenty yards and busting the clay birds on either side. That was a nice shot

 

[Grimord]

I would have to say it was a shot taken at a trail walk for extra bonus points. The target was an egg suspended from a tree limb at 100 yards. The shot was taken off hand with a T/C Renegade .50 caliber using a PRB. I couldn't do it again if I tried, it was purely luck, but I took the praise that was given to me and the extra points to win the shoot.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Early on, shooting at a Rendezvous, Skunk and I were on the line preparing to shoot as some observers showed up. Comments were being made as how they liked to watch all the smoke and listen to the loud booms, but these guns weren't accurate and there was no reason to shoot them in these modern times. When asked what we were shooting, I replied, "Playing cards". Wait a minute, they couldn't see any cards. "No, the cards are on that board with the edge facing us." With the chorus of ain't no way, Skunk fired and half a card floated down range. My turn and another half card floated to the ground. Then we did it again. No more comments from the observers. Still have the half cards.

Sadly that was years ago and I have trouble duplicating those shots. It is a fond memory.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

200 yards, 8" steel target, at Peacemaker National Training Center, West Virginia, with a .54 caliber 38" PA Mountain Rifle by Cabin Creek Muzzleloading (off a bench).

I won't say how many shots I needed to get the correct point-of-aim

LD

 

[PathfinderNC]

200 yards, 8" steel target, at Peacemaker National Training Center, West Virginia, with a .54 caliber 38" PA Mountain Rifle by Cabin Creek Muzzleloading (off a bench).

I won't say how many shots I needed to get the correct point-of-aim

LD

I couldn’t even see that target

 

[Dutch7]

My uncle used to say “the first liar always loses”
My most memorable shot?
It was the last hour of the last day of deer season. I was watching my favorite funnel when a hunter walked through. I figured well that ends it. So I started to move and heard the unmistakable sound of running deer. I was smack in the open so I just crouched low and waited, two deer, the first a doe spotted me and slammed on the brakes and the buck following her did likewise. He was behind a forked tree. I could see a nose and antler on the left and a rump on the right. The doe was nervous and I knew she would bolt but through the fork in the tree I could see shoulder. I drew down tight into the notch and drilled him through the heart.

 

[Phil Coffins]

At a demonstration on the grounds of a museum we pinned the tail of a some small balloons to the back stop and put our rifle over our shoulder with a hand held mirror at the butt plate. Sighting threw the mirror it was an eliminate match. Break a balloon and you were in the next round. At the end the wind had picked up so the balloons were dancing a bit. Buzz and I came down to a shoot off that took three cycles before he missed and I won against a state champion!

 

[longcruise]

I was at a shoot put on annually by a small town near my work place. The shoot was just a small part of an annual celebration so there was a large group of spectators who had never seen muzzzleloaders being shot.

One of the other shooters was a professional acquaintance and we knew each other well. We both shot tc 50 cal Hawkens. This was in 1978 when those guns were very popular.

There were several matches shot over the course of the afternoon and at the end of the day I and my friend were tied for first. The fellow running the match decided that there would be a one shot tie breaker at 25 yards. The target was a conventional bull with a 1/2" orange sticker in the center.

The other contestant shot first. It was a good shot touching the dot. He retired behind the line with a clear look of confidence on his face. I took my shot and looked down range. Not a mark showing on my target. I Was a little surprised to have missed the paper completely. The range master went to the target frame and pulled my target. He marched quickly back and straight to the line of spectators holding the target and exclaiming that I had shot the 1/2" sticker dead center without a speck of orange remaining. There were ooohs and aaahs from the crowd.

They had no idea that I was just as shocked as they were.

 

[azmntman]

Two tie for best, both stupid youth choices and wont do again. Both 180 yard shots. Frst last day of Elk season and no luck (see threard on popping caps). Darker than legal so in the truck and hailing butt to the GF (now SWMBO) for some loving sympathy. Hits large field where light was good and saw 6 pt bull way off with 10-12 cows, walked to small pine and leveled gun aiming 3 feet over him and fired and smacked him hard with a .54 conical outta a Hawkin Kit I bought at a Frys Grocry store of all places. He went 30 yds.

Next last day of deer in a trophy unit for muzzloader. 180 yards trotting. Leveled on a tree aimed at his neck and smacked him in the guts with just enough of a hit on the liver to bleed till he laid down. 4.9 miles later (as the crow flies) I found him with 2 of the four does he had in a canyon. Had to walk a mile south to get down in the bottom with buddy on top as a pointer and jumper him at 25yds and hit him good for the end.

Older, wiser and tireder now. Would never disrespect the game that way these days but was proud as heck as had witnesses of my shooting ability with both hits. Pure Luck, not shooting ability LOL. If you shoot at a trotting deer at 180 yards aim for the nose, that would have dropped him. I will go home empty handed. That poor lil 3 pt laid down 4-5 tims and we cirecled til we jumped him and would start to bleed enough to track and then circle, Miserable. Best shots but dumbest to,

 

[godutch]

24 ga. smoothbore w/ prb, Dixie Gun Works $14.50 as I recall, late '60's. Crested a hill in open pasture with a woodchuck on a dead run about 75 yds. out and heading downhill for a stone wall. Whipped up my gun, led, fired, and shot him clean thru the neck. My brother in law who grew up on that farm had tears in his eyes he laughed so hard. I think I was just too dumbfounded for a bit before sharing in the laugh. I might've just as well been trying to hit it with a rock.

 

[2 shots]

best shot i ever had....... jack danials best shot i ever made... hasnt happened yet.

 

[GBG]

What’s the best shot you ever made with your muzzleloader?

Those I decided not to take, and the animal walked away unharmed - and ready to be hunted another day. JMO.

 

[Polecat_Tom]

Back in the late 70's a group of us were at a shoot and one of the matches was shooting cards on edge. On the first round about half were eliminated. After the second round it was between a lady shooter and myself.
We were both shooting flintlocks. I was shooting my 50 cal Lyman GPR. She was shooting a 32 cal squirrel rifle.
Third round, both of us cut the card in half. Forth, and fifth round the same. Sixth round I cut the card about 3/4 of the way through. She won the match cutting the sixth card in half.
I think she could have done that forever. I think I could never do that again.

 

[BillyC]

My uncle used to say “the first liar always loses”
My most memorable shot?
It was the last hour of the last day of deer season. I was watching my favorite funnel when a hunter walked through. I figured well that ends it. So I started to move and heard the unmistakable sound of running deer. I was smack in the open so I just crouched low and waited, two deer, the first a doe spotted me and slammed on the brakes and the buck following her did likewise. He was behind a forked tree. I could see a nose and antler on the left and a rump on the right. The doe was nervous and I knew she would bolt but through the fork in the tree I could see shoulder. I drew down tight into the notch and drilled him through the heart.
View attachment 233869

That’s a dandy PA buck, I would have had him mounted for sure.

 

[BillyC]

Well I just started shooting this year so no kill shots, but, the grandson challenged me to a shoot off. He shot from the bench and I shot offhand at 25 yards. We alternated and my first shot was just about dead center, causing him to admit he was going to lose. LOL

 

[SDSmlf]

The one most memorable and ‘best’ shot I made with a muzzleloader was when I was maybe not quite 10 years. Old man used to take me to the rifle range on Sunday afternoons. I had a Model 34 Remington 22RF (still have it and use it for pests around the house) and he would give me ammo one box of 50 at a time and let me shoot away, loading a single shot at a time (there was a tube feed that I was not allowed to use). A brick of 500 rounds didn’t last long.

My favorite target was at 300 yards. A metal frame that held a large military type target. I learned how to aim at a rock well above it on the hillside and drop many of my shots into the black (remember the black being at least a foot in diameter). Also learned how to play the wind. If no paper target, would shoot at rocks (you could hear when hit) and probably learned the most doing this.

Well there were a couple of guys who used to shoot muzzleloaders, all original, or at least that’s what we were told. One guy had a Bess that I asked if I could shoot every time I saw him. He and the old man finally gave in and said go ahead. I was astute enough to insist on a full charge. I had been disappointed when shooting other guns and knowing immediately I had been given a reduced load.

So the loaded Bess is placed on cross sticks, the stock is under my arm (couldn’t reach the trigger with the butt on my shoulder), the old man was behind me to support the butt of the stock. My intended target? The 300 yarder. Everyone laughed, but I insisted. The owner of the gun told me to aim above the target, way above. I told him I knew that. More laughter. So I aim down the barrel, picking an aim point even higher up the hill than my ‘aiming’ rock before I pull the trigger. Cloud of smoke, then nothing. After what seems like an eternity, the entire metal target stand spins 180 degrees and flops over in a cloud of dust. Bullseye. I got it. I am big man on campus and no one is laughing or knows what to say.

Turns out that big orb of lead hit one of the legs supporting the target stand to knock it over. Left a big dent in that piece of angle iron. I wanted to try again. The old man was smart enough to say that was enough for the day. No way to make it any better. He got the return on his investment from all those bricks of 22s he gave me every time we went shooting.

Nearly 60 years ago and still my best and most memorable long distance shot with a muzzleloader.

Sorry for the long story, but you asked....

 

[PathfinderNC]

The one most memorable and ‘best’ shot I made with a muzzleloader was when I was maybe not quite 10 years. Old man used to take me to the rifle range on Sunday afternoons. I had a Model 34 Remington 22RF (still have it and use it for pests around the house) and he would give me ammo one box of 50 at a time and let me shoot away, loading a single shot at a time (there was a tube feed that I was not allowed to use). A brick of 500 rounds didn’t last long.

My favorite target was at 300 yards. A metal frame that held a large military type target. I learned how to aim at a rock well above it on the hillside and drop many of my shots into the black (remember the black being at least a foot in diameter). Also learned how to play the wind. If no paper target, would shoot at rocks (you could hear when hit) and probably learned the most doing this.

Well there were a couple of guys who used to shoot muzzleloaders, all original, or at least that’s what we were told. One guy had a Bess that I asked if I could shoot every time I saw him. He and the old man finally gave in and said go ahead. I was astute enough to insist on a full charge. I had been disappointed when shooting other guns and knowing immediately I had been given a reduced load.

So the loaded Bess is placed on cross sticks, the stock is under my arm (couldn’t reach the trigger with the butt on my shoulder), the old man was behind me to support the butt of the stock. My intended target? The 300 yarder. Everyone laughed, but I insisted. The owner of the gun told me to aim above the target, way above. I told him I knew that. More laughter. So I aim down the barrel, picking an aim point even higher up the hill than my ‘aiming’ rock before I pull the trigger. Cloud of smoke, then nothing. After what seems like an eternity, the entire metal target stand spins 180 degrees and flops over in a cloud of dust. Bullseye. I got it. I am big man on campus and no one is laughing or knows what to say.

Turns out that big orb of lead hit one of the legs supporting the target stand to knock it over. Left a big dent in that piece of angle iron. I wanted to try again. The old man was smart enough to say that was enough for the day. No way to make it any better. He got the return on his investment of a brick of 22s every time we went shooting.

Nearly 60 years ago and still my best and most memorable long distance shot with a muzzleloader.

Sorry for the long story, but you asked....

Love that story!

 

[ronaldrothb49]

The last shot on this target. 1986 Levi Garret Indiana Territorial 100 yard AMS cross stick match. I had 3 shots in the X ring so I had to contact the Range Officer to witness the last 2 shots. Got the 4th shot off without any trouble and now had a 4 leaf clover. Went thru my loading routine and got set up to shoot. Can't remember how many times I got locked in position only to take the rifle down because it didn't feel right or the wind wasn't right. I was beginning to think I was going to run out of time. Well finally got the shot off. I hear the range officer "OMG you got it". Then I hear cheering and clapping I turn around and every one on the range was behind my station. While I was Loading The Range Officer had ordered everyone on the line to stop shooting and they were all behind me. Very glad I didn't know that.

 

[Dutch7]

Awesome stories, keep them coming.
A friend of mine that holds a lot of records shot a 100 yd offhand target that looked like the buffalo above. I never could get good enough to even carry his range box to the truck for him.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Busted a little buck's spine at the shoulder. Very hard shot; must have been thirty feet or maybe a bit less. Oh, you mean a difficult shot? I don't remember ever making one. Polecat