Chunk Guns !

[smo]

Or other types of M/L rifles used for looooong range shooting. Who's got em'? What can one expect from them group wise as long as the nut behind the butt does his or her job?
Pics would be great too! :thumbsup:

 

[Grenadier1758]

To begin with, chunk guns are 60 yard max distance guns. A target, generally a slat of wood that is darkened with an X scratched on the face. The object is to put your ball on the target closest to the ntersectio of the two lines. The gun is fired from the prone position. The Rifle is rested on the "chunk" of wood.

Presently the targets are paper with a white X to mark the center. To start a match, three shots are fired at a sighted target to establish a group. The sighter target I placed to center the group over the X. One shot is fired at the target for each relay. Closest to the X wins the relay. Ten relays comprise a match. All the targets are measured from the center of the hole to the center of the X.

To win a match, the sum of the distances better be 6 inches or less.

Guns are long barreled with heavy barrels. Calibers vary.

The chunk can be anything from a length of firewood to a wooden platform with levels.

Competition is tough and addictive.

Do a search on the Alvin York Matches.

 

[smo]

My Bad :v The only one I was every around was in Fl.
The Guy called it a chunk gun and it was like 40 lbs or so. He was shooting it off a bench at 100 yards and was puttiing up some impressive groups. I will check out the York matches & Thanks for the info. :thumbsup:

 

[bpd303]

Not a chunk gun but to hit clay birds at 120 yards, I would say it would compete with them. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/283745/post/1326051/hl//fromsearch/1/

 

[Don Steele]

Hey Smo..!!
I shot the York last April. From your location, it's just a short drive ( relative to my run from down here that is..!!)
True Chunk guns tend to have barrels so long, some folks find it helpful to use a short step stool to load'em. One of those barrels in this link is 54".
As to precision of the competitors, Tom Swigart won the NMLRA chunk gun competition recently with a total string measurement for 10 shots of .7380 from 60 yds. Total string measurement is the combined distance from PERFECT ( i.e.: .0000) for 10 shots.
Group size...??? One hole is a given. The size and uniformity of the single hole group is how you evaluate different load combinations. We use specifically designed "Sighter" targets that match the special sights on the rifle to get the best group. Don't care where that group is on the target...other than it can't be at the point of aim. That was one of the first lessons I learned..!! Shot a GREAT one hole group, but in doing so, I destroyed my point of aim for subsequent shots on the "X" target. :redface:
For reference...Here's a link to a chunk gun with 3 bbls that Spiderman is selling. http://targetx.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?id=700

 

[Grenadier1758]

My Bad :v The only one I was every around was in Fl.
The Guy called it a chunk gun and it was like 40 lbs or so. He was shooting it off a bench at 100 yards and was putting up some impressive groups. I will check out the York matches & Thanks for the info. :thumbsup:

That gun certainly sounds like the basic specifications for a chunk gun. Heavy and very accurate off a rest. That shooter was just shooting it at 100 yards.

 

[smo]

The Guy I'm reffering to was the Fl NMLRA Rep.at that time so I assumed he knew what he was talking about. :haha:

I read the articles on the Alvin York shoot. It sounds interesting,but not my cup of tea.

I do like the string concept but I'm mot able to get up and down that many times from a prone position. :surrender:

However I would enjoy shooting from a bench with a stepped rest at a longer distance using the same string measuring system.

Say 100 to 200 yards .I know that 200 would be really pushing things with a round ball especially with any type of wind. But I still think it would be a fun competition.

 

[smo]

Thanks for posting Don. I was down in Fl. when I was exposed to the only"Chunk Gun" I have ever been around. I have been to Friendship several times, but have spent most of my time on the Primitive side of the road. Except for Commercial Row.

The York shoot is held the same week end as some other events here in Tn. I have thought of going many times ,but it seems that something else always takes priority. :idunno:

 

[crockett]

I think the NMLRA has rules on chuck gun weights, etc.

 

[smo]

Looking back through my official program handed out by the NMLRA at last Falls matches there are no weight limits on Chunk Guns.That is for matches 240,241 & 244.

The Buffalo matches states the gun have a 14 lb. weight limit.

Table Shoot matches state the gun must be weighed & tagged.

:idunno: Lots of different matches and rules. I'm slowly trying to understand more of the rules and regulations of the NMLRA shoots.

In the past I have only been able to shoot on the 1st week end at Friendship and I hope to be able to spend more time there now that I'm retired.

I'm just exploring what other activities I might be interested in since now I will have more time to play.....Hopefully. :grin:

 

[crockett]

Thanks- I knew there was a weight limit on some type of match.

 

[nhmoose]

Get the rule book it is online or get it mailed.

Yes there are weight, sight and many other rules wont to compete YOU will be judged before you shoot the match.

It truly sucks when you buff gun only weighs in without the sights. BTDT then found out remove the false muzzle as it is not on it when shot.

Rules be rules complaining at the match does NOTHING.

By the way light bench is about the same as the buff. But remember sight type means different things. Open means no peeps, Iron means peeps no glass allowed including ones used just for focus.

NMLRA means their rules Not what you want.

 

[Zonie]

The 2010 NMLRA rules say there is no weight limit on a Chunk gun but the match must be shot from a prone position with the muzzle resting "over the chunk".
The gun must have open sights.

A ground cover is allowed but the idea of getting up off your belly from the ground and hefting up a 40 pound rifle for reloading three times in a row to shoot the necessary number of shots (not counting "sighting shots") makes me tired.
As was mentioned earlier, the three shots are fired at a target with a X on it.
The distance is 60 yards.

I didn't weigh them but the Chunk gun shooting I've seen seemed to be done with rifles weighing between maybe 12 and 17? pounds.

The Bench Rest shooters often use heavier rifles but most of them are still easy to tote around.

The Slug Gun shooters are in another world.
A rifle weighing 40 pounds or more is quite common.
Some of them even have levers and winches to move them around for reloading.

 

[okawbow]

The Guy I'm reffering to was the Fl NMLRA Rep.at that time so I assumed he knew what he was talking about. :haha:

I read the articles on the Alvin York shoot. It sounds interesting,but not my cup of tea.

I do like the string concept but I'm mot able to get up and down that many times from a prone position. :surrender:



However I would enjoy shooting from a bench with a stepped rest at a longer distance using the same string measuring system.




Say 100 to 200 yards .I know that 200 would be really pushing things with a round ball especially with any type of wind. But I still think it would be a fun competition.

All the chunk gun shoots that I have attended have allowed shooters that couldn't get up and down from prone, to use a "ironing board" type bench.

I built my own chunk gun around a 54" long 1 1/4" diameter, 48 caliber barrel. It weighs about 21 pounds. It will shoot through the same hole with the right load and wind conditions at 60 yards.
I've also used it with a micrometer peep sight in a bench match, and won the match.

 

[nhmoose]

At 21 pounds you are in the heavy bench category. My nephew has a 2 inch plus barrel 52 caliber false muzzle flintlock built by Ken Bresien. Some matches he shoots are open sight and some allow any iron.

I have a tattoo from the rifle fired at Ft Ty on my left side where the touchhole burned through the cardboard separator as it caught fire to it. He went to a plywood separator shortly after he stopped running.

 

[smo]

The Guy I'm reffering to was the Fl NMLRA Rep.at that time so I assumed he knew what he was talking about. :haha:

I read the articles on the Alvin York shoot. It sounds interesting,but not my cup of tea.

I do like the string concept but I'm mot able to get up and down that many times from a prone position. :surrender:



However I would enjoy shooting from a bench with a stepped rest at a longer distance using the same string measuring system.




Say 100 to 200 yards .I know that 200 would be really pushing things with a round ball especially with any type of wind. But I still think it would be a fun competition.

I built my own chunk gun around a 54" long 1 1/4" diameter, 48 caliber barrel. It weighs about 21 pounds. It will shoot through the same hole with the right load and wind conditions at 60 yards.
I've also used it with a micrometer peep sight in a bench match, and won the match.

That's kinda what I'm looking for. Got any photos?

 

[Don Steele]

Here's a coupla more thoughts, sorta on this topic.
Chunk Gun shooting does involve a few things that a number of older shooters find problematic.
Let's look at them (and yes, I'm going somewhere with this):
1. The truly competitive Chunk rifles are VERY heavy 20-30 lbs isn't uncommon, with very long barrels. In a ten shot competition, PLUS the 3 shots you'll take initially to get your group...you will have to lift and lower that big thing quite a few times.
2. You're shooting 60 yds. IRON sights only. As a lot of us age...one hole groups at 60 yds. with irons become pretty tough to achieve and as I mentioned in my earlier post..ONE HOLE is the bare minimum to be competitive. In that game it's the size of your one hole that goes a long way to determine how you'll place. We're measuring precision down to 4 places with digital calipers. (.0000)
3. In competition, you will have to walk 60 yds out, and 60 yds back every time you post a new "X" target. Once again..1200-1300 yds isn't always just a "walk-in-the-park" for our older friends, especially when combined with the weight-training effect of wrestling that big rifle.
SOOooooooo....
Along came a few creative minds that got together and came up with a new shooting sport known as "Table Shooting".
Table Shooting effectively resolves some of the issues older shooters have with traditional Chunk shooting.
1.) You're shooting from a sitting position, with the rifle barrel on a single point rest, on a table...not on the ground.
2.) There are 2 classes, and weight limits on the rifles to allow those without the cash or physical ability to handle a 30 lb. rifle to remain competitive and prevent over-large specialty guns from dominating the sport.
3.) The range is 30 yds...Half the walking and NO getting up and down from the ground.
At Friendship, the table shooting competition is held next to the chunk line. Stop by and give it a look.

 

[smo]

Will do , Thanks Don :hatsoff:

 

[smo]

Double post removed :haha:

 

[okawbow]

Here are a couple pictures. It's a side slapper lock, (made the lock from scratch), with black walnut stock. Note the flat section near the muzzle to rest on the chunk.

image by okawbow, on Flickr

image by okawbow, on Flickr

image by okawbow, on Flickr