Flintlocks aren't accurate.....

[Hatchet-Jack]

Well all of these targets prove that flintlocks are inaccurate and I should stop building and shooting them now!

Seriously some amazing shooters here. That one that Tip shot with a Smoothbore just blows my mind and makes me want to improve my shooting with my Fowler.

 

[jd945043]

Clover leafs are what my homemade Pa. Rifle make on the target. Load is 75 grains of 3fg and a cast .490 rb. That's was what I found to be the sweet load for that rifle.

 

[wojciste]

Yep...can consistently hit a clay bird (stationary) at 100 yards, off hand, with my Pendersoli Pennsylvania 45 cal flintlock. Love that gun!

 

[Togo]

4 shot group with a never fired 40 cal SMR Kibler kit.

 

[Skeggs]

The first thing I learned about shooting a flintlock accurately was that follow through after squeezing the trigger was critical. That long lock time and long barrel time throws a lot of people.
Good shooting.

 

[Reno]

I was going to say you might remind the British of the accuracy of a flintlock from their experience at Saratoga at the hands of Morgans riflemen. Their tactics and their use of rifled flintlocks took a serious toll on the British.

 

[olskool]

3 shots offhand, 50yds,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[SciAggie]

There are some truly skilled offhand shooters here on the forum.

 

[Jimbob]

75 yards!

.54 Hawken Flintlock by Sharps Man, on Flickr

Three shots....not 8-10 and then the others cut away! This rifle continues to amaze me doing this kind of thing. 100 grains KIK 2F powder with a .530 Hornady swaged RB. Oh...I forgot to add....that's 5 shots!

 

[Jimbob]

was this group shot off hand or from a rest?

 

[Robin Henderson]

Not to be outdone by my friend, this is a 100 yard offhand target I shot quite a few years ago when I was a tad more on my game. The rifle used was a half stock English style flintlock built by Jack Garner. I was shooting a .535 ball, ticking patch ahead of 70 grains 3fg Goex. I remember calling my last shot high which, as you can see, it was. From the center of the top hole to the center of the bottom was 2 3/4". The lower four measured just a little over 1 1/2". No way I could do that today.

 

[Walkingeagle]

There are some truly skilled offhand shooters here on the forum.

Or some tall tale story tellers! Remember we are talking about us ol’timers who’ve been known to spin a yarn or two. He he.
Walk

 

[user 31296]

York county 50 cal off hand 50 metres getting there. Cheers from Australia.

 

[Rudyard]

3 shots offhand, 50yds,,,,,,,,,,,,
View attachment 169226

Nice piece of Ash or Hickory? good group too very striking
Regards Rudyard

 

[HighUintas]

3 shots offhand, 50yds,,,,,,,,,,,,
View attachment 169226

I love that piece of wood. What type of wood? Ash?

 

[Troopertree]

My TVM 40 cal at 50 yds working load and patch first time. Change sight picture last 4 best group.

 

[Sun City]

I've shot thousands and thousands of rounds offhand....with M1 Grand, M-14, and NRA Match Rifle in HP Competition over 50 years and 'cleaned' many targets but at 83 nowadays I shoot off a bench. It's the only way in my opinion one can truly give a traditional muzzleloader a test for accuracy and load quality!

 

[TDM]

There are some truly skilled offhand shooters here on the forum.

Yes there are, down right intimidating. I sure hope my new over powder wads help bring my groups down or I won’t show anymore of my targets!!!

 

[Walkingeagle]

Yes there are, down right intimidating. I sure hope my new over powder wads help bring my groups down or I won’t show anymore of my targets!!!

Lol. Us regular folks still need to see real targets!
Walk

 

[Kmcmichael]

Offhand rifle is my weakest thing but do not think it is a good representation of the gun. I can gets some fantastic groups at 50 yards. but I have never gotten a 2” group at 100. Follow through is of the utmost importance but I never see anyone do it. With it the lock type leaves the equation. I think the patched round ball can be extremely accurate in a windless situation but that never happens here. It gusts one way or the other within seconds. Terminal Ballistics of a round ball is great for the weight but external ballistics it ranks between a grain of rice and a feather.