Shooting original 250 years plus rifle!
December 30, 2023. First time about shooting a muzzleloader. Went to Cherokee Gun Club in Gainesville GA. Was worried about shooting a .70 cal rifle, started at 50grains, 60, and 70. Recoil was easy. Decided to shoot at 70 grains though the rifle should have used 85. Anyhow, shot a 3.5inch circle.
Gary Lucas from the Forum walked me though the process. Swab the bore with alcohol to clear out any possible residue.
Fill a powder measure. Lube a patch with Ballistrol (Mixed with water). place a ball on the patch and tap it down with a small hammer. Then put the ball on the short starter and get the ball and patch below the crown of the muzzle. Gather the patch material and cut, away from me, flush with the muzzle. Using the short rod on the short starter to push the ball about 6" into the barrel
Insert the range rod with the nylon adapter centered. Long, but firm strokes until it hit the charge. Take out the ram rod and drop it down the bore. It bounced meaning the ball was set. Also how much of the charge was there.
Move over to the bench. Keep the muzzle pointing at the bank. Don't want to have a 70 cal ball pointing up to the sky and coming down on someone!
Settle down on the bench. Pull the hammer back all the way. Set the trigger. Then keep the fingers out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot. Put a percussion cap on the nipple. Aim, breathe and shoot!
Whew!
Showed me to clean the gun and stow it away!
It was a delightful afternoon. Gary is a fantastic coach and I think I got the hang of it. Never would have exactly figured it out on my own. There is nothing like a "hands on" mentor! I owe him big time! He set me up with a set of tools, powder, patch material and a list of what I needed to shoot.
An unforgettable day with an unforgettable Gary Lucas!
Maybe, in time, I can be a mentor for a newbie? Love this sport/hobby! The best part is the warm, friendly, helpful, people!!
