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Last Time At The Rifle Range This Range Cop

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Joined
Jun 6, 2005
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Summerville, SC
What is up with this??

The last time at the range, one of the many range officers tells me I have to load on the back bench and cap and fire on the front.

He said that is so you can keep the caps from the powder!!

I thought: What is I was firing a flinter? Would he tell me I have to remove the flint???

So I had to get up after every shot and move to the back bench to load.

I feel suffocated at this range! After paying, you go to the gate to wait for a lane. Then you take all your gear in, and they pick up and inspect every gun. This range guy was claiming my muzzleloader was charged!! I told him I just got through cleaning it!!

I am pro safety don't get me wrong, but these officers are on top of you!!

Too bad it is the only public range within 50 miles :shake:

I cannot find and indoor range to shoot BP pistol either :shake:
 
Any range I'm running you load behind the line and cap or prime only when you are standing at the firing line with your muzzle pointing down range. Loading is to be done well back from the firing line.
 
What is the purpose of loading behind the line? What is wrong with loading, priming/capping on the line?

This is of course with no open vessels of powder lying around.

I guess my question, is in relation to centerfire shooters on the same line. I can load a 30 round clip, go to the line and fire away.

On a semi-automatic weapon, technically every time a round is shot another is loaded on the line!
 
1. Maybe it's considered distracting to other shooters?
2. Maybe it's perceived that if there were even the remote possibility for a potential mishap involving the powder or muzzle control during the loading process that it would present an increased risk of danger/distraction to other shooters or to yourself while on the firing line/front benches? The possibilility for decreased (or relaxed) control of the gun during the loading process is probably seen as increasing the more the gun is handled. :m2c:

Since I can't view the situation, it's hard to say exactly what the logic behind their policy is. My M.L. club has all of the members load with their guns upright against the back bench and cap/prime at the firing line. Another commercial range segregates M.L.'s to benches on a far end. I don't know of any indoor ranges that allow the firing of b.p. pistols or rifles, due to excess smoke/large calibers?
 
If you're loading on the line on my right side, you'll at the very least have a singed back of the neck, or at the very worst I'm going to light off your powder while you're pouring it down the barrel, which in turn is going to turn your powder horn into a bomb.
There is no where I've ever shot in my life that allows any muzzleloader to be loaded on the firing line. If I found myself in that situation I'd leave, it's unsafe.
 
Mike,

You are referring to a flinter correct? What about a caplock? A caplock is a contained ignition system. I do understand how a flinter shoot flames out the side.

Boy if this is the case, I guess allot of folks were killed by real close friendly fire.
 
".....has all of the members load with their guns upright against the back bench and cap/prime at the firing line....."

I've only been to one muzzleloading club in North Carolina, but that is the way they're set up too.

I'm lucky to belong to a little semi-formal club out in the country that is 99.9% action pistol shooting...happens to have two old rifle benches way off to the side with a 300yd strip bulldozed across a cotton field to a berm on the treeline.

I'm the only guy who shows up on Saturdays to shoot muzzleloaders, 99.9% of the time I'm there alone at daybreak, I practice full safety for my own common sense but have no one breathing down my neck...a very relaxed, pleasurable way to spend early Saturday mornings...very lucky guy
:master:
 
When I go to my folks place, I go to a range in the forest. It sure is nice to shoot alone, or with other shooters! The range is hot or cold, and that is good enough :peace:

God I need my own land, or a place I can shoot without someone breathing down my neck.
 
At the range I usually go to your allowed to load, prime and shoot right there at your bench. I shoot my flintlock there and Ive never experienced any problems nor has anyone else that Ive ever seen shooting there.

Mule brain, maybe this will help:
http://wheretoshoot.org/
 
Go to the nationals and see how long you last on the line....
I don't make the rules, I just shoot there. They've never had any accidents occur that Ive heard of or Im sure they would change the rules.

If I found myself in that situation I'd leave, it's unsafe.
If you need to make a follow up shot when hunting do you put your caps/priming horn on a log and step back to load your rifle, then move forward to cap/prime and shoot?
 
At many ranges, they don't even have a back bench. I have seen range officers load hundreds of times at the line for scout shoots.

This seams stupid, especially if you use powder flask, that delivers an exact amount of powder.

What are the dangers in loading a caplock on the line, and only put the cap on just before firing??

It make no sense to me, as long as certain common sense rules are followed.

Can you imagine the Civil War?? Step back 10 paces to load, and get to the line cap and fire :youcrazy:
 
Go to the nationals and see how long you last on the line....
I don't make the rules, I just shoot there. They've never had any accidents occur that Ive heard of or Im sure they would change the rules.

If I found myself in that situation I'd leave, it's unsafe.
If you need to make a follow up shot when hunting do you put your caps/priming horn on a log and step back to load your rifle, then move forward to cap/prime and shoot?
Let's not get rediculous. :rolleyes:
Hasn't anyone ever shot in any organized muzzleloading match of any size? Good lord, you guys wouldn't last thru the first relay with ou being shown where the gate is. :shake:
The basic rules.....Load behind the firing line. Step up to the line to prime/cap, then fire. Return back to the loading area and load. Repeat as nesessary. Pretty simple stuff.
I've been shooting M/L's in competition since 1980. This is the way it's been at every match I've ever attended or put on.
 
This seams stupid, especially if you use powder flask, that delivers an exact amount of powder.
>>>>>>DANGER DANGER DANGER<<<<<<
Never load directly from a flask. You have a potential bomb in your hand if you have an ember in your barrel. I have seen this practice before and I left that shoot for those fellows to blow them selves to bits. I hate getting bloody gore on my bibs.... :cry:
If you ever shot in a match where six or eight guys shooting flint guns were on the line they'd get tired of waiting for you to get done putzing around loading on the line. After one suggestion you step back to load they would start lighting the back of your neck on fire with a little vent blow by. Probably wouldn't take more than a couple times before you decided that loading on the line isn't a good idea. :crackup:
 
Let's not get rediculous. :rolleyes:
Im not being rediculous or trying to be sarcastic. I just don't see the difference between loading, priming and shooting at the bench and loading, priming and shooting when hunting. Its still done with your caps/primer on you, not on a log ten feet in front of you while you load. I know the difference is there are guys shooting on benches next to you, but there have never been any accidents and the range has done it this way for something like 30 years. Maybe, just maybe that means we actually know how to shoot safely wihtout needing it dictated to us.
Hasn't anyone ever shot in any organized muzzleloading match of any size?
Personaly, no I haven't. Competition doesn't interest me.
Good lord, you guys wouldn't last thru the first relay with ou being shown where the gate is. :shake:
Sarcasm isn't necessary. Just because i enjoy shooting for fun and am not interested in being competitive doesn't make me an idiot. Although i don't compete I still follow the rules of the range and have been shooting for years too but never had an accident. In that regard, you could say that I'm a safer shooter for it because I know how to be safe without being required to follow those much stricter loading procedures. I don't claim to be better or smarter than anyone else, and I'm not a reckless shooter, I'm just not required to follow the same loading procedures as you are at my local range. That deosn't mean I'm unsafe or don't know what Im doing.
 
When I am out hunting, it is unlikely that anyone else is standing beside me to toast me with flash from the vent or put sparks into my powder while I am loading.

Loading behind a line is an organized and reasonable method for a long line of shooters to compete. Capping or priming only at the line prevents showering your buddy with sparks while he is loading his gun beside you. If you are only shooting with a very few people participating, this might not be necessary. But when you get a crowd, it is an important safety concern.

CS
 
Well, fortunately it is done everywhere where safety to others is taken into consideration.I wouldn't shoot there,if they permitted unsafe gun handling. This practice was implemented for one reason, safety. Not to inconvience you. This is just one of them rules, that if you shoot with others, that you learn to do. If you shoot modern trap, you don't put in a shell until you are on the line. You will be told, if you do otherwise, because of safety. People are not trying to be difficult, they just want everyone to have a safe and good time. :winking:
 
At the ranges I shoot at (any place safe and free to hang my hat) I still load behind the shooting line in a way. The tailgate of my truck becomes my loading bench and my portable shooting bench becomes my station. The only thing different is my shooting bench has the rifle rests so I fill my measure with my powder load the rifle and when ready to shoot go back for a cap and shoot.

All powder, caps and other "distractions" are left on the truck giving me a safe and uncluttered place to shoot.

I am lucky to have plenty of free gravel pits to shoot at and I also have a 125yd range at my camp. The amazing thing is when pit owners come down and see you shooting your m/l they just wave and drive out. I wonder how some feel about cartridge guns? I have plenty of places to shoot them too.
 
I have been to many a match that is load 10' or more on the load bench, then go forward to the line cap or prime your weapon and fire, at these ranges we also put up vent blocks (large cut sections of cardboard) nothing like stopping that blow by comming out of someone elses vent.

And another note if you are a skirmisher at a n-ssa event using civil war weapons you are shooting up t 100 shooters loading and shooting a timed event, only sometimes shooting 20-30 rounds before your relay is over, then you go behing the shooting lines 30" feet behind the fireing line, although your loading from a cartrige box not a flask. for more info on this type of shooting go to north south skirmish association. bb75
 

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