OK, OK!!! I am going to air my ignorance......

[Twisted_1in66]

Thank you for the correction. I know the battle of little round top was one of those small things that have BIG outcomes.

The rifle was as I recall it used by the condfederate sharpshooters - allegedly to very great effect. Must have been from Big Round top as you say. It was your war after all, not mine.

Best Wishes

Robbo :v

Was probably Devil's Den. There's a marker there talking about sharpshooters as well as pictures of the slaughter. It changed hands a couple of times and the ground was littered with dead.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[PaulN/KS]

Went to a rondy last August over in Missouri and the shootin on the Sunday was a chunk gun shoot for us non chunk gunners.Let me tell ya,getting up and down to shoot 10 shots when it was 100+ degrees kinda whooped our butts...none of us had thought to bring water with us to the range :shake:

 

[Phantom Captain]

Apparently the confederated used it to great effect from the top of Little Round top (I think), picking off Union gunners at long range (or was it the other way round). Either way, those guys could shoot ....

Thanks for the link

Robbo

For yore better understanding of the battle, Joshua Chaimberlain's 30th Maine Regiment held Little Round Top against several assaults on the second day of the battle. Had they failed, the Army of Northern Virginia, may well have won the battle. On the third day the 30th Maine was moved, to a quiet area, for a rest. Most of the artillery barrage before Pickett's Charge landed in that "quiet area", just after they arrived. :barf:
The Confederate sharp shooters fired from Big Round Top and Devil's Den.
:winking:

Hi, Joshua L. Chamberlain commanded the 20th Maine. Sorry, just had to make that small correction.

 

[Tumblernotch]

This years' shoot was a good one. I suggest that anyone with an interest should go. How did you do this year? I didn't do as good as I would like but a lot better than I expected.

I went to the WV State Championship yesterday and finished third from the bottom. Very disappointing, especially since I was using a cant block this time. I shot better at York. A lot of guys were having trouble with the changing light conditions. Using a light flint rifle ain't the best way to go either.

For those not familiar with the sport, it started out with them using whatever rifles they had and has evolved into using specialised rifles. Most of these rifles are half stocked with very long and heavy barrels. Underhammer ignition is very popular and some barrels run as long as nearly 5 feet in length. In fact, the fellow I was shooting next to yesterday had to have his gun leaning at a 45 degree angle to clean and load. (He was at York). It was a full foot taller than he was. And many shooters have a box or stool to stand on while loading. Also, a cant block is fastened to the barrel to keep the gun in the same position when shooting and if the gun is a fullstock the block is carved into the stock when built. (Forster I know you know this, but I thought I would mention it for those who don't know).

Anyhoo, when I get the rifle I'm working on out of the way, I might just build a chunk gun. It is an interesting way to spend a Saturday.

 

[Wehrmacht]

Hi Kanawa,

Next year let's try to introduce ourselves at Pall Mall. Don't know that I know any of you fellas from WV, but do know Ed Rayle very well.

Mine is a traditional Blue Mountain Pennsylvania Chunkgun with a full stock and resting block at the muzzle. Weighs in about 18 pounds,I think.This type saw some limited use as a sniper rifle during the RevWar early on,I've read.

I'm getting too old, I guess, to be in the top 10% any longer. Year before last I finished 16th out of about 213 at the York Shoot. Then catarach surgery, both eyes, kept me out of the '06 Shoot. Had high hopes this year,but I might as well face it....even with surgery my eyesight isn't the 20/10 I had when I wore a young sailor's "crackerjacks" :haha:

Anyhow, I ain't quittin'. It's too much fun, and besides the oldest shooter at York this year was, what...90? 91? :thumbsup:

 

[reddogge]

The Confederate sharp shooters fired from Big Round Top and Devil's Den.

Standing in Devil's Den looking up at Little Round Top is always a fascinating thing. It is a hard shot even with modern firearms.

 

[Tumblernotch]

Maybe we ought to wear a patch or something to identify ourselves. I've shot bench and offhand for years but I'm pretty new at chunk guns. One of the fellers I was with at York, Pat Hanna, came in 15th there this year.

I've known Ed Rayl for quite a few years, he used to shoot at our club before he got too busy building barrels. A real nice guy. And it's worth the trip to see his shop!

I've been doing all my chunk shooting with a regular flint longrifle. Once I get the other one in my shop done, I want to start on a decent chunk gun. I'm thinking of a mule ear. You don't see too many of them anymore. I finished 76th at York this year. Not as good as I would have hoped, but better than I really expected. I don't guess it's too bad for the first time there with a light rifle without a cant block. I had a good time anyway. I hope to get back down there next Spring. I'm hoping to go back this Summer and sightsee a little and maybe visit with Andy York some more. Now, he's a real nice feller!

Hopefully we'll run into each other next year. Until then, keep bangin' away and practicing. Maybe we'll both do better next time!

Bob