Now heres an interesting topic I can relate too. In UK the principal match shooting being with Enfield's or 451 / 461 ect at ranges from 100 to 1,000 yards since this was the traditional way most ranges . Being Govt/Army ranges where set out to these distances . The 100 yards comps seemed a brutal way to go if the longer the range the more at home was that class of rifle. I recall shooting on Stickledown at 900 and being approached by a boy whos parents where watching what we were doing .He politly asked "What are you shooting at?" expecting no doubt spurts of dirt at maybe 100 yards since we had such' muskets '. I waved a sooty finger down range where the targets were going up & down . "There" I expect I said . Collin Perrin used to say it" Was like launching your own moon rocket"all the careful loading, notes ,wind & humidity all comeing into play. I only had a Military Match style rifle made up from the then available unused Martini Henry barrels . The 461 Gibbs Metfords being the most esteemed . But as regards to round ball I do recall just such a rifle made again from old MH surplus win the Patched Ball or perhaps the Lockeridge Huppen bower for replica rifles shot by Richard ? Whittiker at 100 yards , so it could work if you persevered .
My own I took to Canada and evolved an expedient loading of 15 grains powder a ball of rag and forcing a 44 revolver ball down after it my purpose soley to harvest Spruce Grouse or Francolin or hares for the pot on one long 13 day decent of the Mosley Homathka river down from Tatla Lake to Butte Inlet through the coast range of British Columbia round Mt Waddington at 13,177 feet the highest mountain in Canada .Not that I fool with the peaks ,The glacial run of was cold enough for me.
But I did run into and Amourous bull Moose and sneeking by them I got rumbled and in short order I found my self looking up its nose . Had I the bayonet for it. It would reach it fine but my 15 grains wasn't really going to be up to it, my knife & small belt axe more usefull. " Oh bother" I thought, but I had read an account of how if confronted by bears you could'nt out pace & it wasn't enough to risk playing possum, So' Talk to it as nothing else does ', So I applied this recourse to Brer Moose I pointed out I had won a Gold at Bisley (I had the Lockeridge Huppenbuoer ) And how I " Could eat a Moose for tiffin" and Added 'Unkind observations as to his looks and ancestry ' . This worked ( or I likley would'nt be here to write of it ) .He backed away and very pleased I was to see him go join the Cow . I later went down the Klina Klini River took 17 days but took a double conversion to cap 16 bore shotgun .This was the best choice I believe as you can have small shot in one barrel & a patched ball in the other . Returning to our 451s I used to Import 451 & 38 cal barrels made in New Zealand by Tony Hawkins from two I made up two No frills' Poor mans full match' rifles one of which Gordon Gerard shot to gain the record one time at Bisley short range On Short Sibeiria . It was dubbed 'The poor mans full match' pistol gripped, half,stocked, a one in 20 pitch 451. His 38 1 in 18" pitch was I believe a better choice than the thumping 451s at 100 & up to 600 if I shot at the Diggle ranges , I never shot it beyond .
But shot the ' military match' at Trentham near Wellington NZ once 800 yds I think. But the heat haze was fearful & I did no good . Incidently you are supposed to loose the Lock Hupp by one point. NOT win or take it home as it rather resembles a headstone . Mole Benn used to win it ( There where few replica rifle or matches at the time ) But he tis said used to leave it in the tap room of the' Hen & Chickens' in Bisley Village. But I took it home . It bore the message 'To Ed Lockeridge & Charlie Huppenbower may there allways be men around like these to help those starting out ' Very noble sentiments. But wags would say " May there allways be men around like these. To help carry away trophies like these ". As it stood some 18 by 20" or so square . Regards Rudyard
