hawkeye2 said:
There may be a "good reason" they are loaded behind the line but what is it? I'm asking because I honestly can't think of one that would be any safer than loading on the line. :idunno: I'm not saying that I oppose loading at a bench and advancing to the line while keeping control of the piece with the muzzle pointing in a safe direction.
I have spent time on and around the ML matches at Friendship since the '70s. I was qualified to be a Range Officer years ago, but have not kept the qualification current. Rules regarding loading sites vary with the type of line you are shooting at, but keep in mind at Friendship CF and ML shooters are not mixed.
ON the pistol line the benches are
at the firing line. The shooter loads the pistol facing the target with the loading bench in front of him.
On the offhand line, the loading benches are behind the line. The shooter loads powder and ball at the bench. He carries the rifle muzzle up (muzzle higher than his head) to and
from the firing line. He caps or primes his rifle only when he is at the line.
ON the slug gun range the shooters use benches that are equipped to load at the end of the bench. There is a bench behind them, but their benches are set up to load at the end. This still places the loading materials behind the firing position.
Loading
at the firing line for ML shooters places all the loading components where the sparks from caps and flint gases are. Loading
at the bench keeps all the powder, etc away from open ignitions at the line. Since with CF shooters have completely enclosed ignitions this isn't necessary. Most bench and slug gun shooters use sealed ignition systems, but they still follow the same basic rules. The difference between safety issues for sealed ignitions and "open" ignition systems is the main thing here.
The NMLRA range commands are somewhat different too:
Cease Fire -- are there any hot ones?
(If there are) -- Dump it in the hill!
There are no hot ones.
Bench all rifles.
Make the line safe.
You may go forward , pull and post your targets.
(No one touches a gun until the range is open. You cannot bring a gun to the bench until the range is open again.)
I think the problem we have in this discussion is how to handle shooters with sealed ignitions and those with open ignitions on the same line. I'd guess that it is safer for the flintlock shooter to carry his rifle to and from the line with the muzzle higher than his head than it is to shoot his flintlock over a can of powder. This would be the position of the NMLRA.
I know this is too long; I didn't plan it that way.
Regards,
Pletch
