Recreational Shooting in a Historical Context

[JohnnieT]

I've been really scrounging for percussion caps lately, and it got me thinking about folks in the first half of the 19th century. How much of their shooting was recreational? How much did they keep stored by way of primers and powder? Most of my shooting is recreational, so my desire for lots of supplies is more of a want than a need. In terms of hunting, if every shot I fired was aimed at food, then I likely have enough for a lifetime. The rest of it is for grins and...yeah that. Do you think our forefathers thought of supplies and storage like we do today? Did they think of their guns as tools only?

Just making conversation

 

[Crow-Feather]

https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/products/11-percussion-cap-maker
I had heard of the above and finally found it on the net. about 50.00 for the kit. I have heard people talk about it and it does work, apparently the thinner the metal, the better the ignition. But for myself, I am looking for a good flinter.

 

[ord sgt]

I have read many accounts of weekly shooting matches from around the country, mainly around more heavily populated areas. The folk in the country had their share of get-togethers to shoot for a side of beef. But in the less populated areas, putting food on the table was the main use of firearms.

 

[JohnnieT]

I have read about beef and turkey shoots also, as well as serious target matches. I am just curious about the idea of plinking for plinking's sake, like we enjoy now.

And Crow Feather, thanks for the tip. I'm also keeping an eye out for the right flinter. Probably gonna be a Pedersoli Jaeger for me.

 

[tenngun]

They had to learn how. Many ofcorse started as boys shooting Pa’s rifle as soon as they was big enough to hold it.
Missouri shoot by Brigham

 

[JohnnieT]

Thanks TennGun, and what a great image! I assume that for many on the plains and frontiers, shooting for fun and shooting for food often went hand-in-hand.

 

[ord sgt]

After the winners of the meat shoots received their prizes, the next lower prize was the chance to recover all of the lead from the target backer. Recover and reuse all of the available material.

 

[mooman76]

I've been really scrounging for percussion caps lately, and it got me thinking about folks in the first half of the 19th century. How much of their shooting was recreational? How much did they keep stored by way of primers and powder? Most of my shooting is recreational, so my desire for lots of supplies is more of a want than a need. In terms of hunting, if every shot I fired was aimed at food, then I likely have enough for a lifetime. The rest of it is for grins and...yeah that. Do you think our forefathers thought of supplies and storage like we do today? Did they think of their guns as tools only?

Just making conversation

What area you in? Maybe someone can help you out with caps. I would imagine they didn't think of stock piling like we do. Most trade goods stores likely carried powder lead and caps. I know some weren't necessarily close by so they would have to plan and buy accordingly.

 

[smo]

Waste not, want not....

 

[JohnnieT]

What area you in? Maybe someone can help you out with caps. I would imagine they didn't think of stock piling like we do. Most trade goods stores likely carried powder lead and caps. I know some weren't necessarily close by so they would have to plan and buy accordingly.

I'm in West Tennessee, just a bit north of Memphis. I'm actually in decent shape on caps now. I've been buying a tin here and there, never clearing out a store completely so I can leave some for other shooters. I've built back up to over 1,000 and even with the revolvers that will last me a good long while. I was just thinking as I've been setting up for spring and summer (busy shooting seasons for me) about whether or not our ancestors ever worried about this sort of thing. I like to think about how they may have approached the cap/powder/ammo shortage, or the toilet paper shortage, or any of the other things we've been panicked over in the last 18 months. They would probably think we're all lunatics, to be honest

 

[Sun City]

https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/products/11-percussion-cap-maker
I had heard of the above and finally found it on the net. about 50.00 for the kit. I have heard people talk about it and it does work, apparently the thinner the metal, the better the ignition. But for myself, I am looking for a good flinter.

Got one but it ain't cheap!

 

[Hawken]

Capt's Lewis & Clark, their expedition to the Pacific and back had regular target match competitions. High scorer got an extra ration of Whiskey. Being able to shoot, and shoot well, was a critical skill.

 

[JohnnieT]

I read the journals of Lewis and Clark and I thought I paid attention, but apparently I missed that bit. Thanks! Learn something new here every day.

Capt's Lewis & Clark, their expedition to the Pacific and back had regular target match competitions. High scorer got an extra ration of Whiskey. Being able to shoot, and shoot well, was a critical skill.

 

[Woody Morgan]

I'm in West Tennessee, just a bit north of Memphis. I'm actually in decent shape on caps now. I've been buying a tin here and there, never clearing out a store completely so I can leave some for other shooters. I've built back up to over 1,000 and even with the revolvers that will last me a good long while. I was just thinking as I've been setting up for spring and summer (busy shooting seasons for me) about whether or not our ancestors ever worried about this sort of thing. I like to think about how they may have approached the cap/powder/ammo shortage, or the toilet paper shortage, or any of the other things we've been panicked over in the last 18 months. They would probably think we're all lunatics, to be honest

I think our ancestors were constantly concerned about any supplies critical to eating. Wiping your butt...not so much. Shooting was/is a skill that put food on the table. Sam Walton wasn't even born until 1918.

wm

 

[Notchy Bob]

There is plenty of documentation of recreational target shooting in the literature of the period. "Plinking" is also well documented in the annals of western expansion, although they didn't call it that. Plenty of buffalo, prairie dogs, wolves, coyotes, and rattlesnakes were shot, just for the hell of it. Read The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman for frequent descriptions of shooting buffalo for sport. They would cut off tails and bring them into camp just to brag about how many they killed.

I do think we have gotten awfully extravagant, though. Even with the target shooting and plinking they did, I don't think they fired as many shots per session as we do.

Notchy Bob

 

[JohnnieT]

Thanks for the recommendation Bob. I’m always up for another good read.

I’m sure the examples and references are out there, it’s just not a topic that crossed my mind until now. Most of my interest in historic shooting has been in terms of military applications or hunting. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that our forebears liked to have fun too.

As for modern shooting, I think your use of “extravagant” might be the perfect description. I’m sure that some of our ancestors would see the amount of powder, primers, flints, etc. that we keep on hand now and think it’s a lifetime supply.

 

[nkbj]

People enjoyed shooting for fun if they thought it was fun.
Like now.

 

[Hawken]

I read the journals of Lewis and Clark and I thought I paid attention, but apparently I missed that bit.

Yup, the "Journals" (depending which version we are talking about) are heavily edited and redacted. I have the DeVoto edition and the Coues edition and several other publications, and I'm always learning new stuff that is interesting to me.

Home | Discovering Lewis & Clark ®

https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

 

[tenngun]

Murphy got his three hundred yard shot at Saratoga, and Morgan tested his men at two hundred yards.
They had to have practiced some to get that skill.
No ballistic calculators and chrographs then. They had to depend on experience. They had to have shot and learned where to hold.

 

[Stophel]

North Carolina half dollar currency.

Shooting at a mark

I find interesting how the North Carolina marksman is holding his gun. With his left arm folded up and the fore end of the rifle laying on his elbow.