AeroncaTAL
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2006
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Today I took my Lyman Great Plains Rifle up to the monthly Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade shoot. First I wanted to meet Brett Hoffman (both the Junior and Senior) and to show off the progress of the GPR.
Pics of the GPR
I wasn't prepared to do any shooting today, even though by all accounts the rifle was. I haven't acquired any of the stuff needed to punch holes in targets (lead, powder, caps, patches, etc.). However, the club members were having none of that. It was "Hey, I'm shooting the same rifle you have, come with me and I'll hook you up. Here's a powder measure, capper, some prelubed patches and balls. Go ahead and use the black powder from my horn here". So I got some one on one instruction on how to load, cap and fire the rifle I just built. We've all read posts from the newbies on how exciting it was to fire BP for the first time. I know what the feeling is now. Until today, I had never fired a Black Powder gun. I really did not know what to expect, other than from reading what others have written. I can tell ya, that was some feeling when I pulled the trigger and that rifle went off, and when the smoke cleared I could see that not only did the ball hit the target but was close to the black! I ended up firing 5 rounds through the GPR and I can say that I am impressed with the performance. Here is a pic of the target:
I was using 70grs black powder, and .530 round balls with .018 pillow ticking patches, prelubed I believe with Moose Milk. I had absolutely no problem seating the balls with any of the shots. Needless to say I'm impressed with the GPR. It is going to be a fun firing rifle!
The day wasn't done however. Brett offered me his .40 Thompson Center and I punched some holes in a target with that. While I was busy with my Lyman, my son Patrick got a chance to try black powder with another .54 GPR. After that another club member took pity on him and let him fire off two rounds on his flint lock. There was a hawk and knife throwing contest (I did hit the stump with the knife), and Patrick won a nice knife in a raffle. I finished up the day by trying a nice Kentucky pistol in .45. I can tell you, I'm hooked, hooked bad. I want to thank Brett and all the other club members of Forest Hlls, for welcoming some new ones into this sport. What a great time. :grin:
Scott
Pics of the GPR
I wasn't prepared to do any shooting today, even though by all accounts the rifle was. I haven't acquired any of the stuff needed to punch holes in targets (lead, powder, caps, patches, etc.). However, the club members were having none of that. It was "Hey, I'm shooting the same rifle you have, come with me and I'll hook you up. Here's a powder measure, capper, some prelubed patches and balls. Go ahead and use the black powder from my horn here". So I got some one on one instruction on how to load, cap and fire the rifle I just built. We've all read posts from the newbies on how exciting it was to fire BP for the first time. I know what the feeling is now. Until today, I had never fired a Black Powder gun. I really did not know what to expect, other than from reading what others have written. I can tell ya, that was some feeling when I pulled the trigger and that rifle went off, and when the smoke cleared I could see that not only did the ball hit the target but was close to the black! I ended up firing 5 rounds through the GPR and I can say that I am impressed with the performance. Here is a pic of the target:
I was using 70grs black powder, and .530 round balls with .018 pillow ticking patches, prelubed I believe with Moose Milk. I had absolutely no problem seating the balls with any of the shots. Needless to say I'm impressed with the GPR. It is going to be a fun firing rifle!
The day wasn't done however. Brett offered me his .40 Thompson Center and I punched some holes in a target with that. While I was busy with my Lyman, my son Patrick got a chance to try black powder with another .54 GPR. After that another club member took pity on him and let him fire off two rounds on his flint lock. There was a hawk and knife throwing contest (I did hit the stump with the knife), and Patrick won a nice knife in a raffle. I finished up the day by trying a nice Kentucky pistol in .45. I can tell you, I'm hooked, hooked bad. I want to thank Brett and all the other club members of Forest Hlls, for welcoming some new ones into this sport. What a great time. :grin:
Scott
