So How Many Shots Does Your Rifle Do In A Day??

[Dave Rosenthal]

I took my rifle out to a Scout Day that was hosted by the State Association Range here in New Jersey. The Scouts fired it about 150 times, without a single hick-up, and not even a cleaning or spit patch during the session! I supervised/assisted measuring, pouring the powder charge, short-starting the ball, and use of the range rod to ram the PRB's home. Had a fantastic time! My Lyman Trade Rifle is a MACHINE!!

So how many shots can you get out of your rifle before it needs cleaning??

Good thing I did a thorough Bore Shine treatment inside & out before packing things up yesterday--my arms are like limp rubber this morning--way too tired to put the rifle in a bucket of warm water!

Dave

 

[fredrader]

I usually put around 20 thru mine.. 150 is a lot of loading,I bet your arms are tired..

 

[Keppy]

At Christmas the grandkids shot my 45cal. Kentucky, must have been 40 shot or so. We got cold, so we give it up but it was still loading just fine and shooting great. So I don't know, I have never shot my rifles much more than 50 rounds in a sessions. But I normally just shoot and no clean until after the shootin done.

 

[MikeChapin]

I very rarely have to clean my rifles while I am shooting. With targets loads all of them from the .32 to the .58 can generally go all day without cleaning and I see no deterioration in accuracy.

Even shooting heavier loads, I still rarely have to clean. I can go through a silhouette match without cleaning and most of those shots require a hunting load to get the range for the longer targets. When I do clean it is mostly to break up the crud ring in the breach rather than the balls getting hard to load.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Fred,

I woke-up today and my arm felt like it didn't belong being attached to the rest of me :haha:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Sounds like a good time was had by all! And then comes the hot chocolate! :thumbsup:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Mike,

I used to have to do a spit-patch to maintain accuracy with long-range loads (72 grains of 3Fg Goex), but the rifle always had a chance to cool-down, especially in the cooler weather. Maybe the fact that we were loading the thing steady, just after firing it, and the fouling stayed really soft, has something to do with it?

Dave

 

[MikeChapin]

Mike,

I used to have to do a spit-patch to maintain accuracy with long-range loads (72 grains of 3Fg Goex), but the rifle always had a chance to cool-down, especially in the cooler weather. Maybe the fact that we were loading the thing steady, just after firing it, and the fouling stayed really soft, has something to do with it?

Dave

I use a spit patch all the time but moose milk, windex or just plain water will do the same thing. I just find spit more convenient.

It could be that reloading directly after firing could have helped. The summers around here are hot and dry. The fouling will cake hard if you let it. I found that if I am between relays if I short start the load to keep in moisture until the next relay, the fouling will stay soft. I leave the short starter in the muzzle to indicate to me the rifle is just short started. Short starting seals in the moisture from the last shot and keeps the wet patch from soaking the powder.

Wow! loading up 150 shots in a day would definitely make one noodlely armed. Seems an awful lot like work.

 

[necchi]

+1 with Mike2005,
Morning match 30-50, break for lunch, a couple wet patches, then another 30-50 for the agg.

Gun get's "cleaned" at the end of the day, it's a non-issue.

Good on ya for entertaining the youth, hope ya hooked a few :grin:

 

[ebiggs1]

I usually only shoot 30 ”“50 shots in a day but that is because that is all I can usually afford!
I use Bore Butter and I don’t pick, jab, stab wipe, swab, spit, dance around, smack or whatever. Of course I am no target shooter either. Matter of fact I ain’t even a real good shot. I just shoot for the fun of it.

 

[Little Wattsy]

WOW 150 is ALOT! :hatsoff:
I always shoot hunting loads (90 graisn of Pyrodex RS over a T/C .018 prelubed patch and a home made .535 ball) I will usually shoot 30 to 40 rounds in a session. I usually wipe every 10 to "insure accuracy" BUT I have NEVER had any problem loading or ignition issues. I am pretty sure I coud go "all day" without having to clean.? :hmm:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I was using my usual .018 pre-lubed pillow-ticking patches from Oxyoke with a Hornady .490 ball. I did notice some extra lube around the crown of the muzzle. I wonder if using smaller loads for the smaller Scouts (25-35-45-50 grains) meant that more lube was transferred from the brand-new package of patches since I wasn't using "hot" loads that would do a better job of "drying-out" the patches?

Anyhow, thanks for your reply! :thumbsup:

Dave

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Thanks for the Kudos! I think I set the hook pretty deep in a few of them!


One of the smaller, ten year old Scouts that was (at first) very hesitant to try shooting my rifle wound-up LOVING IT, and so he stuck around and he and his Dad got to change the targets and keep the one that he'd shot . Upon first hearing the hesitation in his voice, I calmed his fears by telling him that I am an Eagle Dad, and I wouldn't let him do anything to himself that would hurt, due to his worry over the rifle's kick! In an effort to convince him it would be O-K, I then loaded the rifle with the same 25 grain load I told him that he was going to shoot, and then I shot my rifle with only my strong hand, hitting the target in the Shoot-N-C. Then I told him that if I can do it with only one arm, he ought to be able to do it with two arms and a shoulder! :wink: Well, needless to say, that broke the ice, and it was his turn next! He wound-up getting a "10" and a "X" and the smile on his face was worth ALL of the effort for the entire day!

He and I got to strike-up a conversation during the break. He mentioned that he'd seen a story about black powder rifles on the History Channel. He said he was going to tell his teacher that showed the program all about his experience, so in addition to his target, I let him keep one of my spent patches, and to be sure to explain to his teacher what the patch was used for (gas seal, impart rifling spin, lubrication, etc.). The kid took notes! So yeah, I think I "hooked him" all right!

I had a wonderful time volunteering my day! I can't wait to do it again next year!

Dave

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Fun is what it's all about :thumbsup:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

You probably could, and thanks for the input :thumbsup:

Dave

 

[hanshi]

A normal day for me is average of 35-40 rounds and without cleaning.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

:thumbsup: Sounds like lots of folks just keep on shootin these smokepoles!

Dave

 

[jethro224]

I usually shoot at least 30 shots when I go shooting. After every 4-5 shots I run a spit patch and a dry one down and back to get rid of the crud ring.
The range is having a demo day next month and I volunteered to bring my guns and be the flintlock guy. I guess I'll find out then. :haha:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

:thumbsup: Got Flints?

Start lifting weights now so that arm used for loading gets used to the work-out :wink: and have a great time :thumbsup:

Dave

 

[rdoggsilva]

I will usually shot around 30 shoots at the range,no cleaning at all. Then call it a day and as soon as I get home,clean it.