Are there any general regulations as far as yardage and off-hand/rested positions for splitting round balls on axe?
Splitting Ball on Axe
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Pete G
76 Cal.
Generally 20 yards is considered about the minimum due to concerns about fragments of lead coming back toward the firing line.
I've never seen a split the ball set up that far out. If it's out that far you can kiss your handle good bye.
15-20 feet max. Wood block/log on the ground with two small nails on each side to hold a clay pigeon next to the blade,, the block has to be angled back a bit so the clays don't fall off. A split ball will bust both clays. People will miss and bust one or the other clay, it's a high maintenance target.
Biggest problem is keeping the blade in the block, they tend to fall out after a while with ball smacking all around it.
Best set-up I watched,, the guy used a wedge and mall to cut a slot for the blade,, he had a scrap double bit with no handle and had a helper hold a steel rod in the handle hole so he could hit each side of the rod driving the blade deep.
If anyone has handled an axe or splitting mall, standing over a block and swinging down between your legs to stick the blade is a darn un-comfortable move!!
Keep the block small enough to turn upright for the set up.
15-20 feet max. Wood block/log on the ground with two small nails on each side to hold a clay pigeon next to the blade,, the block has to be angled back a bit so the clays don't fall off. A split ball will bust both clays. People will miss and bust one or the other clay, it's a high maintenance target.
Biggest problem is keeping the blade in the block, they tend to fall out after a while with ball smacking all around it.
Best set-up I watched,, the guy used a wedge and mall to cut a slot for the blade,, he had a scrap double bit with no handle and had a helper hold a steel rod in the handle hole so he could hit each side of the rod driving the blade deep.
If anyone has handled an axe or splitting mall, standing over a block and swinging down between your legs to stick the blade is a darn un-comfortable move!!
Keep the block small enough to turn upright for the set up.
I have never seen a double bit axe with a handle used for the split ball event. Most on the ones I have shot at are an old single bit axe with a lag screw welded to the back of the axe head then screwed into the wood block. Most were in the 10 to 15 yard range.
Now that's a good idea :thumbsup:
Did they weld to the side or top-n-bottom?
Oh! I get it, just one bolt welded to the back of the blade,,
Did they weld to the side or top-n-bottom?
Oh! I get it, just one bolt welded to the back of the blade,,
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Back in the 1970's at many ranges in Indiana including Friendship, Smoothbores fired at 15 yards and rifles at about 25 yards to split the ball on an axe. Every time I shot in such matches, they did use a double blade axe, though it was an old one not normally used as an axe much more.
Gus
Gus
When we ran our shoot we never measured the distance so it changed every time (intentional)but it was far closer than 20 yards and never caused an issue.
I welded a piece of 1/2" bar slightly wider than the axe to the back side. It had a 1/2" hole above and below the axe head which didn't have a handle and we drove a couple of spikes through each hole and bent them over. We used that setup for over 15 years. I don't remember now but I think we just drove a pair of nails in the block on each side of the axe head and sat the pigeons on them.
I welded a piece of 1/2" bar slightly wider than the axe to the back side. It had a 1/2" hole above and below the axe head which didn't have a handle and we drove a couple of spikes through each hole and bent them over. We used that setup for over 15 years. I don't remember now but I think we just drove a pair of nails in the block on each side of the axe head and sat the pigeons on them.
So do you guys normally shoot off hand or from a rest?
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Every such match I ever participated in, or even heard about, was this was an Offhand Only event.
Gus
Gus
Yup, same with cuttin strings or cards an snuffin candles.Artificer said:
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And when they REALLY got devious at Friendship on the Primitive Range, they would tie strings to small brush/branches and stake them to the ground at angles for Offhand Shooting. MAN, were those hard to hit, even compared to normally cutting strings.
Gus
Gus
Range varies greatly depending on the whim of the shoot master. But 20 yards is far more than usually used. Double bits are almost always used.
rustyh
40 Cal.
The one we use at our trail walk is a single bit head with a block welded to the back and nailed to a heavy butt end of a tree stump. Set up approx 15 - 20 steps from the stake, shot offhand.
Trent Grove
32 Cal.
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At our club we have a large log round half buried in the bank of our 25yrd line. We use an old single axe blade with a bracket welded on that we lag to the wood. We hang clay pigeons on both sides and you have to bust them both to get the shot to count. 25yrds all off hand. We have quite a few shoot offs with this shot.
I bet the bigger bore/balls won! :hmm: :rotf:
Yup, I like the 54, there's more then a 1/2" wide flying down there
Ya with that 2 bore, you could just point it in the general direction! :rotf:
We used to use a steel frame set up until I got hit in the ass with a ricochet! The girls dug out the cloth from my breeches and a piece of lead(now in my medicine bag).I had to run to finish the woods walk before they were done, priorities!
We now stick a double bitted axe in a pine butt, no handle.
Nit Wit :surrender:
We now stick a double bitted axe in a pine butt, no handle.
Nit Wit :surrender:
