Tall tale or not

[ebiggs1]

I was back doing some contract work for the company I retired from. They had a new, to me, guy running the laser. He’s a big guy about 6’8” and 350 if he’s a pound. He could play offensive line for the KC Chiefs. Anyway I heard him boost about just buying an S&W 500 Magnum and I talked with him about it. This gun would look small in this guy’s hand. He is known to be somewhat of a bragger. He asked me if I had ever shot anything that big before. I told him I shoot 500’s and bigger all the time but mine are set off with a piece of flint. He said he used to do that and this really perked my ears up. I have found another fellow rock lock shooter. Well the story goes pretty south when he said he and his buddy shot flintlocks in the National 1000-yard competition matches. He told me he quit because he wasn’t very good at ranges more than 350 yards. I didn’t feel it was worth the effort to prolong this conversation so I made like I had some work to finish and left.
I got to thinking, later; I really don’t know all that much about flintlock competition so I come to the experts. There is not a 1000 yard flintlock match is there. I will be back at work next week sometime for a retirement party and he will be there.
EB

 

[longcruise]

Never heard of such a match.

 

[Zonie]

They hold the 1000 yard Flintlock competition every year on the range right next to the 700 yard slingshot competition match (No Whammo's allowed).
:rotf:

"...somewhat of a bragger..." is an understatement.
I wonder why some people try to BS folks? Truth be known, he probably has never even seen a Flintlock in person and wouldn't have the faintest idea about loading, priming and shooting one.

He undoubtedly shoots consistent 10X target scores at 100 yards with his .500 S&W too.

 

[larry wv]

What S&W 500 :bull: Larry Wv

 

[paulvallandigham]

I know of NO 1,000 yard flintlock rifle matches being held. Even with the Slug gun matches, the shooters usually build underhammer guns, with sealed ignition systems that use modern pistol primers to ignite large powder charges. to withstand the high pressure in the barrel required to send the large slugs that kind of distance. You do find some Side lock percussion rifles, replicas of guns used during the 1850s, and perhaps a bit before, being used in long range competition, but Not Flintlocks. These are bullet guns, not RB rifles.

I believe the reason you don't find long range matches for flintlocks is a function of historical timing: By the time conicals had their design problems worked out, and the ROT for best accuracy was developed for specific bullet guns, Percussion ignition was the reigning action type in use, and flintlocks were relegated to being either smooth bore muskets, or RB rifles.

There has probably been more work developing flintlock rifles that CAN accurately shoot conicals since 1945, when the resurgence in interest in BP rifles began, than at any time in the 19th century. You do hear occasionally of 200 yd matches for Flintlocks shooting RBs, but I have not been to such a match. I would be curious as to the loads these shooters use for that kind of distant shooting. Perhaps some member hear knows that information. If so, please send me a PT. Thank you.

Paul

 

[BrownBear]

What S&W 500 :bull: Larry Wv

I live in "The Land of the 500 S&W." Talking to my favorite gun salesman the other day, he said if even half the people that claimed to own them actually did, the model would be the only thing S&W had facilities to produce.

As for 1000 yard flintlocks? Dime a dozen in fantasy land.

 

[BadHorse]

y'all know that during the revolutionary war, general frazier (british) was picked off at the battle of saratoga at 800 yards right?

 

[Norinco]

Doesn't mean that the shooter can repeat that shot after shot.

 

[Stumpkiller]

World Creedmoor Association (WCA): Long Range Black Powder Rifle Match at Winnequah Gun Club, Lodi, Wisconsin USA; 14-19 September 2008.

The WCA extends invitations to individuals and teams representing any country from around the world to shoot in competition at the Winnequah Gun Club, Lodi, Wisconsin USA.

Individual matches will be shot over two days at 300,500,600,800,900and 1000 yards. A Long Range Team Match is then shot over the next two days with relays at 800 and 900 yards on the first day and at 1000 yards on the day after. The teams will be set up from among the registered shooters to represent individual countries.

Details about the 2008 World Creedmoor Long Range BP shoot can be obtained from within this website. The course of fire, rules of the competition and types of rifle and ammunition which are suitable for each match are listed here. We will also post additional information about the event on this website and particularly about registration ,range fees, local match rules, accommodation, entertainment, tourism, car hire and Federal and State regulations about transporting Firearms into the USA. We will set up reloading facilities at the range and we will sell powder, and primers.

Blackpowder . . . but percussion or cartridge. "Any pre-1900 pattern rifle" is allowable so you could show up with a flintlock and round balls.
http://worldcreedmoor.org/rules.html

 

[Larry Pletcher]

The longest round ball match at Friendsgip is the Gorning (sp). It is a bench match usually shot as Paul says with sealed ignitions, false muzzles, and large caliber patched balls. The longest flint bench matche is 100 yds, although flint bench guns are allowed in percussion matches - not the other way around.

The rest of the longer distance matches 300 and up are bullet guns either slug guns or Whitworth types mostly shooting .45 cal bullets either paper patch of grease groove.

I know of no flint round ball match that shoots farther than the 200 yd match mentioned above.

Just for fun, when I shot my LR bullet gun at Oak Ridge, the elevation in the rear sight raised my cheek off the stock. Many shooters had a built up stock because of this. Imagine how high the sight would have to be to launch a round ball to even try a 1000 yd shot.

Regards,
Pletch

 

[nchawkeye]

y'all know that during the revolutionary war, general frazier (british) was picked off at the battle of saratoga at 800 yards right?

I've heard 3-500, which I can believe as I've shot quite a bit out to 300...As far as 800 with a flintlock and roundball, nope don't believe it...In the words of General Hanger "As long as a good deliberate aim is taken at me"...

 

[bkovire]

i take it that this match is held every 4 years, and do you need a sponsor? could you pt me the info. thanks brian

 

[bkovire]

if it is the same one i'm thinking of it was by a Kentucky'n.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

y'all know that during the revolutionary war, general frazier (british) was picked off at the battle of saratoga at 800 yards right?

I thought the story was that he was shot 800 times. :haha:
As to the blow hard, I'd not be surprised to learn he doesn't even own a gun.

 

[bkovire]

most times they don't. thinking about gett'n a flint'r. replacing my current one.

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

Actually the range was 300 yards and Murphy got him on the third try. The longest round ball shot
in the Revolutionary War that I have read was made by Captain Ewald of the Jaegers during the siege of Charleston SC. It was right at 500 yards. he shot his own personal hunting rifle not an issued jaeger. The Hessian Jaegers liked shooting from mountain top to mountain top. It was not uncommon
For a Jaeger hunting rifle to have flip sights out to 400 yards. My reproduction 1776 Pistor Jaeger rifle has flip sights out to 300 and it was a crude issued gun compared to the personally owned hunting rifles used by the Jaegers at the first of the war.

 

[bkovire]

thank you, like to facts from fiction, and the CRP, club is at full house to night.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Considering the drag coefficient of a round ball, I don't think any hand held black powder fire arm will carry much more than 800 yards, at any elevation.
The next time I'm at the lake, I'll give it a try.
Old Ford

 

[Snakebite]

My longest shot when elk hunting with a flinter was just at 2 miles. The elk was on a ridge across a canyon, I seem to remember it was called something like "Grand Canyon". I had to pack rock salt between the ball and powder to salt the meat so it wouldn't spoil from the time I shot it to the time I got to it.
:bull: :bull: :bull:

 

[bkovire]

look up mil rifle 1772-1854, you will be shocked at the ranges smoke poles can go.