why no bench stuff?

[Rifleman1776]

Been on this forum for quite a while now. I do not recall ever seeing posts about heavy barrel bench rest shooting or slug guns. I'll even betcha most here do not even know what slug guns are. Now, neither is my personal 'thing'. And, I have to admit most bench and slug shooters are personalities very different than most offhand/primitive/hunting shooting enthusiasts. Personally, I have competed in bench and light bench (rifle under 14 lbs.) with offhand rifles. Most times I got skunked severely but a couple times I actually won against the heavy barreled bench guys. Question is, why do we not see discussions about these classes of ml shooting here?

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Probably only shot at big shoots like Friendship. AND, it takes a purpose-built gun to be competitive. From what I have seen here that ain't going to happen.
I shoot heavy guns off the bench all the time, but they are breechloading schuetzen rifles, not muzzleloaders.

 

[Grenadier1758]

From time-to-time posts about the bench guns, slug guns appear. These are seldom encountered. My gun club does have one regular "Bench Match" a year. We also try to have a couple of Over-the-Log type Chunk Gun Matches which use the same heavy barreled guns. Chunk guns are usually round ball guns. Most of the heavy bench guns tend to be long range conical bullet shooting guns. It's not one of the traditional shooting types that I participate. Just don't relish dealing woth these 30 to 40 pound guns.

 

[mushka]

There just isn't enough interest on this board on that kind of shooting, or guns.

 

[pacanis]

I think the more I talk about shooting my ML's, the more my friend wants to get one of his out.
If/when it happens, I'll be sure to post about it.
Here's one he built for the bench.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

That's nice. I though it was a Ballard breechloader at first glance.

 

[pacanis]

He;s got 3-4 heavy barrel long guns in his ML collection. All percussion.

 

[necchi]

Question is, why do we not see discussions about these classes of ml shooting here?

I think it's just that guys that are into that level of shooting, are simply share on different forums with more focus towards bench,

 

[Blitz]

I think the more I talk about shooting my ML's, the more my friend wants to get one of his out.
If/when it happens, I'll be sure to post about it.
Here's one he built for the bench.
View attachment 236297

 

[52Bore]

Canal Fulton & Friendship are all I can recall for big Slug Guns.. Most of the old shooters were machinist and have passed away. Webb Terry (RIP) was always great to talk to, he shared info openly - many did not.
Not very practical for sporting use with a 30-50# ML -IMO, other than a ballistic instrument..

 

[Blitz]

Beautiful rifle.
However the cheekpiece does not appeal to me at all
Now form follows fucftion and that is just my personal predjuice, beautiful non the less.

Blitz

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Beautiful rifle.
However the cheekpiece does not appeal to me at all
Now form follows fucftion and that is just my personal predjuice, beautiful non the less.

Blitz

You won't like this either!

 

[longcruise]

@ResearchPress is a member here and is involved in long range Muzzle Loading.

 

[waksupi]

Probably the same reason I got out of cartridge rifle bench competition. All in all, it's boring as hell.

 

[Grenadier1758]

It's only boring if you are talking about it. It's not so boring while you are shooting, but writing about it is even worse than talking about bench rest shooting.

 

[maillemaker]

I like the anti-tank guns, too.

 

[pacanis]

It's not so boring while you are shooting

+1 to that.
My buddy took me out shooting a few weeks ago with one of his BR guns he just built and it was the most fun I've had shooting five shots.
Here was two of the shots.

 

[Kmcmichael]

I have a close friend that shoots bench. His moniker on here is Rabbit something. He only shoots at Brady now. Tis a big under hammer gun.

 

[Kmcmichael]

That's nice. I though it was a Ballard breechloader at first glance.

Petersons gun shop in Albuquerque had a ton of Ballards at one time. I got the back room tour, being infamous and all.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

I've been shooting original slug and picket rifles for 30 years, and post about it here from time to time. Not much interest in such things with this group, but I still post.

Here is a video from a match at Canal Fulton OH. Rifle built by H.V. Perry in 1885. Still shoots great when I do my part.