why no bench stuff?

[pacanis]

PS, What was the distance on the shot of the 2 spades?

50 yds.
The other three shots was shooting the heads off of pins.

 

[ResearchPress]

The long range matches were a completely different form of shooting based on military shooting of the time. There are rules regarding weight and other things and of course fired from the prone position.

In the UK Rifle Volunteer fired long range (generally not exceeding 600 yards) with military arms of bona fide Government pattern, much of their shooting was offhand or kneeling in the early years (1860's) of the NRA(UK). There was however an entirely different class open to 'All Comers' using 'Any Rifle' - rules limited weight to 10lb, sights were any description except telescope, and shooting from any position, but rests were not permitted. These Any Rifles matches were fired out to 1000 yards and were decidedly not based on military shooting. The class was there to encourage small arms development and was sometimes referred to at the time as 'scientific rifle shooting.' The rifles evolved from their initial military style, into highly specialised arms with half-stock, pistol grip, no ram rod, aperture sights, and were generally of smaller bore than the service rifle.

David

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

50 yds.
The other three shots was shooting the heads off of pins.

Excellent. Semper Fi.

 

[scottmc71]

Hopefully there's more interesting input to this thread.
Our club has monthly shoots that include bench matches 50 to 200yd. Most of the bench guns are "homemade " and really impressive.
I shoot a light bench gun and still consider myself a novice compared to the other members.
I would just like to find somewhere to buy or build my own heavy gun. It's not easily sourced that I know of. Our members help out when they can.

 

[Pete G]

You won't like this either!

You’re right . Reminds me of a boat paddle .

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

You’re right . Reminds me of a boat paddle .

Sort of does, doesn't it!

 

[BackDraft]

You won't like this either!

The ‘tail’ on that butt plate looks like an ER trip waiting to happen for the unprepared!

 

[Secesh]

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

Do you know the caliber and barrel dimensions?

That is a beautiful rifle gun!

I’m still working on getting my 2nd underhammer bench gun finished. Once I’m done I’ll have a round ball gun and conical gun. Both are built around an “Arkansas action”.

 

[pacanis]

Do you know the caliber and barrel dimensions?

That is a beautiful rifle gun!

I’m still working on getting my 2nd underhammer bench gun finished. Once I’m done I’ll have a round ball gun and conical gun. Both are built around an “Arkansas action”.

I'll probably be talking to him today. I'll try to remember to ask him.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

The ‘tail’ on that butt plate looks like an ER trip waiting to happen for the unprepared!

That isn't something you just slap against your shoulder and snap shoot. It sure helps you hold a gun offhand though when they weigh 13 to 15lbs. A palm rest helps too.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Not many post on any of the sites I follow on bench shooting. When I first started shooting Light bench and Cross sticks all I had was a .40 offhand rifle, Thats all I could afford. Amazingly the first cross stick match I shot I placed 3rd. I was hooked. I kept shooting with that little .40 and I regularly placed in the matches. took me a couple years to save up the money , round up the parts and build a rifle. Had a 1 inch .45 caliber Dixie gun works barrel. A Hawken half stock precarve, a storey mule ear lock, A cheap set trigger and a set of Lyman Sights. It only weighed 12 lb. so I was giving up some weight. My first time out with it I got my first win with a 50 and 5X's. Got a nice rotating trophy with the names of several old time Friendship shooters who had held that trophy over the years. It sits on my mantel today no one ever beat me for it. The picture is from the 1986 Levi Garret Indiana Territorial 100 yard AMS Cross Stick. I did have a set of Redfield sights at that time. My point, you don't have to spend a fortune to be competitive in Light Bench and Cross stick you just have to know your equipment.

That's a great target. I would frame and keep also. I shot X-sticks at Friendship many times but never placed. The competition is fierce.

 

[pacanis]

Do you know the caliber and barrel dimensions?

That is a beautiful rifle gun!

I’m still working on getting my 2nd underhammer bench gun finished. Once I’m done I’ll have a round ball gun and conical gun. Both are built around an “Arkansas action”.

He was going from memory...
But he said it was a 2" Rice barrel and Rice barrels are the best. He said it was either 36 or 38" long.
And it was 45 or 50 cal.

That's the best I could do without going over there with my tape measure

 

[Secesh]

He was going from memory...
But he said it was a 2" Rice barrel and Rice barrels are the best. He said it was either 36 or 38" long.
And it was 45 or 50 cal.

That's the best I could do without going over there with my tape measure

That’s a heavy rifle.

 

[LongWalker]

About 2003 or so, several of the guys in the group that later became the Nebraska Historical Armsmaking Guild decided they were too old for the up-and-down of the cross stick matches. They started some informal monthly bench matches. There was a mixed bag of originals and modern production, occasionally a picket rifle or slug rifle would show up but it was mostly heavy bench rifles shooting round ball at 100-200 yards.

Most of those guys have passed away now, but I hear there are still matches being held most months somewhere north of Omaha. When we were trying to put together a group to host the Territorials for this year, there were several people asking if there would be bench matches.

 

[pacanis]

That’s a heavy rifle.

He's got 2" barrels on a few of his ML's. I have to pay attention when he hands me one to check out.
I'll send you some pics privately.

 

[nkbj]

Bench shooting is loads of fun. Was more fun when my eyes were better.
My kind of bench shooting was always for how good can I shoot a rifle that's made for stand up off hand until getting a fast twist .52 bore heavy 38" long barrel.

 

[Secesh]

I belonged to a couple local muzzle loading clubs years ago, we always had a 100 yard bench shoot and there were a couple gentlemen who used antique, purpose built bench rifles. I would shoot against them but I wasn’t any serious threat. Now, I wish I had taken more interest back then with the true bench rifles.

 

[Chris West]

Last week here in Oregon, we just had the Western States Muzzle Loading Association's Championship and the NMLRA Oregon Territorial. There were several heavy bench gun shooters including me and my wife. Our gun club in Sherwood, OR - Tri-County Gun Club also has several heavy bench matches and aggregates during the year. Last week, the wife beat all the men in the Oregon Territorial Bench Rest Aggregate, winning three of the four matches too. I still had to clean her guns (bench and offhand) each day, but she has been shooting with me for 23 years is it is worth it!

 

[Secesh]

I’ve been working on getting a patched ball rifle built but have had some issues with physical ailments that continue to affect the progress of my build. I intend to have a 14 lb. rifle that will qualify in patched ball, light bench matches and use it in the heavy bench matches if I want. Waiting on my barrel right now. If everything goes as planned I’ll have a patched ball barrel and a bullet gun barrel to use on one action.

 

[Rudyard]

Ken Bersin(sp) from upstate NY was a well known builder and competitor.

Would that be Kenny Bresine ? He was a capable barrel maker up in N Central New York or more finger lakes region .I made a smooth bore snap matchlock & the owner Richard Hise had Kenny rifle it for him as he thought it better for hunting .He was a very good patron but I Lost contact with him (Richard) .I once shot a bench gun at Friendship but was never into bench beyound that .Never had a vehicle to carry that size of gun .
Regards to all Bench shooters . Rudyard