Muzzleloader Online Shoot - Trail Walk Shoot. Who wants in?

Smokepole

Smokepole

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
86   0   0
Location
B.C.- Central Interior
In an effort to stir up some interest in the blackpowder forums and to dispell the late winter doledrums, I'm wondering who would be interested in participating in an online, or postal style traditional muzzleloader event? I'm thinking of a fur trade era - scenario style shoot. Each participant would receive instructions to set up and shoot a variety of novelty targets representing different instances where a trapper might fire his gun, like a hunting scenario, or an attack by hostiles or wild animal. Somewhere between five and ten stations could be shot in an afternoon. Each shooting station will remain secret until the previous station is finished. The event could be shot with any traditional sidelock, (or underhammer) style muzzleloader with open sights. The ranges should not excede about 40yrds (most a lot less) and can be shot anywhere that is safe and legal that allows the shooting of novelty targets. The entire match will be shot in one day. Each shooter will place his own targets and keep his own scores. The match will be set up so that shooting is only part of the scoring system, so greenhorns will be able to compete with the old greybeards.

In the spirit of the rendyvous, I would like to see a blanket prize style entry and award to the shooters. In other words, each participant will offer up a prize as an entry fee, the winners in decending order, starting with the highest score, can choose from the 'blanket' the prize they would like, excluding their own. Everyone takes home something. It would be the participant's responsibility to ship the prize to the person who has chosen/won it. Winning will not be based on shooting ability alone, so any skill level can compete.

I'm getting all the details worked out, so this thread has been started to brainstorm and discuss the possibility and judge the type of response to the idea. Leave a message here if you would like to enter in the contest and send me a PM to ensure you a spot in the shoot. I can see a maximum of about 12 shooters. Participants must be dedicated, as it will take a few weeks to get this set up and a few more to complete the match. Actual shooting will take place on a single day of your choosing. There may be a small fee ($5 should cover it) to cover the cost of printing targets, supplies and postage for mail outs to the shooters.

An official thread will be started if I see enough interest in this idea to go ahead. I can imagine a thread filled with pictures of blanket prizes and shooting setups, target results and maybe even some traditional gear and guns. Also some good natured heckling and comradery.

Mods - I've looked through the rules on the board and I don't see a problem, but please let me know if there is.
 
Last edited:
To answer a few questions:

Traditional costume or period correct gear is not required, other than a traditional style rifle.

I will offer to host the shoot, but I won't compete, as the scoring system would favour someone who already knew what the unknown sealed dispatches are. I'll get to shoot the events while I engineer and test the shooting stations, but I won't post my score...

A blanket prize is your entry fee, and should be something that any participant in the shoot could use, possibly home crafted (if you got skills... lol), muzzleloader related or period correct goods. As for value - thats part of what makes a blanket prize interesting, anything useful and worth $10 or more... and the better an item one can donate, the more exciting the competition. Let your imagination be your guide. If you handcraft accsesories for the frontstuffers, that would be great. Touchhole pics, patch knives, leather goods - W.H.Y.? How about those three tubes of Borebutter you got on sale, or the .50 cal barrel you were going to build a rifle around but never got to it? Intersting used goods that a mountainman might need, like those old leghold traps the missus has been nagging you to get rid of, or that handfull of HBC trade beads. A blanket prize is limited only by the imagination and resorces of the donor.
Things to stay away from are caliber specfic things, like 100 - .54 cal balls, or things that would be difficult to ship, like 20lbs of pure lead. It will be you responsibility to mail out the prize to the shooter who chooses it at the end of the shoot.

Novelty targets: Some targets will be supplied in the information packet and others will be supplied from readily available goods you can gather yourself, like an egg or a 1 litre pop bottle.
 
Last edited:
Smokepole - I guess I shoulda bought your TC 45cal on EE when it was up. My Knight inline and Savage smokeless just won't do for this kind of fun. Maybe some day I'll get an old timey capper or flinter. Sounds like a good idea for those with the right equipment.
 
OK, here is an update:

I've been working on a scenario based on the journey of Alexander Mackenzie and the expedition to find the Northwest Passage in 1793. The shooter in this match will take on the persona of a young scout/hunter who works with Mackenzie and his crew of ten men from Fort Chipewyan. The match will be based around factual parts of the journey, with a bit of artistic licence granted to make an interesting shoot. Historicaly, the journey was packed with adventure and dangers, including events like capsized canoes and attacks from hostile natives. Eventually the crew had to abandon the canoes and make their way on foot down the 'grease trail'. It was a trade route used by natives to carry goods between the coastal people, Bella Coolas and the central interior bands of Carrier, Chilcotan and Sekani. As the expedition traveled, their native guides abandonded them and new guides had to be bartered for. This led to trade sessions with the friendly villages the men encountered. Mackenzie reported noticing British and American coins, steel tools and glass beads amongst the natives belongings, and took it to be a sign that indeed, the Pacific and the trade that occoured there, couldn't be far off. After locating the Pacific, the expedition literally had to flee back into the mountains to avoid angry Bella Coola natives. They were angry after an unpleasant encounter with Captain Vancouver's men who had explored and mapped the coast a few weeks earlier on their maritime voyage on the Discovery.

The match will be set up to reflect some of the hardships encountered by Mackenzie's men.
The shooter will be mailed out a packet with some targets and other items. Each of 8 or 10 shooting stations will have an envelope that is to be opened when the shooter is ready and on the fireing line. The envelope will contain instructions to set up the target and shoot the single station, as well as scoring instructions. Scores can be added to, or subtracted from, depending on the outcome of the shoot and points will be awarded for things other than shooting, Handicaps will be levied for certain actions during the course. When each station is complete, the shooter will open another 'dispatch' envelope and follow the instructions. All the stations will be shot on a single day. The score will be tallied and submitted. Winners will have first choice of the blanket prizes, and everyone will get a chance to take home something.
As for a timeline - I would like to see the shoot take place in early spring.
 
Last edited:
I have a couple people signed up for this unique style online shoot.
I would like to see a few more get involved, so if you are thinking about it and haven't contacted me yet, plaese PM me.

The actual shoot will take place on a day of your choosing in the spring. It can be shot anywhere you can safely and legaly shoot at novelty targets. Maximum range needed will be about 40 yards.
 
I'm in, I can also get more of my friends to get involved as well. Do they need to get in contact with you as well? What about family members that are not gunnut members? Royce
 
yes you can count me in too although i'm still just learning how to load and shoot that old renagade of mine . My guess is that me and Royce might go to the range together and hopfully he gives me some tips
 
Ok everyone, here is the list of who's in - updated:

nessy357
bdft
Crooked Barrel Jed
Manwithbeers
flinchlock
royce
vetchcreekcaddis
cooner
cooterdog
Deadeye Doug
rrcarr

Almost the maximum number of shooters (limit is 12) signed on for this event already. If your name is not on the list and you want to be part of this shoot, contact me by PM. One spot left.

Shooters - start thinking about your blanket prize entry. It might be a good idea to get your item photographed, as I will ask everyone to post a photo of their schwag, before the shoot begins.
 
Last edited:
If anyone in the lower mainland is planning on shooting this event I'd be interested in coming out to see some old style percussion or flintlock muzzleloader shooting.

Don't have one yet but if there's a blackpowder muzzle loading community in these parts I'd be pretty enthused about picking up a rifle and pistol and joining the fun.
 
UPDATE:
At this point I have ten shooters signed up, so it looks like we should have the maximum of twelve by the time we are ready to shoot.
Next week I will get PMs out to everyone with some basic information and a request for your $5 entry fee.
I have the shoot roughed out. It looks like it will be fun. There are eight shooting stations, each representing an event in the day of a young hunter/scout with Alexander Mackenzie on the quest for a Northwest Passage.
Time wise, I would like to see the actual shooting take place in April. That gives everyone a few weeks to get those blanket prizes worked on and photographed.
 
Update:
Next week, I will start an official thread for the event, then we can abandon this one to the archives. In the new thread I will give an outline of the shoot and we can share some pictures, etc.
Everyone should be taking pictures of their blanket prizes. I'm going to ask everyone to send me a picture of your blanket prize before we start the shoot. I'm going to put all the blanket prize pictures into one posting to keep it neat and aid in the prize choices later. Other than that, the thread is open to posting pictures, etc..
I'm sure we would like to hear about the guns everyone will be using. If anyone plans on donning traditional gear for the shoot, some pictures would be nice! In fact, there might be a few points awarded towards your end score for posting a picture or two of your shoot in the thread (thats a strong hint!). In this shoot you will be awarded, or have points deducted, for all kinds of things not related to your score on target... (here comes another hint to gain a few points on your score) so be sure to pack your shooting bag and kit well. You will need a 'bag' to shoot from, rather than a range box. If you don't have a traditional bag, a fanny-pack or haversack will do. The shoot will be scenario style, so you must carry on your person everything you will need for the event. Keep in mind you will be taking on the persona of a young hunter/scout with the Alexander Mackenzie expedition. Extra points will be awarded for your preparedness. In order to 'stay alive' and finish the shoot, you may have to improvise, or make do with what you have.

Apart from your shooting supplies, there will be several items you will be required to gather for the shoot. Along with the items you will be sent out in the packet, these things will form your 'Target Bag' to put together the actual targets for the shoot. Several of the items required are: two dowels, or sticks about 4' long to place targets on, a roll of tape (duct, packing, electrician, etc.) three 1l pop bottles for targets and a couple of raw eggs... Also, a length of string or cord, 40 yards in length with a knot tied every ten yards. A nail, to drive into the ground, or a weight should be tied to one end. The string will be used to measure the distance to your targets.

The shoot is written, I need to print the instruction pages and a few targets. I will mail out the packets to everyone near the end of March, so the shooting can take place in April.
I have filled the 12 positions in this shoot. Most of the notes you fellows mailed me have arrived, thanks. If you haven't sent me your entry fee, send me a PM.


Well, that should give everyone something to do for a few evenings. I will get to the printing. Watch for the official thread sometime next week. Get to work on those blanket prizes and get the pictures ready.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom