Where would you start?

[Dai.S.Loe]

I am just for interest sake going to pose the following hypothetical scenario.

I am an experienced BP pistol shooter who has gotten interested in BPCR.

I've bought the rifle,

I am experienced at loading BP cartridges for my pistols.

I have the moulds and all the equipment I need to start in the sport.

I've been shooting modern rifles at 100-300 yards.

Where would you go from here? How would you go about learning the inticasies of BPCR?

Come on people start talking. Equipment and such is all really great to talk about but what then?. Lets get down to the nitty gritty.

Look at the recent World muzzle loading champs in the UK. Those front stuffers were scoring 99/100 at distances from 900 yards to 1100 yards.

Lets talk techniques,

Breathing, sight aquisition, trigger control, windage, cross stick and rest usage, positional shooting, sight selection etc

Dai.

[Derby Younger]

Lot of info available. First objective read:

 http://groups.msn.com/BPCR

[Bristow Kid]

Well I would start right where I am starting.  Since its winter(I think) here in Iowa.  I am doing alot of reading.  When they start shooting in the spring I am gonna go watch and maybe see if I can find a pard to let me pump a couple of rounds down range to see what I think.  But I aint gonna buy anything till I have done alot of reading and watching.

[Advertising]

[Dai.S.Loe]

Well I would start right where I am starting.  Since its winter(I think) here in Iowa.  I am doing alot of reading.  When they start shooting in the spring I am gonna go watch and maybe see if I can find a pard to let me pump a couple of rounds down range to see what I think.  But I aint gonna buy anything till I have done alot of reading and watching.

Exactly what I am doing and why I have posted this

Dai.

[Bristow Kid]

I am glad you did Dai.  I am leaning toward something in the .45-.70 caliber.  But I do wanna shoot one first.

[Ed Clintwood]

I agree I'd have to observe and shoot first.  But that being said, I like the idea of a .50-90 (until I shoot one perhaps), I've heard good things about the .40-65 and you can get it in a Hi-wall.

[gw]

Dai---Do some of the reading and then "dive in" and start shooting! Doesn't matter if it's a silhouette shoot, buffalo shoot. long range or just a side match shoot, START SHOOTING!!!
What you will find is all the stuff you read will start to make more sense and you will learn what you need to do firsthand. The other important benefit is it will put you in close contact with other more experienced shooters---always good when you're learning the ropes. Make the most out of the shoots and do not be afraid to experiment with your loading and shooting techniques. Just get out and do it.

                                                                GW

By the way, how's that roller project coming?

[Dai.S.Loe]

GW,

Jumping right in as you suggest but just for this month I am sidelined. Motorbike accident damaged my shhoting shoulder. Gotta ta\ke it easy for a month.

The roller is comming along. Got tied up getting the woodwork.

Liked the woodwork and the price I saw on Pecatonica Long Arms site.

Maxed out my card so I gave cash to a mate so he could order it for me.

He keeps ringing and getting no answer.

Does anyone out there know this firm. They have a good reputation here.

AS it is I am sitting here with pieces just begging to be put together.

Been taking some photos lately, I'll publish soon so all can see my "baby"

Dai.

[gw]

Dai---I can see where my last post may have been a little too blunt, i didn't entirely mean it to be. However, when you do get your rifle together, get your brass in order and load some kind of rounds from the reading you,ve done, get out and shoot it. Don't expect much accuracy from these initial rounds-they're not yet fire-formed to the chamber and the barrel isn't broken in yet. Consider the first couple of hundred rounds as the finishing step in your rifle's assembly, after that, they will start to work as a team with you being the coach. Give yourself a year or longer to get "up to speed" with everything here involved and keep a good accurate log book for everything you load and shoot. Keep reading and trying different techniques to find out what works (or doesn't) for you and your rifle. Good luck!

                                                           GW

[Dai.S.Loe]

GW,

Your post wasnt too blunt.

In fact what you suggested is exactly how I enter into everything.

Running screaming with both feet first.

This Buffalo rifle thing is one of the few times I have had to wait and I am bursting at the seams to get started.

I have read so much and want to just start practicing.

Dai.

All your posts are gratefully received by me.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Dai;    I wish you good shooting!

[Horace Patootie]

Go here and read the technical articles and sign up to take BPCR news.

www.bpcr.net

www.longrangebpcr.com

https://protected.imoutdoorshosting.com/blackpowderspg/products_body.html#mag

regards,
Horace

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy Dai!

I shoot with GW and he's got a WEALTH of info locked up in his brain, and he's a patient teacher.

I learned this the hard way.  I saw some 405 gr Meister bullets, lubed with SPG, on sale from Midway a couple years ago.  I says to myself, "Jeff, (for indeed this is my name) you better jump on that deal.  With the SPG lube they'll be PERFECT for long range BP shooting."  I finally got to shoot some at a 100 yd range near home.  I wasn't overly impressed, but at least they were all on the 8.5X11" paper.  I've NEVER been a great precision shooter; I prefer combat type shooting.  So, what the heck.  I went to my first match and GW was running it.  We started @ 200 yds, went to 300, then finished @ 400 yds.  Basically, beyond 200 yds, I couldn't seem to hit the broad side of a LARGE barn!  At 400 Yds I somehow managed to accidentally hit 2 of 20 shots.  Something of an ego deflater!

Well GW was spotting for me, making helpful suggestions, and being all-around helpful to the newbie.  I asked if I could shoot a box of 20 rounds that I'd loaded with the same bullet, only I used IMR 4198 instead of 2F Goex.  He said "Sure."  I hit 18 of 20! At 400 yds!  I was shocked, to say the least!  GW looked at me and asked "Are those bullets Hard-cast or soft lead?"  "Hard-cast," I replied.  "There's your main problem" says GW.

The moral to this story is: iffn yer gonna shoot BP, get some good, soft (no harder than 20-1) boolits.  If you're going to shoot smokey-less powder, then hard lead will be just fine.