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Maximize your Flintlock Rifle Hunt Setup

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Got my trusty flintlock rifle right? Flintlocks, despite all the movies that show them firing each and every time, need to be attended to in order to maximize the odds that the rifle will fire the charge in the barrel and send the round ball on its way.

I bought into that trusty stuff. Seeing a beautiful Longrifle can do that.

I have fired perhaps 60 rounds from my Lancaster Flintlock and a number of times the either the priming powder did not go off or when it did, the main charge did not. This was mostly my fault.

Since my rifle is new, it is likely my own newness too that needs adjustment.

Research on the internet has lots of advice. What I have done is located several sites that espouse the same things in the set-up of your lock in the deer woods. You only have one real chance to ensure the rifle fires and send the bullet on its way.

1. Keep your lock clean and lubricated.

2. Ensure your flint is tight in the clamp, clean and sharp and even (parallel) with the frizzen. If not you must knap the flint face with a brass rod to sharpen it and make it parallel with the frizzen face. If your leather wrap on the flint is too thick then the leather will absorb energy. Many, including me now use a lead wrap that you can hammer out of a lead round ball. The lead will conform to the flint and hold it in place just as the leather does but will not absorb the hammer energy. This delivers more energy of the flint to strike the frizzen and more sparks result.

On an empty gun, I observe the sparks from the flint to see that they are sent to the powder pan in quantity.

3. The rifle, most flintlock hunters say, needs to be shot just before the hunt and swabbed once without lubrication, maybe a little spit on a cleaning patch.  This is like shooting with a seasoned barrel and the bullet will not encounter lubricant which can change the point of impact.

4. Use a pin to clean the touchhole shaft after you load a round.

5. Don’t over fill the clean pan with powder.

If you shoot to practice it is wise to run a spit cleaning patch after every shot. I have just adopted this clean after each shot method and I like it.

And you can end up shooting like this shot below at a paper deer at 50 yards. I used a large post like tree in the woods to brace the rifle. See the 50 cal Round Ball hole dead center in the lungs just above the heart. The other holes are from different caliber rifles in a previous year. I will try to use a  monopod or bi-pod to shoot or find a good tree to brace.

This image of a deer was about 75% of life size. I do recommend buying these paper archery targets of deer and shooting them with no bullseye to focus on. I think that 40 to 50 yards is my limit without a bi-pod. This is the most common shooting distance encountered here in Northern New England and New Hampshire.

Good Shooting!

© 2017

To Shoot a Charging Bear with a S&W Model 69 in 44 Magnum?

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Have you practiced hitting  a 3 inch ball (the size of a bears brain) coming at you, undulating up and down at 20 miles an hour? I took some shots yesterday with the Smith & Wesson Model 69 Combat 44 magnum at just a  stationary target and I could only get one bullet, the first shot, in the kill zone out of 5 shots. See Video below.

But that was just initial practice. Serious practice with a moving target over time would be best. And you or I might reach the conclusion that we are not up for that task.

I saw a video where someone used a 1911 pistol in 45 ACP place more than one bullet in the brain kill zone however the 45 ACP is not Brown Bear medicine and would not likely penetrate the skull before the bear reached your body.

Brown bear experts suggest that a 12 gauge shotgun with slugs and 00 buckshot are best in brown bear country.

But on black bear here in New England the S&W Model 69 for general use on deer in regular gun season or bear is just fine say for an archery bear hunt where the bear is climbing the tree you are in and you want more protection than spray repellent.

So where does that leave us in our testing with the SW Model 69 Combat Magnum? I like the confidence I feel with a pistol in 44 Magnum on my hip and will share more on my carry of it in the deer woods this fall.

Note: during deer Muzzleloader or Bow season, you must have “license to carry permit with you” in addition to your muzzleloader/archery license or leave your pistol home.

Open Carry it during “regular”gun season if you like but if concealed under a jacket you need a “conceal carry permit”. When in doubt call NH F&G to get any questions answered before hitting the woods. Unless you have a conceal carry permit, you must unload your pistol while in a vehicle just like your rifle or shotgun. Bone up on pistol laws.

Be Safe! Good Shooting!

 

Thompson/Center’s World of Muzzleloading Series 2 Now on YouTube

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:

Matt Spafford, Smith & Wesson Corp.

1-844-772-5159

media@smith-wesson.com

 

Thompson/Center Arms™ releases “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” on YouTube

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., (September 11, 2017)– Thompson/Center Arms today announced that it has released it’s new “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” instructional videos on YouTube, hosted by Gregg Ritz of Outdoor Channel’s Hunt Masters. Updated for 2017, the “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” YouTube series provides current techniques, product recommendations and insights to help educate viewers on how to hunt safely in the field using today’s muzzleloaders.

 

Gregg Ritz of Outdoor Channel’s Hunt Masters, said, “For the last three decades, I have been pursuing big game around the world with a muzzleloader and have fired countless rounds at the range. A large portion of my hunting career has been spent using a muzzleloader and I am excited to be able to share my knowledge of the sport to help both new and experienced hunters enhance their skillset with a muzzleloader.  The “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” provides tips and techniques for those new to the sport, as well as plenty of refresher knowledge for experienced muzzleloading enthusiasts.”

 

Thompson/Center Arms has been known as America’s Master Gunmaker® since 1967 and has been producing muzzleloaders since 1970. Thompson/Center Arms manufactures a diverse line of muzzleloaders suitable for every level of shooter, ranging from the affordable T/C® Impact!™ to the premium T/C Encore® Pro Hunter XT™.

 

Danielle Sanville, Brand Manager for Thompson/Center Arms, said, “Thompson/Center has a long history of innovation in the firearms industry and our products have been trusted by hunters across North America for over 50 years. The “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” was designed to help those looking to get involved in the sport, as well as to offer tips and tricks to those who are experienced with a muzzleloader and looking to hone their skills. We hope this video series helps inspire our customers to get out and enjoy the sport of muzzleloading.”

 

To view Thompson/Center’s “World of Muzzleloading Series 2” videos, click here.

 

For more information, follow Thompson/Center Arms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, or visit the website at www.tcarms.com.

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Corp. is a provider of quality firearms for personal protection, target shooting and hunting in the global consumer and professional markets. Smith & Wesson is world famous for its handguns and long guns sold under the Smith & Wesson®, Performance Center®, M&P®, Thompson/Center Arms™, and Gemtech® brands.  Through its Manufacturing Services Division, Smith & Wesson Corp. also provides forging, machining, and precision plastic injection molding services to a wide variety of consumer goods companies. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

 

Flood Victims Deal with Their Submerged Ammunition -SAAMI Responds

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Thanks to the NSSF – National Shooting Sports Foundation I share a  link they provided:

http://www3.nssf.org/share/pdf/SAAMI-Ammunition_Exposed_to_Water.pdf

An Excerpt from the PDF above.

“Regarding ammunition that has been submerged in water for any period of time, there are too many variables that would need to be considered such as the cartridge type (e.g., rimfire, shotshell, centerfire rifle, centerfire handgun); depth of the water; length of time the cartridges were submerged; are the primers on the cartridges sealed providing some degree of water resistance? what contaminates may have been in the water that might affect the powder charge or priming compound? and many others. ”

In short, the Sporting Arms and Manufacturing Institute, Inc. does not recommend use of ammo submerged in flooded areas and to dispose of it by contacting your local law enforcement office.

 

Recoil is a Large Factor in a New Rifle Purchase for Most Hunters

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There is no way I’m gonna buy that rifle. It is gonna beat my shoulder to death! Heard that before? Yes, it is a common lament. Going into a purchase, the buyer should have an idea of what is tolerable and what is not for deer hunting.  Most rifles for deer hunting weigh in 6 to 7 lb class w/o scope and larger calibers up to 8 and 9 pounds. I think 7 to 8 pounds is ideal for a typical hunter to  carry in the deer woods. A scope will add just a pound.

Shooting a prospective rifle at a bench rest is not the real way to gauge tolerance of recoil.  If you have an opportunity to test a rifle at the range for hunting, shoot it in a standing position at shorter ranges of say 25 to 50 yards. If you want to bench rest it, ok but get a shoulder pad or a jacket to absorb some energy. Better yet get a Simms SVL  Simms Vibration Laboratory slip-on pad or a Pachmayr Decelerator or similar slip on pad that will cut recoil in half and make your shooting a much more pleasant experience. The bench rest locks your shoulder into the rifle with little ability for your body to sway and absorb the recoil.

A recoil calculator is helpful in seeing the recoil of your perspective caliber purchase. http://www.shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php

I shoot an African 375 Ruger full power load 260 grain head traveling at 2650 fps with a Pachmayr decelerator pad, standing and in my t-shirt. No Problem! Not only does the pad reduce felt recoil by 50% but your vertical body will sway with the recoil and absorb even more. At the bench I use a decelerator or Simms pad too. This is a level of intelligent shooting that anyone can do! You just have to understand that and make it happen each time you shoot. Your conscious brain wants to shoot but your sub-conscious protective brain is ready to flinch if the recoil is severe and painful. By practice you can teach your sub-conscious brain to trust the conscious side by adding protective pads etc. Years ago I had a flinch but it has been gone for years because I understand and protect my shoulder all the time.

So go ahead and buy a adequate rifle that has a measured amount of recoil but get the recoil reducing pads with it and train your brain.

Good Shooting!

© 2017

 

 

Ruger Precision Rifle -Safety Bulletin

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Ruger has issued a Product Safety Bulletin for certain Ruger Precision Rifles due to the potential for interference between the aluminum bolt shroud and the cocking piece (also known as the firing pin back). Although only a small percentage of rifles appear to be affected and we are not aware of any injuries, Ruger is firmly committed to safety and is offering replacement aluminum bolt shrouds for affected rifles in order to eliminate the possibility of such interference. View Safety Bulletin PDF

 Or go to the website https://ruger.com/dataProcess/rprSafety/
where there is a short video.

Newfoundland Cod Jigging with a Hand Line…and More

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Back from a week of vacation in Newfoundland where the cod are so plentiful that our boat with three fishermen jigged up our boat limit of 15 fish (five fish each) in just 30 minutes of jigging with hand lines on August 2, 2017.

In the video’s below I am fishing off Fort Point Lighthouse in Trinity, Newfoundland with boat Captain Mike Hogarth of Trinity East and his Son Michael. His lovely wife is taking expert video with my IPAD, my apologies to her, as I did not record her name.  The cod jigs were banging into the school of fish on the way down to the 60 foot bottom and we sometimes hooked the fish in the side on the up side of the jigging.

 

Part of the story here, I’ve discovered, is about the high quality of the fish when they feed on their main diet of capelin, a sought after small school fish eaten by Newfoundlander’s and prized by the Japanese for its fish roe in sushi. It is essential for these cod to feed on the capelin to maintain the pure very high quality of its flesh. The capelin came in mid July a month later than usual and brought the wales too who feed prolifically on them.

My wife Susan and I  stayed in a small village called Jamestown at a family owned home on Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. My father-in-law built a second story walk around on the house that can see miles across the bay. Not too shabby,eh!

A view from the upper deck!

I purchase a vacuum food sealer to freeze our catch and take back home. On the return trip to Boston, US Custom’s agents in Halifax held all our luggage for further inspection of my Styrofoam cooler and frozen fish to ensure that was all that was in there. I feared for the fish but we received it still frozen more than a day later.

Fish and Chips at its very best!

I did try to Trout fish in the local ponds but the trout were not biting.

We did see a young cow moose in our travels but she did not like getting her picture taken and sauntered into the woods.

Got to love the Great Outdoors!

© Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

Savage 12 Palma in Mid Range Prone F T/R Match by Jason Hale

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Since I’ve started long range competition, I’ve been exploring ways that our readers may enter the sport at a reasonable cost, of course you can select your hunting rifle in your safe, but if you become serious, the modifications will start.  Enter the Savage Precision Target Rifle Line.  We reached out to Savage and requested the 12 Palma due to it’s unique stock configuration and caliber choice.  Most of the Precision Target Actions (PTA) have a screw spacing of 4.41″, however the 12 Palma has a screw spacing of 3.44″, the reason for which I am not sure.

To learn about Palma Rifle competition Click Here!

All PTA’s accept large shank barrels from your favorite Savage pre-fit barrel supplier.  What I really liked about this configuration was the adjustable stock and 3-way adjustable butt-plate.  See below for some stats on the rifle.

Savage 12 Palma Match Rifle

One thing you’ll notice right away is the odd twist rate of 1:13″.  This twist rate is indicative of the intended bullet that was intended to be used, 155-156gr bullets.  As soon as I received the rifle, I quickly picked up a rail for it and mounted the 7-42X55mm Gold Ring Leupold Competition Scope & Shade we are testing (Outstanding Scope) and ordered some 155.5gr Fullbore bullets from Berger. I recognize that this was not the set up that the rifle was designed for, but the purpose of testing was to determine accuracy potential of the rifle. You can tell that this was really meant for iron sights as you can see the front sight cut near the muzzle of the rifle so that you can clamp-on front sight tubes.  In the pictures below, you’ll also see the 3-way adjustable butt-plate which is fantastic for customizing the fit of the rifle to a specific shooter.  It can be adjusted for length of pull, cant, and height.  I made some minor adjustments to the cant and height, and left it there.  I could have spent more time on tuning the stock, but didn’t.

Once the bullets came in, I took inventory of the powders that I had on hand and selected IMR 4166 which is supposed to be temperature insensitive much like Hodgdon Varget and got to putting some test loads together.

Following a break in process, the rifle immediately demonstrated it’s accuracy potential.  Being limited for time, I settled on a load of 45 gr of IMR-4166 with a COAL of 2.800″ which was limited by the Palma Chamber, which has a very short throat.  See the group shot below.  Not bad at all for an afternoons work.

In all fairness, if this was my rifle I would have spent more time tuning to reduce Standard Deviation and Extreme Spread of velocities, but given the limited distance (600 yards), vertical dispersion would not be as bad as longer distances.  Wind would be more of a challenge.

The day of the Mid-Range Prone match, I was excited to take the rifle out and see what it could do.  I knew that with good loads, it would likely out shoot me, which is a good thing.  The prone match included 3 strings of fire at 300, 500, and 600 yards, with 15 rounds for record with unlimited sighters at each distance.  The wind picked up during the day peaking with 10 mph switching winds during my 500 yard string after settling into a more predictable rhythm for my 600 yard string.  Overall I was pleased with the day, but was a bit frustrated during the 500 yard string being behind on some wind calls that cost me more points than I wanted.  I was only one of two F T/R shooters there, the other being a good friend and great shooter Barbara Lamb, she only dropped 3 out of a possible 450 points for the day, which is fantastic.

Barbara Lamb scoring for me, while Art Lamb (in line for saint-hood, in my mind) was graciously scoring for all on our target.

My scores were 143-0X (300), 131-0X (500), and 144-2X (600), with an aggregate of 418-2X.  The rifle shot great for the little time I put into load development.  I am sure that I could have done more tuning, but in the end I needed more time on the rifle to improve.

One thing I can say, is that if the other rifles in the Savage 12 PTA series shoot similarly, you can’t deny the value, considering the cost of most custom F-Class rigs being between $3000 and $5000, or more even.  Great bang for your buck.  If you’re interested in a quick and relatively inexpensive upgrade that can be further modified easily in the future, check out Savage’s M12 Precision Target Action line.  If you want to start from the ground up and build one, you can purchase an action from Northland Shooters Supply. I’ve done plenty of business with Jim; they’re awesome!

Shoot Straight and Shoot Often!

See you at the range!

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Do You Carry?

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Second Amendment Friends,

I have been a Second Amendment Advocate all of my adult life. I am an armed citizen ready to protect my family if a life threatening situation occurs. If you carry a firearm every day in public, it is wise to consider the NRA Carry Guard or similar program offered by USCCA’s Self Defense Shield.

I received an email from Wayne LaPierre, President of the NRA today offering a free aftermath guide. I signed up for one. Please take time to study what best suits your needs. There is information on the internet that can help decide.

I know many who have carried for some time but never had to use deadly force in a life threatening situation, thank goodness. It is life changing.

Check your email and study up on it.