Henry Rifle Forums

After I snap a pic for a range report I usually just discard the targets or use them to start the woodstove.

Might keep this one.

At the range this morning, 28F and no wind at all when I arrived. Ideal conditions. Shooting my Frontier long rifle again, 55 grains Triple 7 2F, .490 patched ball. Off hand, standing and 50 yds. The backboard is new about a week ago and only some .22 holes in it so I was scratching my head for a few minutes when I walked out to see where my shots went. I heard a thump with the first one but not much with the other 2? It's a big sheet of plywood so there's no way I missed it???

Check it out....3 in the same hole on this 3" target. I could not believe it.



Should have quit then and gone home but wanted to keep shooting. By the time I reloaded and was ready again, the wind came rushing down the slopes and it was 30-40 mph gusts after that for the rest of the session. So I put up a 6" target and worked away at 50 yds as well. Just shows you how hard it is to keep that long barrel steady fighting that darn wind. Clipped the edges on a few and got close buT nothing like the first one.



Anyhow, cleaned the rifle when I got home and will try again next week. Thanks for traveling back with me to the early 1800's...Shoot safe, RR.

you might want to consider framing that first target and hanging it on the wall ..

Nice shooting wish I could even come close to that. Seems to me maybe that makin smoke might be more frequent than the smokeless guns. Any truth to that

What smokeless guns?

You folks that encouraged me to shoot BP created a monster.

I knew you wouldnt like it

I have already been talking with the gun club about hosting a rendezvous sometime when extended flu season is over. No forests there, it's wide open so those tents better be tied down....we'll see might not be that much of an appetite for it around here. I don't see anybody shooting BP at the range yet or looking like they just stepped out of a frosty DeLorean from 1800...

Ill come shoot with ya. Soon as they let me outa the border jail

That's a wall hanger for sure, RR. No kidding, I'd have it framed.

You know, I did mess with BP rifles some years back and of all of them, I liked that Frontier the best. I loved the balance and the way that long barrel steadied, but, alas, the rifle was just too heavy for little old me. Did have a TC Seneca for awhile. Now that was one sweet handling rifle.

I'm starting to not like you.......... shooting so well

Ha....sorry about that. Seriously though there might be something to shooting in all weather. I shoot year round, in fact was at the range Dec thru Feb in temps from -20 to +20 with snow, wind and everything else. Wife thinks I am nuts but I quite enjoy the solitude (one reason I like cowboying). But the point is, I think you really get to know your rifle(s) and what you have to do to get it done. Don't get me wrong, I shoot lots of flyers too but I am nothing if not persistent. It takes me one or two to get dialed in most days but at my age I don't beat myself up about it. I LOVE to shoot. Plus I am loner enough to try to transport myself into the period as much as possible and that might help a little too. Helps me connect I guess. Anyhow, that's about as philosophical as I get.

Don't overthink stuff and just shoot.

RanchRoper wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:42 pm

Don't overthink stuff and just shoot.

AMEN ..

RR you must be as steady as a 100 yr. old big oak!!! Amazing concentration that must take in the cold weather!

All those years trailing cows in winter I guess.

Wow! Good shooting.
The only way I could get a target like that would be to put peanut butter on the center and let a mouse eat it.

One other key point you didnt address in your philosophy is something I said along time ago. I admire the fact that you dont have many guns. And what you do have is all the same caliber. We all know each gun is different. Trying to remember where a dozen different guns shoot isnt something I can do. But one or two and shoot them often you are bound to be a better shot. Beware of the man who owns only one gun because he will know how to shoot it. I wish I would of had the restraint you have had through the years. My hats off to you for being able to do that.

I think it would stress me out to have a bunch of guns I couldn't get time to shoot much. Think I'm at my limit now, if I add another it will be a flintlock. But that's about it.

Flintlock would be nice to have with no need to hunt for caps/primers! When is it coming RR?

The only issue is real BP is not easy to get. Many hours driving. Triple 7 will work in barrel but need 4f BP for the pan.

If I do go flintlock it would be later this year. Actually the model I have would be cool in flintlock version.

But if I can shoots caps until I am 85 think I’m doing well.