How did they do it?
 

I have been centerfire rifle hunting for three years now (I started only three years ago) and have been fairly successful. I decided to hunt with a ML this coming season and have been practicing with my newly aquired inline. I really aint as good of a shot as I though before when I used a scope and centerfire. Today I was doing good to keep three in five inches at 60 yards. I never have these issue with my 06 or magnum. How did the hunters of old shoot accuratly and at long distances with flintlock ML's with open sites? I need to practice. EJ

RE: How did they do it?
 

Your last line nails it, practice. Getting to know your rifle and the sighting system is the key to accuracy along with consistency in all aspects of its use. One thing you may want to consider though is a peep sight. A peep gives you a sense of a scope (round sight picture) while maintaining the non magnified simplicity of an iron sight. Many old Sharps, etc. had long range peep style sights available.

RE: How did they do it?
 

yeah, lots of practice and lots of shooting. Have to experiment with more/less powder, different powder charges and such. Even the way you hold the rifle in your hands.

RE: How did they do it?
 

work up the best most accurate load for your rifle you can develope. After that it is a matter of practice and and learning what the rifle will do.

RE: How did they do it?
 

Like all have stated, lots of practice. I cast my ownmilli-balls so my expense is just powder and primers so I shoot lots (don't know why but love the smell of pyrodex). When comparing shooting my ML to my rifles, there is that split second between primer and charge going off. It was more when I was using my sidelock compared to my inline but it is still there. Really concentrate holding position after the trigger is squeezed.

RE: How did they do it?
 

That used to happen to me when i was trying out remington kleanbore primers. You'd hear the cap and see the sparks and then the rifle would go off. Just a split second.

RE: How did they do it?
 

IMO the best way to shoot better is simple. Buy a lever action 22 LR. Put an adjustable rear peep on the rifle. Then Shoot, Shoot, Shoot. Practice is the key. Any 22LR will do. I just find the lever to be more fun. Tom.

RE: How did they do it?
 

EJPaul:

I have to agree with the others...practice. Keep records, make changes one at a timeand compare results

I have found that with my flinters sights, I shoot high and right, but that is using a bench. Standing of course changes all of that.

Thankfully the practice is fun!

Best of luck,
~Robert

RE: How did they do it?
 

Seeing you are from CO. you have to use conicals and not all in-lines can shoot them. You have to keep shooting until you find the right combo.
That might not be possible with a rifle designed for sabots.
RC

RE: How did they do it?
 

Which rifle were you shooting?

RE: How did they do it?
 

I was shooting the traditions yukon. I dont think it is the gun, but rather the lousy shooter operating the gun. I dont like admiting that, but the truth hurts! The powerbelts seemed to act the most uniform. Those great plains conicals didnt seem to shoot as well 2 weeks ago. EJ

RE: How did they do it?
 

Seen a few peep sights mounted to the tang that would do the trick. The Soule sights one sees on Sharps can run into mega $$$ real quick. Seem to recall that a Montana Vintage sights run anywhere from $300-500 for the tang portion only.

http://www.montanavintagearms.com

iffen yer that interested in somthing good out to around 1500 yds.

Its still possible to pick up a tang mount "hunting" peep after the old Marbles-Williams design from Brownells for a whole lot less, like maybe $175+.

Even with that it'll still take a fair bit of practice...

Keep yer powder dry,
D.

RE: How did they do it?
 

I have the Lyman 57GPR on my Lyman and so far it is very accurate. The first day out with it I shot a 3 shot group at 75 yards that measured .28 inches center to center using 460NE's and 70gr of 777 3F. I haven't had a chance to shoot it in the last 2 months due to being out of town.

The 57 is a nice sight but not much use at the ranges your mentioning above. It works well for shots out to 200 or so yards depending on the load you use. New they cost well under $100 so they are much more afordable than what you were quoting.

RE: How did they do it?
 

When your life depended on your shooting skills you knew your riflebetter than you knew your woman!