What the *&^#
 

I know I am new to this range stuff and muzzleloaders too. Every time I go to the range and start unloading my gear by the bench......I get the look! Anybody else get the look? Its the look that says....crap he has a muzzleloader. Its the look that says...hey move down to the end of the range. Anybody else get the look?

Now, I am not one to take things personally but it does get a little old.[:@]

RE: What the *&^#
 

Actually they are more fascinated by the kind of weapon you are using. You want some real looks, get out a flintlock. Also with a flintlock make sure no one is sitting too close to the vent side of the rifle anyway. They tend to throw a little fire out the side.

I like the fact I am different. :D

RE: What the *&^#
 

I get a lot of lookers seem they can't understand how I get clover leaf my groups with a flinter and iron sight,they are using centerfire rifle and scopes.
I do try to set -up so no one will shoot to my right seem sometime the flints will chip and hit the guy to my right .

RE: What the *&^#
 

I never shoot around people at the range. I try to go to the empty one so i dont have to wait for the dill holes that take 1 shot with a center fire, walk 200 yards to check it after just that ONE shot, come back, fire and do it all over again. And to top it off, its worse when you get a 70 year old man pullin that crap! But i also agree, i think they are just giving you the "amazed" look. I got that look a few times last september when i was hunting with my flintlock.

RE: What the *&^#
 

I haven't been able to take mine to the actual range yet but usually when I go I can manage to be there on a weekday morning when most everyone is at work so i have the entire campus to myself.

RE: What the *&^#
 

I don't have to worry with the target walkers. If our range is busy (about 10 tables) the range goes hot for about 20 minutes then cold for about 10. That allows for new turn over to get targets out or those that want to check targets to get out and back.

We have a real active small bore and large bore rifle leagues. the small bore guys seem to have the biggest problem with the muzzleloaders booming in their ears.....I can understand that....but the painful look on their faces.[X(]

RE: What the *&^#
 

You should see some of the looks I get when someone comes in to shoot and ask what targets you shooting and I say 300 yds and they will say what you shooting and I say a muzzleloader.

RE: What the *&^#
 

holy cow herman....I would have to sight in my spotting scope!

RE: What the *&^#
 

herman....what kind of drop is there at 300 yards and with what load?

RE: What the *&^#
 

I cant wait when someone comes up to me and asks me about my muzzloader.


Person "so what is that, a 45 or 50cal?"
Me"It is actually a 58cal"!
Person "WTF"??? They make a 58cal?

RE: What the *&^#
 

how much powder and size of slug do you load in that cannon?

RE: What the *&^#
 

" I saw the smoke, I knew it was you before I saw ya" is what the president of my gunclub remarked to me as we met on the range one day.:D

RE: What the *&^#
 

Doegirl75...do you have many shooting black powder at the club?

RE: What the *&^#
 

Got the look a few times, sometimes will try to pick a bench so smoke
doesn't move across the lanes. I think my target gets more looks than
my ML. County Range"Master" likes to accuse me of too much rapid fire or remind me of "NO SMOKING" on his range.

RE: What the *&^#
 

:DOnly the wife is allow to give me the LOOK :eek:. Any body else is asked to leave my property ASAP.

:)Al

RE: What the *&^#
 

My ML is a flintlock. It always gets "wtf"looks.Often times people willcome up and start asking all sorts of questions IE: "how come it has two triggers...?"

I don't mind it so long as it is during our range's "cease fire." I figure it is a good way to raise awareness in our sport, especially flintlocks.

I have had onlookers stand directly to the right of me while shooting-they are curious about the operation of the lock. I often wonder if they are thinking along the lines "is that thing really going to work...?" Having gotten dinged with plenty of hot .223 and 7.62 I always ask people to stand back a bit-it adds a bit to the mystique;)

MLs are fun, just be ready for looks and questions.

~Robert

RE: What the *&^#
 

Only took it personally 1x and that was in CA with a range officer that was full of himself. He took issue with where I stationed on the 50 yd range muttering about stink, smoke, ad nauseum and I took offense. Resutantly I called him on his attitude and he was about to bounce me when a friend that just happened to be a rock lock shootist and the senior range marshal at the range took offense with the younguns attitude and bounced HIM off the range...

Ive found more often than not, you give someone a chance to try what yer using you get less static in the long run from the balance of the folks nearby. Granted it takes time away from your shooting but ultimately it does create curiosity and sometimes a new shootist or 2 develops in the BP venue as the result...

D.

RE: What the *&^#
 

The only problem with people that take an interest in the traditional rifles or black powder rifles for that matter is.. when you shoot them you really need to pay attention to what you are doing. Other wise the rifle can be short loaded, or even misloaded. That is the time you see ramrods go down range. I have seen it.

I have found more mistakes people loading make when some one starts to question them or examine the stuff they have out in front of them. You need to concentrate and pay attention. While I like to share the experience, I would rather load the rifle (while they watch and stay quiet)and offer someone to take a shot or two with it. After which explain all that happen and then answer their questions.

RE: What the *&^#
 

At the range I frequent there are numerous people shooting ML's. Even though there are some sole bench rest shooters the vast majority are hunters so many take their ML's out for a ride.

RE: What the *&^#
 

With the load I shoot it is7.1 in low at 200 and26.8 in low at 300.
At 2440fps,with 250 sst.This was actually measured useing the cross hairs,but I use blistic dot type scopes,zeroed for 1,2 and 300 yds.It is a savage.Below is a few groups useing different powders.

RE: What the *&^#
 

When I lived in FL I used to go to a range just north of Miami. I'd take the flinter there sometimes. And yes, I got looks. But it was more of amazement than anything else. Most guys would be shooting AR type rifles or varmint rifles. I'd here a few chuckles every once in a while but that soon stopped when they got a look at the holes in the target.

RE: What the *&^#
 

Was trying to remember the last time I had shot a flintlock,must have been in the late 50's,cannot remember when the last time I saw someone hunt with one around here but that would have to be around the time we started haveing a season here.I can remember us haveing a first bow season and muzzleloader season but cannot remember the year.
Last year I saw 3 fellows shooting flintlocks at the range but this year so far have not seen any.2 were pretty good with them,(a man and his son) said he and his son had won some matches shooting them.I just set back and watched them.Was very interesting.

RE: What the *&^#
 

I never get looks cause I've never shot ML at a range. That's what the backyard is for!!!

RE: What the *&^#
 

I got lots of looks at the check in station when I brought in a Tom that killed with my 12 gauge smokepole.