Sighting in today.
 

I decided on the way out to shoot a cold clean shot at 150. I had the sighting somewhat done last time and I wanted to test that. So off the bench I shot this one.



I wish I could say it was nothing but skill but I would be fibbing. The next two were 3" to the right. I went back to 200 yards and that is where I had trouble. The truck was sitting on it's side on a side hill and I was having a b-hooch of a time getting my $hit together. I realized that because of the steepness of the hill I was resting the butt of the gun on the tailgate. That was causing my shots to be erratic. I got that straightened out and I shot these two shots back to back.




I wanted to get off that hill so I moved back to 250 yards. I ran out of room on the range there. I set the sight and it was close. I shot again and I wish I could say it was skill but I can't, not at that range. It was lucky but those two are at the bottom. I adjusted the sight up a few clicks and the higher one circled was it.




I had to call it quits, My shoulder had enough and the wind was starting to kick up. My next session I will shoot a cold clean shot at 200 but I need to find a different place. That side hill stunk. Then I will verify the 250 height and shoot a little closer. If all goes well I can start practicing with the shooting sticks at various yardages. That will be more of hunting practice than target. Ron

Ron, do you have some sort of cover on the bed of your truck, or an open bed?

With the kind of shooting you do you should have an open bed with a shooting bench in it facing out the rear. Point the rear of the truck at the target, climb aboard the bench, and fire away.

Looks like your off to a very good start. That's a long poke without a scope . Keep us posted

This is not the gun I was shooting I just wanted to show, this is how I set up "bench" For level ground it works well but that hill I was on was the $hits. I need to find a different place to shoot but everything is so dry here I have to go to the gravel pit or risk setting the desert on fire.
I found a spot to get to 300 but I will have to shoot over the top of some interesting terrain to make it happen. Walking down to the target will be a chore.

I agree that is a long poke for a peep. I would never shoot at an animal that was not wounded at that kid of range. I only sight in at that range in case something stupid happens and I need to try to clean up a problem. On a wounded animal I wold try to get another bullet in it at any range but for the first shot I like under 150. Ron

Spoken like a true sportsman!! Ron...have you ever considered build a shooting table (bench) with adjustable legs for uneven terrain?

BPS

I have to transport it about 8 miles. It would be too hard to do a lot more transporting. The target, the sandbags, and the bucket take up all my room under the wooden flat top on the bed of the truck. The areas we are allowed to shoot is getting less and less every day. The areas that are safe to shoot with a muzzleloader because of risk of fire are even less. Ron

The photo captured two different ways to sight rifles, when one does it on all kind of terrain, and in all kind of weather. The cheap work bench isn't the best, but it has allowed us to shoot pop cans out over 400 yard, and a milk jug out over 1/4 mile. The 'window rest' allows one to sight a rifle in the rain, snow, cold, and on muddy, or hilly ground.

amazing shooting for open sights.

I couldn't do that with the stock Lyman 17aml globe inserts. I am not bashing them!!
I am saying that there is no way to shoot over 100 yards because they are just not fine enough. At 250 yards I can put the Lee Shavers insert on this target and I can see paper on all 4 sides. 300 yards covers it up. The Lee Shavers inserts make all the difference and they fit right into the Lyman.

Ron why don't you have a scope on your gun? Is it prohibited in your area during ML season?

For "Muzzleloader only" hunts we can not have a scope. That is why I don't have one on my MK 85. We can use a scope on "short RANGE WEAPON HUNTS".
We also can only use #11 caps, and all lead bullets 0.010" of the bore diameter. We have other restrictive rules but the muzzleloader only hunts are a lot of the time real good hunts. Ron

Most would be happy with those results with a scope at 100 yards, 250 yards with peep sights is just plain natural talent or a lot of years practicing. Good shooting, and please pass along any tips you may have that lead you to your success.

Thanks, I have posted a lot about putting the rifles together and the paper patched bullets. If if you search for my posts you should find all the info I have posted on it or google idahoron. If not I would be glad to answer any questions. Ron

I wish Virginia would have a primitive hunting season. As of now I i want to hunt this way, I have to do it on my own. I would like to see a late season primitive hunt here. that would be great. As of now a friend and I will take our FL ML out during ML season this year. I have a Great Plains FL and it is a nice PRB shooter.

rafsob,

Is that a Civil War era sword hanging on the wall to the left behind the rifle?

BPS

Yes it is.

Good eye!!!

Did it belong to a family member/ancestor? Just curious...

BPS