Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Christmas Eve. My daughter and son-in-law are in from out of town for the weekend, and another daughter's boyfriend was here for the day before heading home to his folks' place for Christmas on Sunday. So what to do?
Well, the two men and the unmarried daughter wanted to go to the range. So off we went with the Lyman Trade Rifle and both Walkers. It was cold, but that didn't dampen spirits ... at least not for a while.
We started out on the rifle range and set a target backer up at 50 yards--four six-inch bulleye targets. Everybody took turns loading and firing the flintlock ... patched round balls over 85 grains of GOEX FFg ... and everybody shot groups (three or four shots) under four inches centered on the targets ... and everybody was grinning despite the cold. I'm happy, because I know the sights are on for PA's late muzzleloader season, which starts the day after Christmas.
It was cold! So we warmed up in the clubhouse for a while before heading over to the pistol range and the Walkers. Again, everybody took turns learning to load and shoot. We were shooting mild loads: 35 grains FFFg, lubed wad, and .454 balls. Capping was a pain; I need to get a better capper. And it was hard to cap just with fingers due to the cold. But everyone loaded and shot at least one cylinder. Then I loaded up a couple of chambers with 55 grains and let the daughter light them up, just to see and feel the difference. Big grin!
We figure all told we shot less than 50 rounds in about two and a half hours. I just finished cleaning the guns. Next time, I'll let each of them take a gun, and then show them how to clean them!
Anyway, great Christmas Eve spent with family, doing what we love to do. May your holiday be as fun! Merry Christmas to all.
Well, the two men and the unmarried daughter wanted to go to the range. So off we went with the Lyman Trade Rifle and both Walkers. It was cold, but that didn't dampen spirits ... at least not for a while.
We started out on the rifle range and set a target backer up at 50 yards--four six-inch bulleye targets. Everybody took turns loading and firing the flintlock ... patched round balls over 85 grains of GOEX FFg ... and everybody shot groups (three or four shots) under four inches centered on the targets ... and everybody was grinning despite the cold. I'm happy, because I know the sights are on for PA's late muzzleloader season, which starts the day after Christmas.
It was cold! So we warmed up in the clubhouse for a while before heading over to the pistol range and the Walkers. Again, everybody took turns learning to load and shoot. We were shooting mild loads: 35 grains FFFg, lubed wad, and .454 balls. Capping was a pain; I need to get a better capper. And it was hard to cap just with fingers due to the cold. But everyone loaded and shot at least one cylinder. Then I loaded up a couple of chambers with 55 grains and let the daughter light them up, just to see and feel the difference. Big grin!
We figure all told we shot less than 50 rounds in about two and a half hours. I just finished cleaning the guns. Next time, I'll let each of them take a gun, and then show them how to clean them!
Anyway, great Christmas Eve spent with family, doing what we love to do. May your holiday be as fun! Merry Christmas to all.