A Black Powder Christmas Eve

[Legionnaire]

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.

 

[Busyhands94]

That sounds fantastic! All I did today was pop off some .22s and spend some time with the family. It was fun though! Merry Christmas!

 

[huntsman247]

Sounds like everyone had a great time! Happy Holidays to all

 

[scrat]

very nice.

 

[Beauhooligan]

Other than exchanging presents with my Mom, the only person I do so with is my next door neighbor Cipriano. He has always driven Japanese cars, and his tools are all metric. Recently he bought a used Chevy Impala for his son and needs US inch tools. I bought him what he needs most, a set of Craftsman 3/8" drive deep sockets and a set of the same brand end wrenches, from 3/8" to 1". We exchanged presents today, as he will be at his son's house tomorrow. He bought me a large revolver presentation box from Cabela's. It looks like this closed...


It looks like this open, with my stainless '58s in it.



My Mom surprised me at dinner with these jewels...



The first is the 1970 version of Monte Walsh with Lee Marvin and Jack Palance, in one of Jack's few good guy roles. The book is a combination of Gone To Texas with The Vengeance Trail Of Josey Wales by Forrest Carter. The first is the basis for the Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josey Wales. The Vengeance Trail Of Josey Wales chronicles Wales return from Texas to Missouri, and you can imagine the rest. Next is Charles Portis' True Grit, which has been made into two films with John Wayne's Oscar award winning performance in the first and Jeff Bridges in the second. The last book is Glendon Swarthout's1975 book The Shootist, which was made into a film that starred John Wayne in his last performance on screen. My Mom may be on the high side of 82, but she listens when I talk, and understands how to match my tastes to perfection. Grand old Gal.

 

[Skinny 1950]

Try loading a Pocket Colt .31 in the cold but it is good to have range time with folks that you love. Merry Christmas

 

[Legionnaire]

Nice, Beauhooligan! A couple of those titles are currently on my Amazon wish list. Nice case, too!

 

[V1ROT8]

What a wonderful tradition Legionnaire. Merry Christmas to you all.

 

[mic214]

What a great way to spend Christmas......!