Ft LaMotte CHUNK GUN Shoot.

[Armored farmer]

Ft Lamotte Rangers are hosting their annual "CHUNK GUN MATCH" this Saturday, May 20th at 10am.

Anyone willing to drive to Palestine, IL and compete is guaranteed a prize.
You are also guaranteed to meet a bunch of eccentric old coots that can really shoot!
You are also likely to see some beautiful custom rifles.

 

[Armored farmer]

A beautiful day in SE Illinois. We had a great match! I didn't count the competitors but there were over a dozen....maybe 15?
It took about four hours to shoot our ten targets including a lunch break of coney dogs and chips. I supplied the traditional fried chicken liver appetizers. It's a tradition among our club members.
I shot my original family heirloom .40cal percussion dating g back to pre 1850s.


Several custom rifles were in the mix including this flinter.

One of the shooters just touched off his flinter....



Most of the shooters are kneeling before their targets as if in prayer to the paper gods.....







A great time was had by all , and a big thanks to the organizers and the volunteers at the scoring table.

The traditional meat prizes (smoked pork chops) were awarded to the top three scores. All the other competitors received 1lb of hamburger. It's tradition!
I'm already looking forward to next time.

 

[Appalachiannative]

What are the requirements for your rifle? Any flint or percussion gun or more to it than that?

 

[Armored farmer]

Not much requirements for the rifle other than the sights. Traditional open sights only. Shades are allowed.
No sandbags.
No thumbhole....no inlines.....think traditional.
Based on tbe Alvin York style match.

 

[Armored farmer]

Just to put an ending to the '23 Chunk Gun match at Ft LaMotte, here is the trophy I won*

Mrs Farmer and I enjoying homemade pizza made from tbe hamburger.

The club's meat trophies are the best type. You fully use them and enjoy them with no clutter to dust around or some little trinket that you don't need.
I think I will buy meat prizes for my annual Cabin Fever match next March.

 

[Pete453]

Chunk gun shooting is some nice, relaxing shooting. I haven't shot it in quite a while, it hasn't been popular around my area in quite some time. That's too bad, it's a good time

 

[Appalachiannative]

So for the chunk guns it seems to be big long heavy rifles below .50 that most of you guys favor?

 

[Armored farmer]

So for the chunk guns it seems to be big long heavy rifles below .50 that most of you guys favor?

Yes.
It seems most guys are shooting. 40 or .45.

 

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Armored farmer,

I remember one time at Rendezvous,
a couple of young girls decided to try to make a pizza in a Dutch Oven.
It was delicious, and didn't last very long.

AntiqueSledMan.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Yes.
It seems most guys are shooting. 40 or .45.

I believe I saw a custom built chunk gun for $700 at a pawn shop a few months ago. It was about 5 ft long over all .45 flintlock. Had some initial engraved on it not much else I remember

 

[Armored farmer]

So.e of the big competitors use rifles so long that they stand on a stool to load them.

 

[Appalachiannative]

I thought about buying it. Seemed to be quality built