MUZZLE LOADER SHOOT

The Muzzle Loader Shoot is held on the second Saturday of each month.  Firearms must be of the traditional style—that is, not in-line—and can be either old guns or reproductions.  Many shooters have built their own guns from kits or from scratch.   Targets may be paper or metal “clangers”.  We usually have a chili feed after the shoot.

Matches are usually shot with a rifle, but at times there are other events or a challenge between participants to do their best with a trade gun (smoothbore flintlock long gun) or pistols.  Once each year in April an event called The Bull of the Woods is held where participants come with rifle, pistol, shotgun, tomahawk and throwing knife, and fire starting flint and steel for the “ultimate challenge”.  In all seriousness, many come to this match just for one or two events and to watch the others. 

Participants include men, women, and youngsters.  You sometimes find that the adult with whom you are participating started out as a youth who came with parents or grandparents and thought this was great fun and they still come.  We have very casual shooters who participate as just one other form of shooting sports; we have hunters who go out during the muzzle loader season; we have people who attend one or more rendezvous each year and go all out for the primitive camping and gear—it takes all kinds.   Many participants dress in buckskins or other primitive clothing, but it is not a requirement.

The Muzzle Loader Shoot is sometimes held at a site other than Four Corners.  It is a function of The Willamette Longrifles, a club within the Club and for a ridiculously low fee you can join and receive the Longrifles’ newsletter with more information about black powder shooting in our area.  If you would like to come and participate or just observe be sure to check the schedule.  Visitors can enjoy lunch with us, ask questions, and almost certainly have several offers to try shooting black powder firearms of several types.

 

BLACK POWDER CARTRIDGE

 

The Black Powder Cartridge Shoot is held on the first Saturday of the month, directly after the Hunter Rifle Shoot.  This shoot is for cartridge rifles using black powder and lead bullets, such as (but not limited to) the Sharps, Remington rolling block, Springfield trapdoor, Winchester high wall and low wall, originals or reproductions.  Most participants cast their own bullets and load their own shells.  

 

Targets may be paper in various configurations, or steel silhouettes of various shapes and sizes.   Range varies from 100 to 200 yards.  Visitors and newcomers are very welcome.  Shooters are always glad to share their knowledge.  If you don’t have an appropriate rifle but would like to try one out to see what it’s all about, participants usually have a few extra shells that they will let someone try out in one of theirs.