Turkey Shoot
Nov 23, 2020 08:57:08 #
Just in time for Thanksgiving. A1800's style Turkey Shoot. Everything from rifles of the period to smooth bore muskets. The turkey shoot was a civilian event. A time to gather for some friendly competition. No actual turkeys were used in this event. Targets were made of paper. In the 1800s that was not the case.
The normal way those shooting matches were conducted was to tie a live turkey behind several logs, with enough slack in the rope to allow the bird to move back and forth behind the obstruction, which was just high enough to hide all but the bird's head. The winner was the first person to hit the turkey in the head, with the prize being the bird itself. Anyone who has ever watched a turkey bob and bounce his head will know how difficult it must have been to connect with that fist sized, moving target at 50 yards!
The normal way those shooting matches were conducted was to tie a live turkey behind several logs, with enough slack in the rope to allow the bird to move back and forth behind the obstruction, which was just high enough to hide all but the bird's head. The winner was the first person to hit the turkey in the head, with the prize being the bird itself. Anyone who has ever watched a turkey bob and bounce his head will know how difficult it must have been to connect with that fist sized, moving target at 50 yards!
Target
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Waiting to shoot
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Nov 23, 2020 09:24:55 #
Years ago, while living in CT, my wife and I visited Old Sturbridge Village that had a similar event. Great fun! Thanks for the memory reminder! Nice shooting (no pun intended 😎).
Nov 23, 2020 09:29:30 #
Nice series. Shooting a round ball out of a smooth bore with any consistent degree of accuracy is both extremely difficult without a large amount of luck. Of course the rifled barrel changed history.
Nov 23, 2020 09:39:40 #
47greyfox wrote:
Years ago, while living in CT, my wife and I visited Old Sturbridge Village that had a similar event. Great fun! Thanks for the memory reminder! Nice shooting (no pun intended 😎).
Thank you greyfox. I actually shot these at the Village on this past Saturday. I usually compete but not this time. Thanks for looking.
Nov 23, 2020 13:59:46 #
Nov 23, 2020 14:12:54 #
Appy
Loc: Flint Hills (Ks)
Cool stuff. I have a 50 cal cap n ball open sight that is, within it's range, matchhead accurate. Also have some .45 flintlocks, but those can be fickle.
Black powder is a fun and informative pastime if you're into shooting. They also make for handsome looks on a wall.
Black powder is a fun and informative pastime if you're into shooting. They also make for handsome looks on a wall.
Nov 23, 2020 15:24:54 #
Nov 23, 2020 15:27:25 #
Appy wrote:
Cool stuff. I have a 50 cal cap n ball open sight that is, within it's range, matchhead accurate. Also have some .45 flintlocks, but those can be fickle.
Black powder is a fun and informative pastime if you're into shooting. They also make for handsome looks on a wall.
Black powder is a fun and informative pastime if you're into shooting. They also make for handsome looks on a wall.
Thanks for looking Appy. My weapon is the .75 cal British Short Land Pattern Musket aka the Brown Bess. Not the most accurate being a smooth bore.
Nov 23, 2020 16:17:43 #
Nov 23, 2020 16:27:34 #
Nov 23, 2020 18:32:22 #
I have built and shot .36, .45 and .54 caliber cap lock muzzle loader rifles. I even tried hunting with the .54 caliber in western Washington State. If you have lived in Washington in the Fall when hunting season is open you can imagine how well that worked. It didn't take me long to learn how difficult is is and how important it is to keep your powder dry in constant rain, mist, fog and any other kind of moisture inducing weather conditions.
Nov 23, 2020 19:24:35 #
Retired CPO wrote:
I have built and shot .36, .45 and .54 caliber cap lock muzzle loader rifles. I even tried hunting with the .54 caliber in western Washington State. If you have lived in Washington in the Fall when hunting season is open you can imagine how well that worked. It didn't take me long to learn how difficult is is and how important it is to keep your powder dry in constant rain, mist, fog and any other kind of moisture inducing weather conditions.
Nov 24, 2020 07:54:50 #
Nov 24, 2020 08:08:56 #
Nov 24, 2020 08:35:07 #
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