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Long Range Muzzle Loading at Bisley (UK)

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ResearchPress

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This last weekend saw three days of long range muzzle loading at Bisley (UK), with a combined event by the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain and the Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB.

There was a 500 yard practice available on Friday morning and the afternoon was LRR Branch competition for the Volunteer Trophy. The match comprises 15 shoots fired at 600 yards with a muzzle loading military target rifle, generally in .45 cal. A military two point sling is the only permitted support. The match is a rare opportunity to compete using these rifles in their original form with open sights - many have later fitted aperture sights, but under the match conditions such sights not permitted. Original and reproduction rifles were used. Pictured below is a shooter with an original London Armoury Company Kerr rifle.

2022May-LRRVol02s.jpg


Stickledown Range at Bisley was the venue for the Branch 900 yard Championship for the B.C. Baker Trophy on Saturday 7 May. The match comprised 15 shots. Original rifles seen were Gibbs-Metford and Rigby muzzle loading match rifles. Reproductions were a mix of custom built rifles and the popular Pedersoli Gibbs. A slightly dull day, with bright spells and a shower as the first and second details were swapping around. The wind was variable enough to keep shooters entertained!

2022May-LRRBCB01s.jpg


The afternoon was set aside for 1000 yard practice.

Sunday was the MLAGB National 500 yard Rifle Championships. There are two events, one for muzzle loading target rifle and the other for Enfield rifle. The Enfield may not be the first rifle that springs to mind for long range target shooting, yet within Great Britain its use goes back to the origins of the National Rifle Assocaition (UK). The Volunteer Movement established in Great Britain in 1859 was the catalyst for a great interest in rifle shooting and marksmanship skills.

It was a good weekend of competition for me - winning the LRR 900 yard match, and winning the 500 yard MLAGB Enfield rifle match (and at the same time setting a new record score for the event).

David
 
Cool! What kind of groups are shot? Curious ...

MLAGB - The Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) was formed in 1952 and is the Governing Body for muzzle loading within the UK. Its objectives are to encourage an interest in muzzle loading firearms, to promote, regulate and safeguard their use and to preserve their freedom of collection.
 
'Double like' Been there done that if not to placing .My' got up' Spare Martini Henry barrel made into a' Military Match ' rifle wasn't quite up to The Gibbs Metford's but I did win the Lockerage Huppenbouer at 100 yards with it one year on' Short Siberia'. Then I sent it to Canada shot it one day in 46 below before my hands could no longer hold the stock & cap well enough .Took it down the Mosley/ Homathka River to Bute inlett ( British Columbia ) l loaded with a ball & just enough powder to knock off Spruce Grouse But confronted by an Amourous bull Moose made me doubt the wisdom of such loadings but I talked it out of it . .Did kill a Black Bear on the Canoe River allway's regretted it . Down here it just harvested Deer .& PL7s If I did shoot at 900 on Trentham Range one time. The Martini barrels are just not as up to purpose as the heavy barrelled 451 Full match . One I made was shot by Gordon Gerrard on Short Siberia & took the record score which may still hold .' The Poor mans full match' it was dubbed . Numrich plug , Hawkins arms NZ made , taper round barrel ' ,bar in wood Cawnpore made lock, & Enfield mounts but he made it talk .. I reckoned the 451s are to much overkill (on the shoulder ) at 100 yards so I made a 38 one in 18" Tony Hawkins NZ made barrel , knocked up from a reject trade musket blank as back action rebounder lock adding a Baker style trigger guard to answer for pistol grip and found it fine up to 600 yards on Diggle range . Iv'e mused on making one of the two trigger & gripped supine or prone Alex Henry style two position match rifle but there isn't the competitions here that I can reach so a muse it remains . But there is a 400 yards range Iv'e only recently been able to use so the 38 might get an airing one day. I was once at Friend ship on a no events day and wanted to shoot 50 yards but the maintainance man wanted to cut the grass he suggested I use the 25 yard range But I declined telling him" I can throw stones that far !".


PS You can run that for BP David if it suits you . Regards Rudyard
 
This last weekend saw three days of long range muzzle loading at Bisley (UK), with a combined event by the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain and the Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB.

There was a 500 yard practice available on Friday morning and the afternoon was LRR Branch competition for the Volunteer Trophy. The match comprises 15 shoots fired at 600 yards with a muzzle loading military target rifle, generally in .45 cal. A military two point sling is the only permitted support. The match is a rare opportunity to compete using these rifles in their original form with open sights - many have later fitted aperture sights, but under the match conditions such sights not permitted. Original and reproduction rifles were used. Pictured below is a shooter with an original London Armoury Company Kerr rifle.

View attachment 138641

Stickledown Range at Bisley was the venue for the Branch 900 yard Championship for the B.C. Baker Trophy on Saturday 7 May. The match comprised 15 shots. Original rifles seen were Gibbs-Metford and Rigby muzzle loading match rifles. Reproductions were a mix of custom built rifles and the popular Pedersoli Gibbs. A slightly dull day, with bright spells and a shower as the first and second details were swapping around. The wind was variable enough to keep shooters entertained!

View attachment 138642

The afternoon was set aside for 1000 yard practice.

Sunday was the MLAGB National 500 yard Rifle Championships. There are two events, one for muzzle loading target rifle and the other for Enfield rifle. The Enfield may not be the first rifle that springs to mind for long range target shooting, yet within Great Britain its use goes back to the origins of the National Rifle Assocaition (UK). The Volunteer Movement established in Great Britain in 1859 was the catalyst for a great interest in rifle shooting and marksmanship skills.

It was a good weekend of competition for me - winning the LRR 900 yard match, and winning the 500 yard MLAGB Enfield rifle match (and at the same time setting a new record score for the event).

David
Awesome. I would of loved to be there. Thanks for posting
 
Cool! What kind of groups are shot? Curious ...
Well at 900 yards I had 8 of my 15 shots inside the 4 ring that is 48" diameter. 13 shots were inside the 72" diameter 3 ring and a couple just out side it (Bull scores 5, then rings for 4, 3, 2, 1). At 500 yards and in 15 shots I had 14 shots inside about 30". Group sizes (and winning scores) can vary significantly from shoot to shoot - really depends so much on weather conditions. The measure of how well you have performed is really how your score compares with others on the day.

David
 
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Well at 900 yards I had 8 of my 15 shots inside the 4 ring that is 48" diameter. 13 shots were inside the 72" diameter 3 ring and a couple just out side it (Bull scores 5, then rings for 4, 3, 2, 1). At 500 yards and in 15 shots I had 14 shots inside about 30". Group sizes (and winning scores) can vary significantly from shoot to shoot - really depends so much on weather conditions. The measure of how well you have performed is really how your score compares with others on the day.

David
very impressive to me!
 
Received my squadding notice now for the next weekend of shooting at Bisley (UK), 10-12 June. We have a practice day on the Friday, shooting at 500 and 900 yards. These sessions are always useful - chance to evaluate changes in equipment / loads, or simply gain more experience in shooting under a variety of weather conditions. The Saturday is the Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB 1000 yard Championship. The match comprises 30 shots with muzzle loading match rifles. The MLAGB National 600 yard Rifle Championships conclude the weekend's events on the Sunday. There are matches for Enfield and match rifle - many shoot both events. Pictures are from the 2021 LRR 1000 yard Championship.

David

E9E8C674-21AF-4008-8BFB-98242CD07A94.jpeg
 
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Received my squadding notice now for the next weekend of shooting at Bisley (UK), 10-12 June. We have a practice day on the Friday, shooting at 500 and 900 yards. These sessions are always useful - chance to evaluate changes in equipment / loads, or simply gain more experience in shooting under a variety of weather conditions. The Saturday is the Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB 1000 yard Championship. The match comprises 30 shots with muzzle loading match rifles. The MLAGB National 600 yard Rifle Championships conclude the weekend's events on the Sunday. There are matches for Enfield and match rifle - many shoot both events. Pictures are from the 2021 LRR 1000 yard Championship.

David

View attachment 140903
Thanks for posting. Keep us posted.
 
Friday 10 June members of the Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB met at Bisley for a practice day, shooting at 500 and 900 yards. Testing wind conditions gave good opportunity for training.

LRR-202206-1000-lrr-s.jpg

The Branch 1000 yard Championship (above) is fired over two details (morning and afternoon) with a 30 shot course of fire. The bright sunshine on Bisley’s Stickledown Range on Saturday 11 June was from time to time broken by cloud, giving quite a varied sight picture. Additional variety was provided by the playful wind – gusting, dropping off, changing direction. On a positive side it remained dry! Long range muzzle loading is all about learning, and the day gave plenty of opportunity for that! I was very pleased with 3rd place in this match shooting an original Gibbs-Metford match rifle.

MLAGB-202206-600-mla-s.jpg

The following day was the MLAGB 600 yard rifle competitions. The testing wind conditions and light changes continued throughout the day, getting progressively more varied as the day wore on. The MLAGB have two competitions at 600 yards, one for Enfield rifles and the other for target rifles - each match comprising 3 sighting shots and 15 match shots. I never got to grips with conditions at all shooting target rifle and did not fare well. Enfield rifle on the other hand was much better and I won the match. All part of the joys of long range muzzle loading - sometimes things just don't go your way, but when they do it is a delight!

All shooting at 600 yards is prone with two point sling the only permitted support. At 1000 yards a wrist rest and / or sling can be used; the rifle cannot be placed on the rest.

David
 
Friday 10 June members of the Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB met at Bisley for a practice day, shooting at 500 and 900 yards. Testing wind conditions gave good opportunity for training.

View attachment 144226
The Branch 1000 yard Championship (above) is fired over two details (morning and afternoon) with a 30 shot course of fire. The bright sunshine on Bisley’s Stickledown Range on Saturday 11 June was from time to time broken by cloud, giving quite a varied sight picture. Additional variety was provided by the playful wind – gusting, dropping off, changing direction. On a positive side it remained dry! Long range muzzle loading is all about learning, and the day gave plenty of opportunity for that! I was very pleased with 3rd place in this match shooting an original Gibbs-Metford match rifle.

View attachment 144229
The following day was the MLAGB 600 yard rifle competitions. The testing wind conditions and light changes continued throughout the day, getting progressively more varied as the day wore on. The MLAGB have two competitions at 600 yards, one for Enfield rifles and the other for target rifles - each match comprising 3 sighting shots and 15 match shots. I never got to grips with conditions at all shooting target rifle and did not fare well. Enfield rifle on the other hand was much better and I won the match. All part of the joys of long range muzzle loading - sometimes things just don't go your way, but when they do it is a delight!

All shooting at 600 yards is prone with two point sling the only permitted support. At 1000 yards a wrist rest and / or sling can be used; the rifle cannot be placed on the rest.

David
Thanks for the report. Looks like a lot of fun and challenge.
 
David, thank you for your enthusiasm and tireless efforts to share match results and encourage more LRML shooters.
I continue to be amazed by what a good shot can do with the .577 Enfield and properly fitted bullet. I can't recall, but you are shooting an original with 1:48 twist, aren't you? If you would care to share powder charge, bullet mold, cleaning regimen I would certainly devour this information.
 
David, thank you for your enthusiasm and tireless efforts to share match results and encourage more LRML shooters.
I continue to be amazed by what a good shot can do with the .577 Enfield and properly fitted bullet. I can't recall, but you are shooting an original with 1:48 twist, aren't you? If you would care to share powder charge, bullet mold, cleaning regimen I would certainly devour this information.
Bill, yes I am shooting an original Birmingham made 'Enfield' Short Rifle - it has 5 groove rifling and 1 in 48 twist. I have an RCBS mould that casts a shallow based Mine (bullet pictured below). I'm currently using 80 grains of Swiss No. 4 (1.5Fg) - commonly when Enfield rifles are discussed load suggestions are lighter charges and finer grain powder, but few I think are regularly shooting distances greater than 100 yards. Lube is beeswax and olive oil and I don't clean between shots. Thanks for your interest.

David


bullet-rcbsminie.jpg
 
Any of this stuff filmed and posted to a YouTube channel. Only way I’d be even remotely able to view it.
Sorry, don't have any film. Something I'll have to do I think. I have a few more trips to Bisley this year so will start compiling some clips - although not back until August now, when we're shooting muzzle loading match rifle at 900, 1000, 1100 & 1200 yards 😁 Not always easy to make time film, as when not shooting we share duties as range officer or scorers.

David
 
Sorry, don't have any film. Something I'll have to do I think. I have a few more trips to Bisley this year so will start compiling some clips - although not back until August now, when we're shooting muzzle loading match rifle at 900, 1000, 1100 & 1200 yards 😁 Not always easy to make time film, as when not shooting we share duties as range officer or scorers.

David
I wish you could post videos on youtube. Thanks David
 
Bill, yes I am shooting an original Birmingham made 'Enfield' Short Rifle - it has 5 groove rifling and 1 in 48 twist. I have an RCBS mould that casts a shallow based Mine (bullet pictured below). I'm currently using 80 grains of Swiss No. 4 (1.5Fg) - commonly when Enfield rifles are discussed load suggestions are lighter charges and finer grain powder, but few I think are regularly shooting distances greater than 100 yards. Lube is beeswax and olive oil and I don't clean between shots. Thanks for your interest.

David


View attachment 145345
David - do you use the pucks (not sure what they're called) that fit into the bullet's hollow base?
 
David - do you use the pucks (not sure what they're called) that fit into the bullet's hollow base?
I don’t use base plugs in the Enfield bullet, the base cavity is too shallow for them to work. The bullet needs a deep base cavity for the tapered plug to move up into for it to be effective.

David
 

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