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A couple of years ago, I was trying to do some off-hand shooting with my Traditions Woodsman. I brought my support hand under the lock area so I could get my arm tight against my torso. But upon firing, my hand got hit with something coming out of the cap and it dissuaded me from ever shooting that way again. It wasn't bad. I don't remember it ever making a mark. But it certainly felt worse than sparks off an angle grinder. For off-hand shooting, how do you all hold your rifle? Is your support hand out on the fore-end like a shotgun or moving target? Or is it under the lock and just not getting any sort of spark from the cap? Do people wear gloves on their support hand? I see that some percussion rifles have a kind of cup under the nipple that might end up helping this problem. But my Woodsman doesn't have anything under the nipple other than a bit of the stock. I'm still pretty new to muzzleloading so forgive me if I'm missing something obvious.
 
When I shot a PH Enfield left handed with a short sleeved shirt, the cap flash burned my support wrist. In competition I wore a cut off sock to cover that area, even over my long-sleeved uniform shirt. However, a right handed shooter shooting a right handed cap lock should not have such issues. Have you considered a flash cup (a brass or copper plate mounted under your nipple)? I use one on my Plains rifle to protect the stock and my arm. Here is a link to one: FLASH-CUP-2 on Track of the Wolf.

ADK Bigfoot
 
That forearm is there for a reason, anyone who has ever shot at moving game or shouldered a gun in a hurry should know this. I shoot in the same style as I do when hunting.
 
A couple of years ago, I was trying to do some off-hand shooting with my Traditions Woodsman. I brought my support hand under the lock area so I could get my arm tight against my torso. But upon firing, my hand got hit with something coming out of the cap and it dissuaded me from ever shooting that way again. It wasn't bad. I don't remember it ever making a mark. But it certainly felt worse than sparks off an angle grinder. For off-hand shooting, how do you all hold your rifle? Is your support hand out on the fore-end like a shotgun or moving target? Or is it under the lock and just not getting any sort of spark from the cap? Do people wear gloves on their support hand? I see that some percussion rifles have a kind of cup under the nipple that might end up helping this problem. But my Woodsman doesn't have anything under the nipple other than a bit of the stock. I'm still pretty new to muzzleloading so forgive me if I'm missing something obvious.
A cup under the nipple should help as Dale said. Shoot flintlock and the cap fragments will be non existent. If you are worried about the flash, it goes horizontal. Most shoot using the forearm. I know one shooter who is always in the winning uses his non trigger arm almost fully extended. Don't know how he does it, but it really works for him.
Larry
 
Using a brass flash cups is an old thing. ....1960's......Use it. Why punish yourself. ??
As far as the military rifle hold of bracing the gun under the forearm , my estimation is the trapshooting hold is far better. That hold can immediately be transferred to all hunting applications where targets are moving or stationary. I shot competition offhand m/ling for a decade + , and few guys used the under forearm brace hold. Guess I better tell how the trap hold method works. Forearm held normally with left arm out pressing the gun into the shoulder. Right hand on wrist of gun and elbow extended at right angle to the gunstock. What this extension does , is it locks the shooter's cheek into the stock and prevents premature release of the sight picture. ..............oldwood
 
A couple of years ago, I was trying to do some off-hand shooting with my Traditions Woodsman. I brought my support hand under the lock area so I could get my arm tight against my torso. But upon firing, my hand got hit with something coming out of the cap and it dissuaded me from ever shooting that way again. It wasn't bad. I don't remember it ever making a mark. But it certainly felt worse than sparks off an angle grinder. For off-hand shooting, how do you all hold your rifle? Is your support hand out on the fore-end like a shotgun or moving target? Or is it under the lock and just not getting any sort of spark from the cap? Do people wear gloves on their support hand? I see that some percussion rifles have a kind of cup under the nipple that might end up helping this problem. But my Woodsman doesn't have anything under the nipple other than a bit of the stock. I'm still pretty new to muzzleloading so forgive me if I'm missing something obvious.
Patient - "HEY DOC - it hurts when I do this!"
DOC - "Well don't do that anymore!"
 
No issues with an 1842 Macon smoothbore in 69cal.

There are a set of universal fundamentals to shooting offhand. All are aimed at "settling" the body to steady the shot. In this pic, I've got my natural point of aim set. I shoot so much in competition I almost automatically step to the firing line in that angle. Next I mount the gun the same way each time. For me, it's the tucked elbow and grip just to the rear of the point of balance of the gun. Being just to the rear of the balance point helps dampen muzzle motion. That also means I'm not always in the same place for every gun I compete with. In this case, my smoothbore balances just forward of my left hand. Next, right arm is a straight line. Note wrist is straight to keep from torquing or canting the gun. Torquing/canting can lead to misses low to the left/right. My glasses have a blinder on the left side to prevent cap debris from the shooter to my left getting in my eye or causing distraction while I'm aiming.

2017111195140622.jpg



I was working with this kid during an instruction session at Scout camp a couple summers back. His stance was ok, but he would always lift his head as he pulled the trigger. A huge no no. As a result, he never quite got to the accuracy level we had the others at.
IMG_7158.JPG


And here's the proof. Look at the nonexistent cheek weld.
IMG_7140.JPG
 
Flash cups can be made with simple hand tools if you have the basic workshop setup, from sheet metal or what-have-you, so long as it is thin enough for the nipple that holds it in place can still thread in deeply enough to be safe and secure. As to shooting style, shooters can contort their body however it suits them, subject only to applicable range or match regulations.
 
I still have some powder or flint embedded in my left little finger from doing the same thing as OP the first time I shot my flinter. Just had to learn to curl my finger tips down, instead of leaving them up as I'd done for may years shooting 3p/4p with an unmentionable.
 
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