Spring Fling 2010

[Long-Shot]

Well, as you might have noticed, I have a new name. SabotLoader gave it to me yesterday at the "Spring Fling" in Orofino, ID. The first shoot of the year and my personal first shoot. I got that name not only because of my background as a scout/sniper, but because I can actually hit everything with some distance! Targets that are close up (within 50 yds) I cant seem to hit. So "Long Shot" became my "mountain" name.

The shoot was good, met some very nice and interesting people. Found out that my hammer spring on my Renegade was bad, too weak to put the force necessary on the cap to make it pop.

We set off up the hill to shoot at different stations and I quickly found out that I was not up to snuff on the close range targets. Probably 90% of them. Sabotloader did really well (I'l let him tell you more about his day). But once I got up to the long range ones, I could almost close my eyes and pull the trigger and still hear a "bing!"

On paper, I totally missed the tie breaker card. Wont go there. But on the 5-spot paper target I did really well! I dont get it.

All in all, I had a great time (even though I didnt get up enough points to even be considered for competition), Coulnt actually compete anyway, we didnt shoot pistols and knives and hawks. I still had fun, got my "feet wet," looking forward to the Troy, OR Rondy. Hopefully buy then I will know exactly where my rifle will be hitting at both long range and short range.

Out at the farm, I can hit clays all day at various ranges... using a bench. I think that might have been part of my problem!

 

[sabotloader]

Spring Fling....

The Lolo Trail Muzzeloaders have their annual 'Spring Fling' shoot the second weekend of April each year and for me it is a great great way to start the ML year. It is not a full fledged Rondy, but a gathering their club and any others that want to come up and shoot in the area the Lewis and Clark traversed. It is timed, I think, to coincide with the coming of spring and the melting of the snow in the higher country just above the Clearwater River. They got it right this year, for the most part the snow was gone this year. The last 2 years they had not checked mther natures schedule and there was plenty of snow still lying around. It was a great event with some really nice people.

I had invited Long Shot along to the event because he has got himself so hooked on shooting his Renegade and I thought he might enjoy it. I go to this event to shoot rifles, I do not take part in the hawk and Knife events nor the pistol shooting... but both of those events captured Long Shot - I think he may go into this deeper and deeper and work on becoming a Mountain Man... He is now trying to figure out how to get one of those 54 cal pistols to go along with his 54 cal Renegade - you could just see his mind working overtime after one of the guys let him shoot his pistol a target... and if I remember right he nailed it...

Here is a pciture of some of the folks....

I had a very good day shooting the walking targets.... And I didn't know it but I think I could have had a great shooting the paper targets also. I shot my tie breaker card and I was just off the bull @ 1.... Then we moved to the 5 shot paper target board and I was feeling pretty good about shooting. I shot the first target and could not see the hole in that target at all... I was sure that I had shot over the top.... So I decided on bull #2 to make an adjustment.... that ball ended @ 5 out of the target circle and just on the paper - I could see that one there was nothing there to hide the hole. Next target was the middle target of the 5... another mental hold adjustment on my part... well at least I was in the target circle - I am thinking to myself... So now being really distracted, frustrated, and disapponted - I just shot the last two - the heck with it...

When I went up to the target board to pick up the target... I did not miss on the first shot - the first shot was a dead bull - right through the 10 X - but I could not see it... If I had seen it I might have had a very good target to go along with the decent score on the 'walking trail'. It could have been a great bragging day.....

Semi has probably got some rules to explain all of these things....

But it was great day for shooting....

Yep and Long Shot did real well on the long shots - but thought to much on the short shots.... but then again I missed a moose @ 75 yards - figure that one out...

 

[cayuga]

Sounds like you both had a great time. Targets can be confusing. Especially if it is free standing shooting.


I have three throwing knives and three hawks. All of them work real good. The knives, friends and I made out of old truck springs with a forge. We cut them out, then hammered them to have a blade and sharpened them on a grinder. They are huge! Then we riveted leather (elk hide) handles onto them and wrapped them. Soak the leather and it tightens right up when it dries. Makes for a nice throwing knife. I bought all the hawks. At one time I was pretty good with a throwing hawk.

 

[sabotloader]

Long-Shot

There you go with your metal skills - you can make your own also...

Dave those really sound interesting and I bet they would work very well. What about balance? How is that figured in or is it?

Can you get a picture of the knives?

 

[Long-Shot]

Nicely said Mike!

And yes, I would like to get into throwing knives and hawks. To put my own 'personal' touch on it, I would like to make them myself. I know about design but not the handle. I have absolutely no experience with leather of any type, or really making a handle out of anything. Wood working is not exactly my strong suit.

I can make a hawk VERY easily.

The pistols are very cool. I love how Mike said you can actually see my cogs turning in my brain housing group. Muzzleloading and mountain man ways are the hobby I never had. Metal working, modern shooting, music, cars, and I am sure a few other things, are all my hobbies and interests. But nothing holds a candle to my newest hobby, muzzleloading/mountain man. I feel it, I want to know more and really get involved. I am considering hunting again (after almost 10 years) but with my Renegade, instead of my Rem. 700.

I do like the .54cal and wouldnt mind it in a pistol (I shot "Doc's" .54 Lyman) just to keep everything the same... well, same caliber anyway. I actually shot two different pistols that day. The first one was a smaller caliber flint lock. That little "poof" scared me before the "bang" and I jerked the crap out it! The second one (Lyman .54 percussion) was just fun, especially since I hit the target! Give me time (and money) and I will have one.

I didnt get to throw a knife and hawk, however, it intrigued me. I would also like to get involved in that too, in time. For now, I am going to work on my rifle skills with my Renegade, get what gear I NEED to have in order to shoot (thanks for the loans Mike!) and work on my new 'persona.' I think this year will be mostly a learning year, figure out what works and what doesnt, and have tons of fun along the way.

The Spring Fling was fun, yes, even though I didnt do so well up close. If I were by myself, I am sure I would have gotten frustrated and mad and walked off the course never to attend another shoot or Rondy again. But since everyone was around and so nice, friendly, and encouraging, I had a blast (no pun intended). Thanks to Mike (Sabotloader) and everyone else at the shoot, I really never got that bad taste and will attend these things for many, many years to come.

 

[cayuga]

That knife is 13 inches over all length. Why we settled on that I have no idea other then we copied a store bought one. It is heavy, but it has great balance. You throw it handle from the handle, not the blade like you see in TV. And of course with a knife you take only five normal steps, turn on the fifth step, and step through it as you throw overhand. Where the hawks I use are five inches long with a four inch blade. Sharpen them good with a file before you throw and they will stick a lot better. With them you take six steps, turn on your sixth, and again throw through the step. They will make a rotation normally. Don't throw them as hard as you can just a good follow through and you will be amazed at how fast you get it.

Also if you start throwing hawk be careful of the person that wants to play handles. I have several spare around here as we used to play handles a lot. One guy throws his first, and the other aim for his handle.