My first loads for muzzle loader competition

With my "muzzle loader / black powder enabler diploma" obtained after Portuguese Shooting Federation  MLAIC official training and certification last February, and with my fully custom Billinghurst pistol delivered last June, I started today, December 4th, the first loads for the première shooting I expect to perform (over a training session) within the next coming weeks (before year's end).

My diploma for muzzle loader and black powder
handling and shooting  (Portuguese), February 2010

Across the last months I've been procuring and stocking all the required supplies and tools - in particular Eppendorf laboratory tubes (safe and resistant plastic, strong lid cover, single handed operation), appropriate funnel (from the "micro" perfume refill segment), measure tools (for both "size load" and "weight load" - double check standards are never to much safety for the subject at hand) storage cases and, of course, the "raw materials" - black powder (FFF) and corn semolina .

First task was to test measure and weight for the FFF black powder loads - the Billinghurst manufacturer, Tilo Dedinski, recommends a load between 10 to 12 grains (I will stock with the lower value). I used Lee Precision Inc. reload measure tool for 0,70 cc (according to Lee's included documentation "matrix") and my digital precision scale to cross check all items.

Lee Precision Inc. "slide" matrix for
measure tool size versus grains weight

"Eppendorf" laboratory tubes and "micro" perfume funnel

0,70 CC Lee Presion Inc. measure tool "re-tested"
with digital precision scale.

Next task... to measure the same weight (and naturally ending up with a much higher volume) for the corn semolina - where the Lee tool for 1,00 cc was just the right one. Once again double checking weight with the precision digital scale.

... side by side black powder and corn
- same weigth (10 grains), but approx. double volume for the corn

MTM transport cases "refactored" from standard rifle ammo standards (with appropriate "safety" labels, and a "custom" extra padding from the spares of my Peli transport cases) and a overview of my working desktop.

Personal record at break barrel air rifle match

With 341 / 400 and a 11th place (out of 24 competitors) I just broke my personal record (it was 334) on 10 meter break barrel air rifle shooting on this (very cold - only 6 Celsius!) morning official match at Clube do Arneiro, Cascais, Portugal - December 4th, 2010.

My confidence with my rifle (HW 35 4,5mm with custom Ginb stock) and my shooting stance and attitude builds strongly - and yes, Rui Vilhena's recommendation, upon watching me at the Nationals, to lower the adjustable recoil pad so that my face stance on the stock would be more comfortable and natural worked like a charm! The regularity of the 10 impact series makes me proud - 83, 86, 86 and... 86 !

5th CDA Match - Scores, 4th December 2010

My shooting gear at line # 7
- note the lowered position on the recoil pad

1959 - Secrets of Bench Rest Shooting - How Accurate Can You Get

"Secrets of Bench Rest Shooting - How Accurate Can You Get" by Gil Paust
in GunSport Magazine, July 1959, Vol. 2 Num. 2
Reproduced for scientific and historic research porposes only.
No commercial use or intent should apply. All original copyright applies.

A great three course meal

December 1st, a Portuguese public holiday, and a great morning spent at the shooting range at Serra da Carregueira, Belas, Sintra. Took a "three course meal" for the field:

•  my J. G. Anschutz (JGA)1400 .22 LR rifle;
•  my STI Target Master 9x19mm pistol ;
•  and, last but not least, my custom Air Arms TX-200 MK-III 4,5mm air rifle.

I started at 50 meters, with the "large" precision ISSF target, with the austrian made JGA 1400 - checking sights and fixing the left drift I got back from the last match. All solved, and several nice groups of 8-9-10s (with consistent and minimal horizontal and vertical drift) came out easly. Still some magazine feed issues here and there - but it's vintage material (and already got a factory new magazine to use for matches and keeping the original one for collectable value integrity).

I then proceeded to a mini training session with the STI Target Master 9x19mm for checking sights alignment (finally solved the leftish issues from the end of summer Nationals at OTA) and grip stance, spending approx. 50 units of Winchester 115 grains FMJ ammo. My "final series" scores where 47 / 50  on the "25 meter speed target" and 48 / 50 on the "25 meter precision target". Very happy with the result and very confident on sights and pistol.

Last not but not least... I took care of zero-in' my good "old" trusty 4,5 air rifle Air Arms (AA) TX-200 MK III (bought from Manchester Air Guns back in late 1998), customized with a J. Maccari "kit", over a laminated wood thumbhole stock, scoped with a Busnell 24x over Sportmatch UK single piece mounts and shooting AA Field pellets. Three years have passed since I used it, and this was a new scope and mounts set... amazing that in only 5 impacts at 25 meters I got it zero-ed and got to the "one hole" series in a breeze - having fun using the 9 mm holes from the STI Target Master previous training as challenges (all went trough).

I spent about 4 hours at the range and came home with a warm cosy feeling of mission accomplished on this three course "meal". Shooting is great - and all the "bolts and nuts" around it are challenging, fun and overall rewarind to work with.

Back on track

... last Sunday, November 28th... the Nationals for 10 meter break barrel air rifle were held at Jamor, Oeiras, Portugal, and, despite a modest personal performance ( 324 / 400 ), and finishing at a low position ( 36th out of 43 ) I was far better then on the Regionals ( where I scored a mere 311 ) and I feel more confident with my technique and gear on this discipline where my personal record is only 10 points higher then this score.

... a close up on me and my "Ginb" custom stocked HW 35 4,5mm during the match

I went to the match with a personal goal of exceeding the 320 points mark (corresponding to the mark of 80 points average per each 10 impact series) and the 324 where "just on the mark" - I feel back on track on this shooting discipline.

A detailed photo gallery of the Nationals can be found at: http://www.cptpp.com/gallery/index-20101128-ccart-cn-jamor.html

2010 CCART Nationals Standings

Details on my 324 / 400 score - just one series bellow the >80s mark

... my shooting gear at line # 30 on the Nationals
for break barrel air rifle 10 meter shooting

5 consecutive impacts scoring 47 / 50 on one of my sight-in targets