Range Time, again...(finally)

[Adam Helmer]

It has been a long and cold Winter here in the northcentral part of PA. Last Winter it hit -21 degrees and it is snowing today. Yesterday, it hit 55 degrees and was sunny. Old Golden and I took 4 muzzleloaders to the backyard bench and burned much powder. Webley lies nearby at the pear tree and observes my sessions at the bench. It was a nice Spring shirt sleeves sort of day.

I shot a .45 Hawken flinter and ball, a .50 Hawken caplock and ball, a .54 flinter Hawken and ball and the parade gun, the M1853, 3-band .577 Enfield and maxis. It was nice to make smoke and noise and relax at the bench. Later we cleaned the iron while sitting on the front porch.

I relearned a few things: I like flintlocks a lot. I like shooting patched ball and my sight settings from last Fall were still zeroed. Finally, the little woman remarked about the "rotten-egg" smell eminating from my clothing after a long range and cleanup session. Wotever.

Adam