Pemi primitive biathlon

[topbreak]

Did the Pemi Primitive biathlon today formally known as the Dalton Primitive biathlon. In case you never heard of these events it is a timed shooting event done on wood snow shoes and a muzzleloader. The course is roughly a mile and a half long with four shooting stations on the course. The first three stations you shoot twice at 6x6 inch steel targets at a range of 20 to 40 yards. The fourth station requires 3 shots for a total of 9 for the whole course. Every hit takes 5 minutes off your time. They also did an untimed woods walk which utilizes the same course but you need to shoot at targets that are either a little smaller or a little further out. That is what I did as I am no longer a fit youngster. I arrived at the first station and my first shot was a miss. While reloading for my second shot my rifle took a nose dive into the snow. You guessed it, snow in the bore. Despite running a few patches down the bore I didn't get all the moisture out and my second shot was a dud, no boom which was counted as another miss. Praise the lord for co2 load dischargers. I ate my humble pie and moved on to station two. Another patch down the bore and a couple of caps to dry things out and I managed to hit one of the targets in my two tries. Station three was much better, 2 for 2 on those targets. Station 4 and I hit 2 out of three targets for a total of 5 hits. Adding to my frustrations was a powder horn strap that came loose spilling powder in the snow and a capper that had most of my caps turned on their sides. Its a good thing I wasn't being timed. I have hit 7 or 8 targets on this course in the past so I was a little disappointed with my performance today. Oh well, a bad day shooting is better than a good day at work.

Don

[Watauga]

topbreak It Sounds like a good time and a challenge as well  Did you get any pictures of the event? 

[topbreak]

Sadly, no pics. Too busy trying to get my act together.

Don

[Hanshi]

That certainly does sound like a fun day.  I've heard of them before but doing one is now way out of my league. 

[flintboomer]

I'm wondering what part of the country?
Even a frustrating day can be a good day.
I remember my first mountain man run: My gun wasn't firing and my "char" wouldn't take a spark, but they told me over and over that I wasn't flinching.

[topbreak]

Flintboomer,

This biathlon was in New Hampshire. The primitive biathlons have become very popular in Vermont and up-state NY. Vermont hosts 3 or 4 of them and NY about the same. The Pemi biathlon is the only one in NH at this time.

Don

[Patocazador]

Down here they would have to do that biathlon on water skis although we are supposed to get our first frost of the season tonight with a low of 34.