S.E. Michigan's Trade Gun Round Robin

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Here in S.EMichigan we have a 6 club Trade gun round robin. Each club takes a turn at hosting the event. The over all winner is the best of 5 shoots. The winner of each day's shoot win's a beautiful piece of trade silver. The overall winner gets a personaly engraved tinder box. Cost is $5.00 per shoot Host club also supplies a meal of some type.

The "rules" are as follows,Flintlock,smoothbore,.54,(28ga),or larger,no rear sight above the plane of the barrel,primitive dress required. Loading from pouch or pocket only,all "regular" range rules apply(we have all been shooting better than 20+years,35+ for me).

12 round ball shot's,4 clay bird's. 2 falls of the hammer is a shot. Hawk,knife and fire starting plus a tie breaker. Each club makes up it's own scoring for the hawk and knife,as long a the total score for the day equals 200 point's.

Today was shoot #4 at the Oakland County Sportsman's Club,and the reason I mention it is.......Because I WON! WOO-HOO!

And the REAL reason I mention it because the gun I used is my 1742 model Brown Bess that I built from TRS parts and a Walnut limb I acquired in the U.P., is finally working the way she should!

She is a very scary accurate .77 cal. smooth bore 46" Colrain barrel. I had a buddy build the lock for me,he was a toolmaker for Ford Motor for 45 years. He did a fine job,but couldn't get the frizzen to spark. I used Kasinit and It work pretty good. Not great,but O.K.

Well about a month or so ago stunk up the shoot to no end! I lost 7 of the 12 targets to the hammer fall rule! When the gun eventually went off,I hit the target,but LONG after the 2 hammer fall rule! and only 1 bird was a hit,on the 2nd hammer fall,that counted.

I found a guy,Yancey Von Yeast that said he could fix it,and fix it he did! I sent it off to him and 2 week's later I got it back,and,56 shot's later,NOT 1 CLATCH! NOT 1!

I sent him 2 extra main springs,rough casting's from TRS,with the lock and he finished and fit them,lightened the frizzen spring,reworked the tumbler and sear,took out the trigger creep,and polished everthing on the inside. to say the lock is now fast and snappy is an understatement! best money I ever spent!

I'll post pic's of her and a couple of the 25yd tie breakers tomorrow.

And another reason I'm kinda braggin' is the fella's I shoot with are quite possably THE best smoothbore shooters I've ever seen! Isn't a one of 'em I'd feel safe shooting against!

If at all possable,get together with other club's in your area and try this. It's really a good way to both improve your skill's and generate a good will camaraderie between club's.

[Keb]

Congrats and good shootin. I use to enjoy those OCSC shoots. The Round Robins were just getting started when I left muzzleloading in the 90's but the league shoot was going strong. I remember cleaning the TG course at Oakland. Glory Days. Now I can't slap my back side with both hands. :/
Yer pal, Keb

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Haven't shot the St,18 yet for group,so my Bess is still my go too smoothie. The 18 feels really good.