January 2026 copy - Flipbook - Page 71
modern shooting clothing,
including jackets, gloves,
and glasses.
The Enduring Challenge
of the Sport
The following quote is from
an unpublished ‘Manual for
Muzzle Loaders’ by the late
De Witt Bailey. Whilst written in 1973 it still provides
a relevant introduction to
the challenge of the sport of
long-range muzzle loading
with the small-bore (.451)
ri昀氀e:
“The modern shooter
who has spent time in
昀椀ring with centre-昀椀re
target ri昀氀es, and who
develops an interest in
muzzle loading arms will
昀椀nd himself very much at
home in many aspects of
dealing with the smallbore muzzle loading
ri昀氀e. Those who delight
in detail and meticulous
procedure will do well to
take up this highly specialized section of muzzle
loading. From the shooting angle, the small-bore
ri昀氀e approaches more
closely than any other
form of muzzle loader to
modern ri昀氀es. There is a
great deal to be learned
in the successful use of
the small-bore beyond
the functional characteristics of the ri昀氀e itself,
most of this additional
detail being concerned
with the accurate assessments of the e昀昀ects of
wind, light, atmosphere,
sight reading and adjustment, record-keeping
and study. Scrupulous
attention in every stage
of preparation of ammunition and equipment
is mandatory for even
satisfactory results even
at the shorter ranges.”
The author 昀椀ring at 1,000 yards on the Stickledown Range, Bisley:
note the shreds of paper falling away from the patched bullet...
Issue #1!
71
