The value of good range habits (Witness Mark)
Oct 8, 2019 16:26:04 GMT -5
Post by northny on Oct 8, 2019 16:26:04 GMT -5
Haven't posted here in a while but wanted to post a quick story and give a thank you to all of you.
Headed to the range today to check out the zero of three rifles before heading to camp. First up was my .45 Rem . Dropped the ram rod in before loading, and it was already at the witness mark which said it was already charged. Complete surprise to me. So I added a primer and touched it off and scored a solid hit at 150 yards. 2 inches low from where I expected, but not bad since it was loaded since last October in deer camp.
I got into shooting muzzle loaders in 2006, and my first was a Savage ML II based on what I read on this website. It worked out so well that two weeks later bought one for my older son, and a year later a third for younger son. Then I had to build a .45 on a Rem 700ML, then a twin to that one.
The point is a lot of what I learned about shooting a ML came from you guys, including a lot of safety tips specific to shooting a ML and a smokeless ML at that.
There are a number of safety procedures that I use when loading a ML, but the number one that I always follow is to always have and use a witness mark. Make sure the rifle is empty before you load it.
Today that habit paid a HUGE divident and I luckily avoided double charging my rifle. I went on to have a very pleasant day at the range, but it could have easily been otherwise. So thanks to everyone here who
reinforced the safe way to shoot, even those that did it by sharing stories of mistakes they had made, (and how their new barrels later worked out.)
So to all of you a big thank you and a reminder. USE A WITNESS MARK and CHECK EVERY TIME before you load.
Headed to the range today to check out the zero of three rifles before heading to camp. First up was my .45 Rem . Dropped the ram rod in before loading, and it was already at the witness mark which said it was already charged. Complete surprise to me. So I added a primer and touched it off and scored a solid hit at 150 yards. 2 inches low from where I expected, but not bad since it was loaded since last October in deer camp.
I got into shooting muzzle loaders in 2006, and my first was a Savage ML II based on what I read on this website. It worked out so well that two weeks later bought one for my older son, and a year later a third for younger son. Then I had to build a .45 on a Rem 700ML, then a twin to that one.
The point is a lot of what I learned about shooting a ML came from you guys, including a lot of safety tips specific to shooting a ML and a smokeless ML at that.
There are a number of safety procedures that I use when loading a ML, but the number one that I always follow is to always have and use a witness mark. Make sure the rifle is empty before you load it.
Today that habit paid a HUGE divident and I luckily avoided double charging my rifle. I went on to have a very pleasant day at the range, but it could have easily been otherwise. So thanks to everyone here who
reinforced the safe way to shoot, even those that did it by sharing stories of mistakes they had made, (and how their new barrels later worked out.)
So to all of you a big thank you and a reminder. USE A WITNESS MARK and CHECK EVERY TIME before you load.