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Sporting Shooters Association Australia,  South Australia.. 

Muzzleloading

Background

Within the SSAA, muzzle loading involves competitive shooting with reproduction and original muzzle loading firearms and cap and ball revolvers.
Many of the excellent reproductions available are exact in every detail to the originals and it surprises many people just how accurate both types of firearms can be in the hands of proficient shooters. Many serious muzzleloaders have tried other types of shooting and have switched to what are lovingly described as 'smoke poles'.

 

The Firearms

The range of long arms in use by muzzleloaders include:

  • Smoothbore matchlock muskets - circa 1600-1650
  • Smoothbore flintlock muskets - circa 1700-1800
  • Smoothbore percussion muskets - circa 1830-1860* Flintlock rifles - circa 1750-1830
  • Percussion rifles - circa 1830-1860* Percussion shotguns - circa 1830-1860


The various types of rifles are divided into four classes:

 

  • CLASS 1: Original and exact replicas of cap and ball percussion revolvers. Sights and grips must be as issued and the only types of projectiles permitted   are round lead balls or picket (conical) bullets. Colt, Remingtons, Rogers and Spencer revolvers fit into this class.

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  • CLASS 2: Original and exact replicas of single shot percussion pistols. Once again, sights and grips have to be as on originals and the barrels can be rifled or smooth bore. The only projectile permitted is round ball. Military style holster pistols, Kentucky and duelling pistols all fit as specialised target pistols.
  • CLASS 3: Other percussion revolvers and pistols with any type of non-optical sight, any type of grips and using any type of bullets. This is an open class into which the excellent Ruger percussion revolvers fit, as they have adjustable rear sights. Other revolvers that fit into this class include Remingtons, Rogers and Spencers with adjustable rear sights.

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  • FLINTLOCK: This class covers all types of firelock ignition, matchlock, wheel lock and flintlocks. Flintlock pistols are by far the most common, although more and more smooth bore Japanese matchlocks are being used. There are separate events for smooth bore and rifled pistols and the only bullets permitted in both are round lead balls.


    • Handguns also have four different classes:

    • Revolvers
    • Pistols
    • Open
    • Firelock (Flintlock / Matchlock)

     

     Where to Start?

    Many SSAA ranges have a black powder section. For People interested inshooting black powder please contact a clubs black powder section captian.

      

     Major Muzzel Loading Shoots:

    • National Championships: held every Easter on a roster system around Australia, where ranges are available. All classes (Rifle Pistol & Shotgun) are shot over 4 days.  
    • Rifle & Pistol SA State Championships: held every June long weekend on a roster system around the state, where ranges are available.
    • Shotgun State Championships: Held in may on a roster system around the state, where ranges are available.
    • Australia Day 300yd Match: Held at SSAA Para on the 26th of January each year.
    • Rifle Interclub Shoot, Held in February on a roster system around the state, where ranges are available.
    • Shotgun Interclub Shoot, Held in July on a roster system around the state, where ranges are available
    • Pistol Interclub Shoot, Held in November on a roster system around the state, where ranges are available
    • MLAIC World Championships held every two years around the world. . 

     

     Targets

    Competitions for pistols and revolvers are shot at 25m and 50m using the international 50m slow pistol target, Rifles compete at 50m, 100m and 200m in the positions of standing, kneeling, prone, benchrest, sitting, and 3-positional.
    The same 50m slow pistol target is used for all of the rifle events except for the 200m Benchrest and 50m Musket, which uses a much larger French 200m target.

     

     

    Rules

    http://www.ssaa.org.au/competition-info/rulebook/muzzleloading-rulebook.pdf 

     

     

    Contacts

    http://www.ssaa.org.au/competition-info/muzzleloading_contact.html

     

     More Information

    National Practical Shooting Dicipline Page - National Hall of Fame, Scores, Up Coming Shoots, Posters and much more.

    http://www.ssaa.org.au/competition-info/muzzleloading.html 

     

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    Last Updated on Dec112012