CptCurl
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In October 2016 I was invited to a stalking rifle competition held at a beautiful remote location in Kentucky. It required the use of a single shot rifle of a caliber that would be considered a "stalking rifle caliber" loaded only with lead bullets using either black powder or smokeless. I entered the competition using my Army & Navy Farquharson Link to A&N Farquharson Thread loaded with the nitro-for-black loads I discussed on the linked thread.
There were several other members of NitroExpress at this event, one of whom was the winner (not me)!
This morning I was thinking back on how much fun that stalking rifle shoot had been, so I pulled up the photographs of the event. There's one photograph that's absolutely breathtaking. Let me share it.
Huvius, does this get your attention? Yes, there were some outstanding single shot rifles at this event!
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
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Quote:
There were several other members of NitroExpress at this event, one of whom was the winner (not me)!
Something that might be of further interest. The winner of the match, who deserves great praise for his skill and marksmanship, shot his Fraser single shot rifle loaded with black powder. His rifle is a bottle-neck .450 - I think a .450 No. 2 Musket, but I may be wrong on this. Mike?
Curl
Correction: Mike was shooting a wonderful Fraser single shot rifle chambered in 500/450 No.1 Express. See post below.
Congratulations again, Mike, on your splendid win!
RBS
Edited by CptCurl (13/01/17 11:08 PM)
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lancaster
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very delightful view
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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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Maxim
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Loc: Michigan USA
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When stacked up side by it amazing the similarities, nose caps, relief cutting on the forends to the action block. Then yet, the differences in length of pull. Golden age of purpose built gun making.
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DarylS
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WOW - a DOUBLE WHACK of nice rifles there. Doesn't get any better than THAT!(unless of course they (or one of them) were all mine)
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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MikeRowe
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Thank you for posting the wonderful picture, Roscoe. Those rifles were certainly a sight to behold.
My Fraser is a 500/450 No.1 Express. The load was 110 grains of black, with a 305 grain paper wrapped
bullet. That load shot 3" right off, so I determined right then it was close enough for gummint work!
I have successfully bagged a deer with it this season, using a 325 grain wood peg hollow point bullet
and the same powder charge. I have an original Fraser ammunition box which contained that load, so I
thought it would be an appropriate one to use.
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Waidmannsheil
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Looks like a great event with some very lovely rifles, yours in particular is a beauty. There is also a very nice looking break action single shot there, sixth from the left. Do you know anything about it.
Waidmannsheil.
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There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.
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Wayne59
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I have a rifle that needs to be at one of those events. where in Kentuck do they hold it and is it annually.
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lonewulf
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Loc: South-East Otago, New Zealand
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Wow! That is one hell of a nice assortment of firearms.
What was the nature of the shoot and what sort of groups are these doing at 100m?
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Carpetsahib
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Loc: Western NC
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Outstanding rifles! I would especially love to see photos of the 2 Martinis in the line-up. Would you happen to have additional photos?
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416rigby
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Serious eye candy!
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"Life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun"
U.S. Coast Guard, retired
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chapmen
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Loc: Middle of germany
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Please give more pics from this event.....
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some fine old guns from germany :
www.jagdwaffensammler.de
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NitroX
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Looks like it was an excellent event.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
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CptCurl
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Quote:
Thank you for posting the wonderful picture, Roscoe. Those rifles were certainly a sight to behold.
My Fraser is a 500/450 No.1 Express. The load was 110 grains of black, with a 305 grain paper wrapped
bullet. That load shot 3" right off, so I determined right then it was close enough for gummint work!
I have successfully bagged a deer with it this season, using a 325 grain wood peg hollow point bullet
and the same powder charge. I have an original Fraser ammunition box which contained that load, so I
thought it would be an appropriate one to use.
Mike,
In the rack I see three Fraser single shot rifles.
My Fraser .303 is 12th from left and just beside my Army & Navy Farquharson .450/400 3-1/4" that I shot in the match.
I believe your rifle is the second from left. Am I correct?
It seems to me there were more than three Fraser single shots at the match. Perhaps some of them didn't make it into this rack.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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Huvius
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Loc: Colorado
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Wow!!
I've got to get to an event like that some day. Would really like to start a shoot like this closer to home too.
What is that falling block to the left of your Fraser Curl?
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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CptCurl
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Quote:
Wow!!
I've got to get to an event like that some day. Would really like to start a shoot like this closer to home too.
What is that falling block to the left of your Fraser Curl?
I don't know. I remember seeing and handling that rifle, but just don't remember the specifics. Maybe Mike Rowe can recall.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
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I'm almost certain that's a .303 that belongs to Tom Rowe, the author (no kin to Mike AFIK).
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
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Huvius,
It's a MacNaughton falling block .303 belonging to Tom Rowe.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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Huvius
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Loc: Colorado
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Tell us about the format of the shoot.
Any running boar type targets?
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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93x64mm
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Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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Well done Mike on your win!
Fantastic to see such a wonderful line up of rather unique rifles, I certainly agree with everyone here, there are some really fantastic pieces of kit out there!
We're all like kids in a lolly shop, which one do you pick first!
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MikeRowe
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Posts: 479
Loc: Arkansas, USA
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My Fraser is second from the left.
There is another one on the rack, with a half pistol hand - the only one I've ever seen stocked like that. It's 450/400 3" tropical load NE, if I remember correctly.
Tom's little MacNaughton is delightful - it weighs only 6 lbs.
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CptCurl
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Quote:
Tell us about the format of the shoot.
Any running boar type targets?
There were ten shooting stations. Two shots were taken by each shooter at each station. The targets were steel plates hung in the woods at various ranges from 50 to 200 yards. Shots were offhand, except for one station with the 200 yard target. There the shooters were allowed to use a field rest position.
However, at the end of the shoot there were three shooters tied for first place, so a shoot-off was necessary. The shoot-off was sudden-death and was held at the 200 yard target station with only offhand shots allowed. No rests at the shoot-off. That's when Mike cleaned out the other two contenders. You gotta watch out for Mike!
There were no moving targets.
The shooting lanes were through wooded areas. In most places the shooter had to aim around hanging branches and other obstacles. The lanes were not clear. It was breezy that day, so a lot of stuff was moving downrange.
Here's a photo from the event:
And here's a group photo after the competition:
Only stalking rifle calibers loaded with lead (not jacketed) bullets were allowed.
I shot my Army & Navy Farquharson .450/400 3-1/4" with nitro for black loads. Watson577 shared my rifle. He enjoyed it so much that on the drive home he bought a Ruger No. 1 in .450/400 3" off GunBroker. His rifle is a great shooter and will appear in any future events. It likes the same nitro for black load I am using.
Great fun!
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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Huvius
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3617
Loc: Colorado
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Thanks Curl for the pictures and the information.
I see some of those Henrys are probably 450s (?) and of course you used your 400. Are there actual rules for caliber or is it pretty loose as long as the rifle is a single shot?
Looks a lot like a Vintager's event. I hear they are trying to encourage their divisions to establish rifle events.
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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sbs470
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Loc: Sheffield Tasmania
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Roscoe
Great photos and story. Lets hope you guys can club together and shoot a few doubles as well
We can forward the BGRC rules if you want.
all the best
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85lc
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Loc: Georgia, USA
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Curl,
I just saw this thread and wanted to find more about this very neat rifle match. Hopefully, this sporting rifle match has continued. If it has, I would certainly like to participate.
Can you give any information about current matches?
I have enjoyed the Sporting & Rook Rifle Matches at Oak Ridge that Rick Weber hosts. Similar guns but a different style.
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RB
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