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I haven't been able to shoot any Silhouette since November or try out the new to me Marlin 1897 Cowboy so when I found out about the Machias match I was very motivated to go. It is a wonderful facility and a very well run match.
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The weather was clear and cold. I was paired up with Shawn - great guy and an excellent shooter - for both the rimfire and pistol caliber matches. We started on Turkeys and I struggled a little bit but still managed to tip over six. I did a little better on the Rams but stunk up the chickens - it seemed it was not my day for the feathered. Swept the Boars though
Managed to squeak into the money with a 30. I'm pretty confident it was more of a matter of learning the sight settings/pictures for the various ranges than the rifle. Of the many Marlin 39 variations I've owned this one is my favorite. I know I've said it about the Mountie, the 39 Ltd and the TDS... but this time I really mean it.
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The Federal 40 grain solid is this rifle's prefered bullet. In the second to lowest notch on the elevator a leg hold works well on the chickens, a just touching the bottom edge of the boar's belly is right on for them and I need to cover the turkeys with the bead. The Rams take a two notch up position on the rear elevator and that gives me a right on hold.
MAN do I ever LOVE that long octagonal barrel. It just seems to hang on the target. This 1897's trigger is quite good and if I do my part breaks just at the right time.
I'm still working up loads for the 32-20 so it stayed home on this trip. Next time maybe.
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Please excuse this conceited indulgence but I'm still in a celebratory mood as this was my best ever silhouette performance.
The second match - pistol caliber: I used my Marlin 1894 Cowboy Ltd in 45 Colt and it went WAY better than I could have ever expected. Started on the Turkeys again, managed seven which is good for me. I've done WAY worse, so putting seven in the book was somewhat of a relief. 8 rams, swept the chickens and missed the 9th Boar for a total of 34 which to my surprise put me in a tie for the match lead. The other guy had won the earlier match with a 37 and had a bad run in the pistol caliber. The shoot-off was on the turkeys; best out of five. I shot my first, he shot his, I shot my second and third before he shot his second to put a little pressure on him. I tipped over my fourth and he missed his third so all I had to do was put my fifth turkey down and the match was over. Man did that bird look small but I put the bead right in the middle of him and squeezed it off - HIT!!!! Five for five in the showdown. That totally rocked!!! Not that I expect that to happen but man when it does, it feels mighty good!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;D
The bad part about all that is now I can't never go back or they'll find out what a fluke that all was.
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As a side bonus I got a start on my grand slam which is a goal for this year. I've never managed to sweep the Rams but I'm thinking the 1897 and the 1894 are up to it.
Wind - Dan S says howdy and he hopes to stop by one of these days when he's over visiting his son.
The weather was clear and cold. I was paired up with Shawn - great guy and an excellent shooter - for both the rimfire and pistol caliber matches. We started on Turkeys and I struggled a little bit but still managed to tip over six. I did a little better on the Rams but stunk up the chickens - it seemed it was not my day for the feathered. Swept the Boars though
Managed to squeak into the money with a 30. I'm pretty confident it was more of a matter of learning the sight settings/pictures for the various ranges than the rifle. Of the many Marlin 39 variations I've owned this one is my favorite. I know I've said it about the Mountie, the 39 Ltd and the TDS... but this time I really mean it.
The Federal 40 grain solid is this rifle's prefered bullet. In the second to lowest notch on the elevator a leg hold works well on the chickens, a just touching the bottom edge of the boar's belly is right on for them and I need to cover the turkeys with the bead. The Rams take a two notch up position on the rear elevator and that gives me a right on hold.
MAN do I ever LOVE that long octagonal barrel. It just seems to hang on the target. This 1897's trigger is quite good and if I do my part breaks just at the right time.
I'm still working up loads for the 32-20 so it stayed home on this trip. Next time maybe.
Please excuse this conceited indulgence but I'm still in a celebratory mood as this was my best ever silhouette performance.
The second match - pistol caliber: I used my Marlin 1894 Cowboy Ltd in 45 Colt and it went WAY better than I could have ever expected. Started on the Turkeys again, managed seven which is good for me. I've done WAY worse, so putting seven in the book was somewhat of a relief. 8 rams, swept the chickens and missed the 9th Boar for a total of 34 which to my surprise put me in a tie for the match lead. The other guy had won the earlier match with a 37 and had a bad run in the pistol caliber. The shoot-off was on the turkeys; best out of five. I shot my first, he shot his, I shot my second and third before he shot his second to put a little pressure on him. I tipped over my fourth and he missed his third so all I had to do was put my fifth turkey down and the match was over. Man did that bird look small but I put the bead right in the middle of him and squeezed it off - HIT!!!! Five for five in the showdown. That totally rocked!!! Not that I expect that to happen but man when it does, it feels mighty good!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;D
The bad part about all that is now I can't never go back or they'll find out what a fluke that all was.
As a side bonus I got a start on my grand slam which is a goal for this year. I've never managed to sweep the Rams but I'm thinking the 1897 and the 1894 are up to it.
Wind - Dan S says howdy and he hopes to stop by one of these days when he's over visiting his son.
