Shiloh Rifle Forums

HDH, The guy who built that rifle, Kirk, has said that the only safe way to 'dry fire' a Sharps is with a Snap Cap. FYI Keep on having fun.

Paul

Copy that! I had been told by someone else, that it was safe to "dry fire" using the half cock position, but I will cease doing that.

I did order more Old E so I can hopefully continue this adventure into the next year.

I had also been told by 'someone' that if you placed the hammer in the full down position it was OK, not so according to Kirk.

Paul

Yeah, if you do that, you can feel that it is not good.

Chip shot the same rifle at Raton that he shot at Tucson, a Ballard.
Same rifle and load he set the off hand 200 record at Raton Nationals with.
Of course, conventional wisdom prevailing, it was the rifle and load that won those matches.
Shooter had nothing to do with it

Thanks Zack always nice to know what a successful shooter is using, equipment and load wise.

And I also understand that what works for one shooter may well not help the next one.

Obviously Chip has figured out what works well for him, and is to be congratulated.

Paul,
After just a little research, I found that I have been doing the worst possible thing for my rifle. In the half cock position, dry fire can damage the seer. I will be buying or making a snap cap so that practice may continue.

You're welcome,

Paul

Yes, sorry I didn't include the thank you!

Being a Deadeye is frequently a thankless job...

When I was active in midrange match shooting for about a decade, (before it dried up in AK) I always shot the position matches and found if I would dry fire offhand each day for about 20 minutes for a week before the match my scores would always improve in all the positions. My dry fire practice was always in offhand but I should have also dry fired in sitting and prone.
I usually shot into the high 80's at 200 yards offhand but if I would dry fire practice as above I quite often would break into the 90's. In AK the offhand portion almost always was the match determiner.
I remember one match I finished up with a 274 and a coupe of x's and was feeling pretty confident I was up in the standings if not match winner. Turned out I was in fourth place on x count. Three of my friends had turned in 274's as well. I got a good honk out of that deal , you know , counting chickens before the hatch!

As long as I have you DD I'll be alright.

DeadEye

U 'da man, Pablo.

Get an air rifle and shoot paper targets at 10 meters. You will see pretty quick what is lacking in your off hand work . A tin of 500 pellets is about 7.00 and you can shoot indoors.