June 16, 2013, 10:55 AM | #1 |
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Listen to the gun !!
No, I was not smoking or hearing voices but my SideLock, was communicating with me, yesterday during one of our Hunter Safety classes. ..
At our M/L station, I do all the loading during our live-fire portion. I had a stack of .015 patches that I was using, as well as .490RB. My first two loads went well and on the third, it got tight. My SideLock was telling me that I now had gotten into some .018 patches. I then went to the bottom of that stack and again, it told me that I was still trying to use .018. I switched to a new stack and all was well. .... Question; I know we see this all the time and not restricted to M/L's, so I would ask; When was the last time your firearm communicated with you??? Listen and; Be Safe !!!
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June 16, 2013, 11:42 AM | #2 |
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Feeling it..
Finally, someone who listens to machinery too.
I believe, if you use a machine enough, you get used to its sounds, quirks, and moves, as you use it, when something changes, you SHOULD notice its change. My motorcycle, my truck, the printing press at work, even computers. All talk to you.. My most recent firearm conversation was with my Mossberg M44US, it is normally a 1 whole gun from the bench. One Saturday, it started opening up its groups. I stopped, and checked things out, the front sling screw had backed. Out 1/8 turn, (this screw adjust the tension on the barrel band.) I put it back to wher it was, and it tightened up its groups again. Ian |
June 16, 2013, 12:17 PM | #3 |
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I don't know about the "gun talking" but I do remember standing on the line down at Friendship years ago when the guy shooting next to me forgot to put powder in and he rammed his ball home . . . in that case though, HE was talking to the gun . . . I'd tell you what he said but we don't use language like that on this forum!
All kidding aside, it's important to "tune in" on anything mechanical whether it be guns, machinery, etc. The trick is to "hear it" and not let it go . . . I think the last time for me was when I was shooting my (new to me) Uberti '51 . . . it was telling me "change my nipples" as I had a number of misfires . . . and that little job is on my "to do" list. I'm curious Pahoo . . . . were your stacks of patches "home made" or "store bought"? Did they accident;ly get mixed up or if store bought - did they come that way? I've had the same thing happen to me that you describe. I cut my own patches using a modified hole saw and drill press - does a pretty good job of it. But, I once bought some pillow ticking off of a "bargain table" and the thickness varied so much that I just scrapped the patches and started over with new material. The important thing is, I hope the problem didn't slow things down for you and that those you were running through the station had a great time.
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June 16, 2013, 01:31 PM | #4 |
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Mine just says stuff like "you stupid SOB".
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June 16, 2013, 02:48 PM | #5 |
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^^^
LOL!!!!!
Yep... mine too. Birch
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June 16, 2013, 03:06 PM | #6 | ||
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Past me but not my SideLock !!!
Quote:
Quote:
Be Safe !!!
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'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing. Last edited by Pahoo; June 16, 2013 at 04:11 PM. |
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June 16, 2013, 03:46 PM | #7 |
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I've watchd people fight their smokepoles many times in the matches. When loading mine, I want everything to be exactly the same every time I load it. I use the same amount of lube on the patch and try to use the same amount of pressure to seat the ball, etc... Any little deviation effects acccuracy. A lot of people don't realize the work that makes a muzzleloader work right, but a lot of people don't win at the matches either.
Good observation on your part..... |
June 19, 2013, 02:41 PM | #8 |
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Consistency is key. If something doesn't follow your consistent pattern in loading and shooting, find out why and fix it.
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June 20, 2013, 08:24 AM | #9 |
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Listening to your equipment?....
....True tricks of the experienced and wise shooter. Too, not listening to the report can be disasterous in certain circumstances...think squib load. |
June 20, 2013, 08:27 PM | #10 |
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Well Pahoo. With those old school intuition skills you have. I think you were born at least 160 years to late Sir. If there is a next time around for all of us. Perhaps we can go the other way in history. (earlier) Not only could you hear voices from your rifle then. You probably would be able to converse with your horse too._
The only time I hear from my rifle is when I pull its trigger. Occasionally it does show a sense of humor though. "Its ball down range ends up MIA" _ S/S Last edited by Sure Shot Mc Gee; June 20, 2013 at 08:35 PM. |
June 20, 2013, 11:14 PM | #11 | |
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You mean you can't converse with your horse??? Hell, when I had hay burners they understood me better then the wife and the kids. Just have dogs today and I know they understand me more then most people. |
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June 21, 2013, 12:22 AM | #12 |
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Re: Listen to the gun !!
Not my guns too often, but my hand primer I listen to, indeed. It will tell me if a primer pocket is too loose, if I primer is going in incorrectly, as well as other small but very important details.
When you use stuff enough you learn its quirks and you know how things *should* feel. It also is a good key so that when things don't feel right you take a second to diagnose the problem. |
June 21, 2013, 09:54 AM | #13 | ||
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Life is good !!!
Quote:
Quote:
Be Safe !!!
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