Muzzleldrs Learning to shoot Civil War muskets Part II

poorjack

Corporal
Joined
Jul 17, 2015
Location
NC
So we're having a pretty successful set of sessions teaching safety and marksmanship with Scouts at camp. But after many conversations surrounding how the arms were employed, both the "mountain man" round ball stuff and the muskets, we started having live volley fire at the end if the kids seem to really grasp what we've been teaching. Volley fire target is a 3ft square piece of drywall. We instructors load and stand very close to the Scouts for safety and the drill is modified a bit for the kids. Their instructions are to aim center mass and pull the trigger at the FIRE command. Even with only 4 guns on the line at the time, drywall chunks fly and the kids have a ball doing it. So a few pix-


ATTENTION! FRONT RANK! READY!
IMG_7762.JPG



AIM!!

IMG_7763.JPG



FIRE!!!
and the camera battery promptly died of fright from the noise and smoke inhalation.....
 
Looks like a great day was had by all and the kids seem to really enjoy it. Thanks for what y'all are doing and sharing it with us.
 
The day started with Patched Round Ball. We helped the Scouts load and shoot a couple rounds and then moved over to the muskets.
IMG_7718.JPG




Now we're talkin. First pass on musketry marksmanship instruction. We've thrown a ton of information at them and are now working to ensure it's sinking in. Here we're working on Natural Point of Aim. Short version, everybody has a natural position that is most "at rest" when aiming offhand. To find it, get the feet placed relative to firing line and target with torso balanced. Close the eyes and shoulder the gun. Open the eyes and look where the gun is pointed. Don't alter it and doesn't matter on elevation. What you're looking for is left to right. Repeat till the gun is pointed in line at the target when opening the eyes. Once that's established, make mental note of foot and body position relative to the firing line and the target. That's basic marksmanship 101.
IMG_7754.JPG
 
Is there some of these available just for adults who want to learn?
What would you like to know?

Our efforts are primarily aimed at youth but we are conducting the first part of a class to get to Instructor level in early October.
 
hehe... everything.... Making your own cartridge, loading, firing. I have a musket. It is not workable but I want hands on experience. Would pay of course.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top