Pine Mountain Riflemen

We shoot steel buffalo with Black Powder Cartridge Rifles and with other fun guns!

Mostly we shoot off cross-sticks while sitting on stools, with the option of shooting prone off short sticks. Some matches (Little Q, 22, quarter-bore, pistol-cartridge lever) we shoot the close target off-hand. Iron sights only, with the option of using vintage scopes with BPCR, shooting in the “open” class. Lead bullets only except military bolt guns can use jacketed bullets.

When:
Fourth Weekend of the Month
April through October

Where:
2nd building on your left after you come through the gate (large green building)

Match Fee:
$7 per match
$20 for all 9 matches over 3 days

Friday

Friday morning begins on targets placed at 2, 3, 4, and 500 yards, 2 sighters and 5 for score at each target, first with military bolt (Krags, Springfields, Nagants, Swedish Mausers, etc), followed by military single-shot (most folks shoot trapdoor 45/70s), and then finish the morning with large levergun (any rifle-cartridge lever-action rifle).

Friday afternoon we'll shoot the little Q which utilizes pistol-cartridge lever guns, mid- range targets 300 to 600 yards, 8 shots per target.

Saturday

Saturday is BPCR day, shooting the old buffalo guns out to 1000 (occasionally 1200) yards. Mid-range comprises 7 shots per target (2 sighters, 5 for score) at 3, 4, 5 and

600 yards, while Long-range is 10 shots per target (2 sighters, 8 for score) at 7, 8, 9, and 1000 yards.

Sunday

Sunday is for close range work, targets at 50, 100, 150, and 200 yards. Here we shoot 3 matches, 7 shots (2 sighters, 5 for score) per target, using vintage or lever-action 22s, quarter-bore (mostly 25/20s) and the pistol-cartridge lever-action.

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Buffalo Class

We want to encourage and keep the spirit of the 1800’s era traditions, dress and long standing history of the Pine Mountain Riflemen, so most of us shoot in the Buffalo class. But to accommodate those not wanting to jump fully into those waters we will also have an “Open” class for any of the rifle shoots. The Open Class will accommodate those other than in the Buffalo Class.

The BUFFALO CLASS will be shot:

  • Sitting on the ground or on a box or stool which must be covered with a period material

  • Using traditional wooden cross sticks with a spike or prong on the end of each stick

  • Wearing cowboy or buffalo period clothing to include as a minimum: leather foot wear, suspenders or leather belt, cowboy or similar hat, jeans or period pants or period military clothing.

  • The Long Range shoot is for BPCR cartridge rifles of 1860-1895 design with an open hammer with lead bullets and black powder or black powder substitute

  • Lever guns must have tube magazines

  • Iron sights only

Not Allowed in the Buffalo Class:

  • Rigid or multi feet sticks

  • Ball caps, tennis shoes, flip flops, printed or camo clothing

  • Smokeless or duplex powders

Note: In extremely hot or cold weather the dress can be relaxed somewhat as long as the spirit of the era remains in the dress.

The OPEN CLASS allows (includes items not allowed in the Buffalo Class):

  • Rigid sticks, more than 2 pieces

  • Clothing not approved for the Buffalo Class

  • Period scopes allowed but rifles and bullets must be the same as the Buffalo Class

  • Any safe loads of duplexed black powder and smokeless powder allowed

Berdan’s Sharpshooters

The Sharpshooters were an infantry regiment created by Hiram Berdan that served in the Union Army during the Civil War and began service in November 1861. The volunteer recruits had to pass a rifle test in order to qualify as a member of the Sharpshooters; each man had to be able to place ten consecutive shots with no misses in a 10 inch circle from 200 yards. They wore distinctive green uniforms. A Sharpshooter had to possess a keen eye, steady hands and a great deal of training and skill with a rifle and cool nerves in order to estimate distance carefully, determine trajectory and effect of the wind.

Membership today in Berdan’s Sharpshooters requires the same test with iron sights. Successfully passing is indicated by wearing a black feather in the green Sharpshooters kepi. And since the Civil War has been over for quite some time we encourage former Confederates to see if they can also qualify as a Berdan Sharpshooter.

Previous Years High Scores