Favorite caliber and gun for woodswalks?

[Ohio Joe]

I use to hold "ML Range Walks" at my local club / and we shot strictly "swinging" gongs from different distances so all you had to do was hit the gong to get the point... In a contest like this / caliber doesn't matter much as long as you know your ML, and your windage and elevation judging.

It's always fun shooting at reactive targets! And it levels the playing field for all involved. 

(side note) I also used this same technique above when holding .22 Rimfire Matches at our local club... The Rimfire shooters didn't like this type of match / but us Traditional Muzzleloading Shooters - we had great fun with it! 

[No Powder]

If Nessmuk is following this, I hope he doesn't get any ideas about flying or swinging postal targets.

[Ohio Joe]

If Nessmuk is following this, I hope he doesn't get any ideas about flying or swinging postal targets.

 

Tom, those were different sized gongs suspended from chains at different distances. 

I'll say this, Nessmuk has some very good idea's for Postal Matches and Challenges, like the Morgan Rifleman's shingle challenge. That's a good one!!! One I'm going to try when Range conditions (just getting to the Range) gets better. We got snow, again!!! 

[Smokey]

You need a rifle that is accurate for some of these targets yet still have the ability to knock down or ring  a steel gong. 

That sums up the issue behind this question. I have not done more than a few woodswalks. For some targets  like popsicle sticks, a smaller, low recoil caliber seems best. Then, there are things like split the ball on the axe where a larger caliber has more lead to split.

[Butler Ford 40]

My first flintlock, a 40 Cal Southern Mountain Rifle made by Tip Curtis,

[Bigsmoke]

For some targets  like popsicle sticks, a smaller, low recoil caliber seems best. Then, there are things like split the ball on the axe where a larger caliber has more lead to split.

I would differ with you on the more lead to split concept.  Whether you are shooting a .32 or a .72, it is all about hitting the ball dead center on the ax blade.  If you hit it a bit off center, you will only break one balloon or clay bird or whatever.  The other part of the ball will be pushed wide.

John (Bigsmoke)

[BEAVERMAN]

For some targets  like popsicle sticks, a smaller, low recoil caliber seems best. Then, there are things like split the ball on the axe where a larger caliber has more lead to split.

I would differ with you on the more lead to split concept.  Whether you are shooting a .32 or a .72, it is all about hitting the ball dead center on the ax blade.  If you hit it a bit off center, you will only break one balloon or clay bird or whatever.  The other part of the ball will be pushed wide.

John (Bigsmoke)

And don't forget the horseshoe factor!

[Smokey]

My first flintlock, a 40 Cal Southern Mountain Rifle made by Tip Curtis,

Are there any targets that make you want a larger caliber? As far as woodswalks go, how does the .40 perform for you?

[Smokey]

Thanks for all of the replies so far.
Helpful.

[Nessmuk]

I'll bite! What's the "Horseshoe" factor?

[Firewalker]

My favorite was usually my Lyman Trade Rifle in 54. Mighty accurate and easy to carry.
As far as the “ split the ball on the ax” goes I always played the odds. They usually had two clay birds each about an in from the ax, 5 pts. A bird. Having slid a ball down the side of the blade a couple times I opted to just shoot one clay and take the 5pts rather gambling and coming up with nothing. Just have to remember to say ahh shucks I missed. Lol

[BEAVERMAN]

I'll bite! What's the "Horseshoe" factor?

Mark, that's having the horseshoe firmly planted in your backside to be lucky enough to hit the popsicle sticks and split the ball

[Firewalker]

I thought it was the old horseshoes and handgrenades thing.

[Winter Hawk]

I thought it was the old horseshoes and hand grenades thing.

"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades...."

[Bigsmoke]

Close counts with nuclear devices, also.