RKBA

Single Shot Cartridge Rifle

Single shot cartridge rifle, also called black powder cartridge rifles (BPCR) are those rifles that were popular in the thirty-five year period between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the last century.  The old .45-70 cartridge in either the Remington Rolling Block or the Springfield Trapdoor is the image that comes immediately to mind as representative of this type of arm.  However there were many more cartridges and calibers available to shooters such as .40-65, .38-55, .50-70, .50-90 etc.  Sharps, Ballard, Browning, Winchester and Marlin were just a few of the rifle makers at this time.

Today's shooter may be using an original Trapdoor or Rolling Block rifle or a reproduction arm.  He or she may choose to shoot black powder or smokeless powder but nearly all choose to shoot cast lead bullets.

While there those who enter the match with equipment that the rules do not exactly prohibit, the spirit of the match thrives among those who shoot lubricated lead bullets in some manly caliber of .30 or more.  The most pure of the group propel their slugs with black powder.

Rifle Matches

Guthsville will continue to host irregularly scheduled single shot cartridge rifle matches.  

Rules

  • The Guthsville match is open to anyone.

  • The arm must be one that is not bolt operated (no single shot Remington 40-Xs), single shot firing a center-fire cartridge.

  • Only iron sights may be used.

  • Padded shooting coats may be worn but must be open while shooting.

  • Thin gloves may be worn.

  • Crossed sticks should be of a kind that conceivably could be carried on horseback by a Buffalo hunter, not on a pick up truck by a road hunter.

Course of fire

All shooting is at 100 yards on the SR-1 target that simulates 200 yards.

The match requires the shooter to fire thirty record shots in three stages, fifteen minutes each.

  1. Stage one is from the bench using rests or sand bags, ten shots for record with unlimited sighter shots in fifteen minutes.

  2. Stage two is fired from crossed sticks, sitting or kneeling, ten shots for record with unlimited sightershots in fifteen minutes.

  3. Stage three is standing, ten shots for record with unlimited sighter shots in fifteen minutes.

The fee is $5.00 and usually includes some kind of lunch so as to provide an opportunity to get together and trade information.  There are no prizes awarded but a match result is sent to each shooter with scores and other pertinent data.

For more information call Tom Tate at (610) 395-6418.