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At our club we mostly conduct offhand rifle matches. I bought a GPR .54 to get started but am wondering what features one looks for in a good offhand match rifle. I have considered getting a custom barrel made for the rifle in .45 to lower the recoil. Was wondering if a little longer barrel than stock would be useful to help muzzle movement. Would like to hear from the offhand experts what they look for in a good offhand rifle for competition regarding rifle type, barrel size/caliber, length, etc. Appreciate hearing any of your thoughts on this issue.
Wirebrush
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My long time favorite is a 45 cal one inch across the flats by 38 inches long. This is on a full stock rifle that weights in just under 10 pounds. I think that most of the top offhand guys anymore tend to favor the 40 cal and I am in the process of building myself one, not in any big hurry as my old rifle is doing just fine. I wouldn't consider anything over a 45 myself or under a 40 with the weight and length to suit your build and style of shooting. Of course you need to consider the type of sights how high they will set on the barrel and then that has an effect on the comb and drop of the stock and I like a bit of cast-off built into my stock and I don't like too much of a curve to the butt plate flatter is better for me. It has to be built to fit you and be comfortable for you to shoot extended periods of shooting.
Good luck!
RB
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Here is mine
45 cal
Schutezen style buttplate and rear sight
30" barrel or so
100 yards and a good deal of luck
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That's a fine looking rifle there and some great shooting too!
RB
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Plastikosmd wrote:
Here is mine
45 cal
Schutezen style buttplate and rear sight
30" barrel or so
Guns like this sure give the "traditional" folks heartburn. I think they are just part of another tradition. I love seeing the old style muzzleloading offhand schuetzen rifles. Nice one. Newly made?
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Not sure on age, I would guess within the last 20 yrs? Great balance, without the schutezen stock, I would guess it would be nose heavy w the long barrel and only 45 cal hole
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Beautiful rifle, rich tradition.
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Here's my long time favorite offhand rifle
I've never been one to get all excited about having an exactly correct HC-PC type rifle. I built this one back in the early eighty's when I thought that the only thing that it took to make a Tennessee style rifle was a iron butt plate and funny looking trigger guard. I now know better but to they are all interesting whether a Southern Mountain rifle, New England Target rifle, Ohio rifle, Golden age or late flinter or hardware rifle is they shoot that's what counts! Pleasing to the eye is a nice benefit though!
Richard
Last edited by rhbrink (4/02/2015 9:45 AM)
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Try again!
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Can only see the top but it looks great
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There is a gentleman named Marvin that has a 45 and 2 50 caliber Green Mountain drop in 15/16 barrels for round ball, I got the 40 he had. I picked it up at the shoot in Brady a couple of weeks ago for 170.00. I don't have his info but someone else posted about his barrels on The Traditional Muzzleloading Forum. You will need to get the key slots moved but might save you some money, they are new in the box.
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