Muzzle Loading/Black Powder

Within the SSAA, muzzle loading involves competitive shooting with reproduction and original muzzle loading firearms and cap and ball revolvers.
Many of the excellent reproductions available are exact in every detail to the originals and it surprises many people just how accurate both types of firearms can be in the hands of proficient shooters. Many serious muzzleloaders have tried other types of shooting and have switched to what are lovingly described as 'smoke poles'.

The Firearms
The range of long arms in use by muzzleloaders include:

• Smoothbore matchlock muskets - circa 1600-1650
• Smoothbore flintlock muskets - circa 1700-1800
• Smoothbore percussion muskets - circa 1830-1860* Flintlock rifles - circa 1750-1830
• Percussion rifles - circa 1830-1860* Percussion shotguns - circa 1830-1860

The various types of rifles are divided into six classes:

• Military
• Traditional
• Open
• Flintlock
• Musket
• Matchlock

Handguns also have four different classes:

• Revolvers
• Pistols
• Open
• Firelock (Flintlock / Matchlock)

Handguns used include matchlock and flintlock (smoothbored and rifled),  single-shot pistols,  and the revolvers. Typically revolvers percussion cap and ball models used during the American Civil War.

Competitions
During the past 20 years, SSAA muzzleloaders have competed at many world championships and other international shoots, winning numerous gold, silver and bronze medals in both individual and team events.State and national championships are held yearly. Every two years a world muzzle loading championship is held, with about 20 countries sending teams.

Target and Range
Competitions for pistols and revolvers are shot at 25m and 50m using the international 50m slow pistol target, Rifles compete at 50m, 100m and 200m in the positions of standing, kneeling, prone, benchrest, sitting, and 3-positional.
The same 50m slow pistol target is used for all of the rifle events except for the 200m Benchrest and 50m Musket, which uses a much larger French 200m target.
Matches
Pistol Matches are shot on the first Saturday of the month starting at 1:30pm
Rifle Matches are shot on the third Saturday of the month starting at 1:30pm

Shotgun matches vary – see the program for details. Smokeless Shotguns are welcome to participate in the match.
Black Powder in conjunction with the single shot section also shoot a 300 yard match on Australia Day each year. For more information about this event please see the club notice board or contact the single shot captain.

Captian: Frank Verdini


SSAA National Site Infomation  Here