Camp is back in session

[Dave951]

We're finally back shooting with the campers at Raven Knob. We had a good crew of 9 total last Thursday and already have at least 17 for next session. We shot roundball and minies and the new range improvements worked out great.

Here's a few pix from the session

Jim demonstrating shooting stance for accurate offhand musketry.



Balance point is critical for steady aim. Note Jim's got his left elbow into his ribcage.



I'm doing a loading demonstration prior to starting.



Then the shooting commenced. Targets were hit, kids had fun. Break for lunch and then we started into- VOLLEY FIRE!

And that volley fire was on the infamous "Col Mustard" and his drywall horde. For some reason, they love to see the drywall fly in a volley. Aiming point is the leader of the horde "Col Mustard" (a mustard packet) who is guilty of a litany of offenses such as soggy toast, stains on favorite shirts, cheating at solitaire, passing gas in church, tearing the tags off of mattresses, stealing treats from puppies, and many, many more heinous crimes for which he must pay and pay dearly.

 

[Mr.Gadget]

Where is Raven Knob?

Being an N-SSA shooter I have all types of CW guns and extras. Be glad to show up and help.

 

[Dave951]

Where is Raven Knob?

Being an N-SSA shooter I have all types of CW guns and extras. Be glad to show up and help.

Near Fancy Gap/Ladonia NC.

Camp Raven Knob

Camp Raven Knob

www.ravenknob.com

It's one of the best Scout camps in the southeast with over 3200 acres and some great facilities. But, being a primitive type of curricula, we are in the "Mountain Man" program area.

 

[Pynghunter]

@Dave951

As a 43 year old, you’ve brought back some memories. Did high adventure two years in a row at summer camp at Raven Knob.

We never went to the same camp twice in a row, and we cancelled plans to go to Raven Knob a second time!!!!

I remember doing mountain man, horseback riding, rock climbing…

 

[Mr.Gadget]

I did all my scouting in TN and ND.
Had several scouts in our family, both my brothers kids are Eagle scouts.
One family member had 50 years in.
I helped out at the Scout Camp in NC before I moved.

Always great to see a good Scouting program.

 

[Dave951]

Because of logistics, range day in the Mountain Man program has been moved to Tuesday. So we were there yesterday with 16 Scouts. To keep things flowing in a coherent fashion, we divided into morning and afternoon sessions with half the Scouts at each session. The difference between the sessions couldn't have been more striking. Morning session Scouts were quiet but that didn't mean there wasn't some great shooting done. One of our "new" targets is a marshmallow on a fondue stick at 25yd shot off hand with a musket. Try it sometime if you think ya got the starch for it! 😁 The afternoon session was more like a group of teenage boys. So a couple more pix-


Jim doing his starting lecture on history and safety. This is short and to the point cuz everybody is wanting to get trigger time. The kid on the end of the bench nailed 2 marshmallows with 2 shots, so 100% for him. Not only that, I don't recall hearing him say 2 words all day either. He listened carefully to the marksmanship instruction and proceeded to nail everything he shot at and ended with the marshmallows.




We use a variety of targets. There are apples hanging on a wire to the right. "Puff boards" (drywall) make a great target. The paper plates on the left are the starting targets before we move over to the more difficult targets. The white specks in the middle about knee level are the marshmallows. Yeah, try that offhand sometime. We had kids hitting them with Civil War muskets!


And here I'm doing the initial instruction on loading the Civil War musket with minies. Note the lady in the background on the left. You think you can shoot a handgun accurately? If you go up against her, save your ammo, she'll thrash you with a cap and ball Rogers & Spencer. I've seen her put an entire cylinder into 2in at 25yd offhand holding the gun with one hand.



And "volley fire". Here the only guy who remembered to pull the trigger on the fire command is one of our instructors shooting his fusil de chasse, a flintlock that he built. This guy not only builds flintlocks but they become the canvas he does his art on. He also makes powder horns with elaborate, period type scrimshaw and they are also works of art.



And the volley fire target. Col Mustard and his adjt Maj Mayonnaise have fallen on the field and a large hole is left in their place.

 

[Mr.Gadget]

You dang right she can shoot..... Barefoot and all!

 

[Gator]

This is a good thing you are doing. Thank you.

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