The MLAGB run a few matches during the course of each
year, notably the Pistolfest early in the year, and then
the pistol championships and the Pedersoli Challenge
later on. There's also a Historic Revolver championship,
but more of that later. Some of the matches are open,
but most are for members only, and they're split between
Bisley and the MLAGB home range at
Wedgnock. If you want to shoot muzzle loaders
competitively, then it's a good idea to join the MLAGB
as they provide the best precision matches there are.
Remember, all pistols have to be original or spirit of
the original, modern adjustable sights are strictly
prohibited. Likewise, all shooting is one handed, and a
good grounding in precision technique is vital.
The matches are characterised by
confusing names, and further confused by having
variants for original and repro pistols. However, at the
end of the day, they all have exactly the same course of
fire; which is 13 shots off-hand at 25m on the normal
UIT precision target, the PL7. So to make sure everyone
stays awake they've invented a quirky scoring system
where you fire 13 shots, discard the worst three, and
then score the remaining ten as having to be 50% over
the line to score high.
Unlike the Phoenix, these matches are deadly serious as
the MLAGB have an international team who trek off around
Europe and the rest of the world marching about in
Blazers and Flannels. Not my cup of tea, but if you
aspire to such things then make yourself known to the
pistol secretary and I'll sure you'll get all the help
and encouragement you need.
