Black Powder Cartridge Rifle
Encyclopedia
Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR) refers to modern shooting sports
which employ black powder cartridge
rifles. These firearms, often of the type referred to as "buffalo rifle
s", are single-shot firearms using a fixed metallic catridge containing black powder, which launches heavy projectiles at relatively low velocity.
These firearms are usually used to compete at relatively long-range (up to 1000 metres), and generally with iron sights
rather than telescopic sight
s (scopes). The challenge of the sport lies in the slow loading of the individual cartridge, and the low velocity resulting in a very arched trajectory.
Frequently, the targets at a BPCR match are silhouette targets: large steel cutouts in the shape of animals which often must be knocked to the ground for the hit to count.
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
which employ black powder cartridge
Black powder cartridge
Black powder cartridge refers to firearms ammunition from the period after the introduction of metallic cartridge, but prior to the wide adoption of smokeless powder....
rifles. These firearms, often of the type referred to as "buffalo rifle
Buffalo rifle
Buffalo rifle generally refers to large-calibre, generally single-shot black powder cartridge firearms which were used to hunt the American Bison to near-extinction in the late-19th Century. Three types of rifles in particular were used by professional buffalo hunters, namely the Springfield...
s", are single-shot firearms using a fixed metallic catridge containing black powder, which launches heavy projectiles at relatively low velocity.
These firearms are usually used to compete at relatively long-range (up to 1000 metres), and generally with iron sights
Iron sights
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
rather than telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
s (scopes). The challenge of the sport lies in the slow loading of the individual cartridge, and the low velocity resulting in a very arched trajectory.
Frequently, the targets at a BPCR match are silhouette targets: large steel cutouts in the shape of animals which often must be knocked to the ground for the hit to count.
External links
- Yorkshire Buffalo Hunters, a group trying to re-discover the practical knowledge of the buffalo hunters that has been lost with the development of the modern firearm and smokeless powders.