"Chunk Guns" What are they talking about?

[Mule]

A friend dropped off a few old copies of Muzzle Blast magazine.

A couple articles talk about shooting "Chunk Guns"
What are they talking about???

I regularly shoot and hunt with a .45 Hawken replica and a .50 Rem 700ML.  I load BP 12 ga shells.
Never heard of a Chunk Gun.

Educate this old fat bald white guy.

[Swampman]

"For those of you not familiar with chunk guns, a chunk gun is a traditional style longrifle with a particularly long and heavy barrel designed specifically for target shooting.   Chunk guns are shot over a log or "chunk" while laying on the ground.  They are shot at a target 60 yards away.   You take 10 shots and add up the distances between the center of the bullet holes and the center of the bulls-eye.  The shortest total distance wins."

[mcwoodduck]

They are real accurate front stuffers that shoot off of a "chunk" of wood as a rest.
Hillbilly 1800's version of a Harris bipod.

[Mule]

Now I get it.

I thought Chunk was a reference to caliber.

Thanks!

[Graybeard]

And I thought it wuz a cannon that "chunked" a punkin way down range. I think someone has requested a new forum jist to talk about them. 

[Forestclimber]

Chunk shooting is an addiction.   

You get ten shots.  Each shot is at an individual target.  You sight your rifle in so it shoots either high or low from your bullseye.  Put up a target.  Shoot some practice shots.  Then place your individual target (one of ten) behind the target you just shot at.  You have to center the bullseye on the number one target behind the holes you made in you practice target.  Now shoot again at your practice target exactly like you did before.  Hopefully you will hit dead center on the individual target.  Now replace target number one with target number two, and shoot again.  Do this until you have shot at all ten targets.  Add the distance from the center of the bullseye to the center of your bullet hole on all ten targets.  That is your score.   I've seen scores under four inches total.  Pretty easy, huh!

If you want to have a blast, go to the Alvin York Chunk Shoot in Pall Mall, Tennessee.  It's like the Chunk World Series.  You win beef.

[coyotejoe]

Bib overalls required.

[GregP42]

That was a great description of a chunk gun shoot! The Bevel brothers would be proud of y'all. Don't forget the chunk gun shoots at Friendship, In. every year too. If you have never made it to Friendship you should go at least once in you life.

Greg

[Forestclimber]

Here is info about the York shoot:

SATURDAY - MARCH 29, 2008

PLACE: ALVIN YORK’S FARM - PALL MALL, TENN.

MATCH FEE: $35.00 FOR 10 ~ 1 SHOT MATCHES.

SCORE: TOTAL MEASUREMENT OF ALL 10 SHOTS

GRAND PRIZES FOR TOP OVERALL SCORE !

SPECIAL PRIZES FOR BEST ‘X’  OF THE DAY !

 FRESH CUT BEEF FOR THE TOP 40 PLACES !!!

DRESS: 1920-30’S ATTIRE – MEN: BIBBED OVERALLS, WIDE TIES, OLD SUITS JACKETS W/ WIDE LAPELS, WIDE BRIMMED FEDORA HATS, ETC. WW1 UNIFORMS WELCOMED.

LADIES: FANCY OLD DRESSES, HOSE W/ SEAM UP BACK, BONNETS. LOOK LIKE MRS. GRACY !

PRICES FOR BEST DRESSED - BOTH MEN AND WOMEN !

 

         RULES: Traditional rifles - flint or percussion, either traditional hunting or ‘old style’ traditional target type, no limit to weight or caliber. No false muzzles, no sealed ignition, no in-line actions, no thumbhole or adjustable stocks and no padded buttplates. Rifles must shoot black powder w/ patched lead round balls, no bullets. Shaders are permitted, but must not extend past the rear of the breech. Rear sights: fixed and open - at least 6” in front of the breech. Front sights: blade, pinhead or post. The use of barrel rests (cant blocks) or sandbags on the chunk are permitted and encouraged. Only the shooter’s hand may support the butt of the rifle, no sandbags or blocks of wood are allowed under the butt of the rifle and no gloves of any kind. The butt of the rifle may not touch the ground.

 

REGISTRATION: $35.00 $5.00 membership in Alvin York Rifles

[Forestclimber]

Whoops.  The above post was for 2008, but I'm sure everything is about the same for 2009 except the date.  It should be coming up soon.