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You lost me here KAF.  Why would technique be different with a muzzle loader? 

         Joe. 

Blender if I am correct got his start in Muzzle loaders. Most muzzleloader offhand shooters have a different mind set.  Remember one time Chuck told me " I can't figure out why somebody would pull the trigger when the sights are not on the target"

Lot of time and trouble to load short shot strings long barrel time slow swinging muzzle heavy rifles with good triggers will get to to make every shot count.

Conditions are important though.  I see it like a pie with slices large or small depending on the individual or the specific match .

Equipment/Position/Condition/Strategy/Mental.   

Some guys excel at one or another others do well with all 5 parts. Most of us spend way too much time on the equipment.   As you progress one seems to fall into line then another part needs work.  Seems to me it's a series of jumps to a new level then level out while looking for the next way to advance. 

Boats

If you want a good narrative on approach pattern read Tubbs Books.  I don't think I understood the importance until reading his first book.
Other key thing he says that's pattern related is go through a fixed pre shot routine same way every time, anything interrupts it start all over and go through it again. Tubbs theroy in short,  lot of things you can't control but the pre shot coming up into position same way every time is controllable and gives you the proper entry to break the shot same way every time

Hate to keep using the Golf analogy but watch those guys on TV, anything breaks there pre-swing routine they back off and go through it again. Never any inconsistency in how the approach the shot. Baseball pitchers same way pattern pre throw is very individual and always consistent.

Spotting and calling the line in SB Silhouette I see guys shoot then do a little dance while pulling the rifle down and chambering another then mounting the rifle & coming back on target all sorts of different ways. Never see them shoot well either. Guys that win our matches in AAA or Master class are absolutely consistent in everything they do.

My eyes were really opened when my son got me to start shooting IDPA pistol.  Though it was run and blast with no thought on were the bullet went. I was wrong, at the Master level guys have uncanny accuracy in blitz fast time.  Thing they do is always index with there eye on the target then mount the pistol same way every time.  Even if shooting while moving they draw, raise the gun to firing position from the same point every shot

Fellow that shoots around here to prove a point took the sights off his 9mm  and hits 25 yard 8 inch plates like clockwork running down the rack never missing a single one. He can back off to 50 yards and miss very few.  Here is a U tube get past the hype and look at his shot pattern strikes would have been a respectable target at 100 yards with a Schuetzen offhand.

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