Tallbald
Member
I wonder if there are any black powder dedicated shooting clubs in my neck of the woods, South Central Kentucky or north Central Tennessee? It would sure be fun to visit with a large group of BP shooters at a range. Thanks. Don
Black powder shooting clubs in Southern KY, North Central TN?
- Thread starter Tallbald
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D. Buck Stopshere
Member
Website for the NMLRA, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
Go to:http://nmlra.org/business-directory/wpbdm-category/kentucky/
& http://nmlra.org/business-directory/wpbdm-category/tennessee/
Kentucky has 11 & Tennessee has two left. We're fighting a battle of attrition.
In 1987, 27,000 members, now less than 17,000.
Hope this helps,
Buck Buchanan
Field Rep-NC
NMLRA
Go to:http://nmlra.org/business-directory/wpbdm-category/kentucky/
& http://nmlra.org/business-directory/wpbdm-category/tennessee/
Kentucky has 11 & Tennessee has two left. We're fighting a battle of attrition.
In 1987, 27,000 members, now less than 17,000.
Hope this helps,
Buck Buchanan
Field Rep-NC
NMLRA
Tallbald
Member
Hey thank you. I wonder why the decrease? Are those newfangled cartridge gun mag dumps just so attractive to folks nowadays that the grace of loose powder holds no fascination? Don.
D. Buck Stopshere
Member
The black powder business has been primarily supported by both the WWII generation and the "Baby Boomers". They're the ones who grew up with Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Jeriamiah Johnson.
Well, the WWII boys are in their '80's & '90's, and us "Baby Boomers" are in their '60's & pushin' 70. In many black power clubs, the average age is 55.
The financial crash of '08 certainly had an affect on the activity. The job situation & increases in monthly healthcare cuts into disposable income. The inline action rifle represents probably 90% of the black powder market, and traditional rifle gets the remaining 10%.
The North Carolina State Muzzle Loading Rifle Association has a booth of one of the largest hunting venues in the South, the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, next weekend. Every year for the past 25 years, I have passed out thousands of copies of "Muzzle Blasts", magazine of the NMLRA in an effort to sign up new members. Only a handful out of the 20,000 attendees join each year.
Since they only hunt in specific seasons, and not year-round, the Association holds little interest for them to participate in club activities. More than a hundred times when I ask folks at the Dixie Deer Classic, "what kind of black powder rifle do you have, the response is an inline rifle of various makers, oh and they have an "old" Hawken rifle back in closet, that hasn't been shot in a couple of decades.
Notice that Thompson Center Arms, maker of their "Hawken", Renegade, New Englander, and Seneca/Cherokee since the late '60's has dropped their entire line of Traditional Firearms. It's no longer popular. The inline rifle is "King".
Well, the WWII boys are in their '80's & '90's, and us "Baby Boomers" are in their '60's & pushin' 70. In many black power clubs, the average age is 55.
The financial crash of '08 certainly had an affect on the activity. The job situation & increases in monthly healthcare cuts into disposable income. The inline action rifle represents probably 90% of the black powder market, and traditional rifle gets the remaining 10%.
The North Carolina State Muzzle Loading Rifle Association has a booth of one of the largest hunting venues in the South, the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, next weekend. Every year for the past 25 years, I have passed out thousands of copies of "Muzzle Blasts", magazine of the NMLRA in an effort to sign up new members. Only a handful out of the 20,000 attendees join each year.
Since they only hunt in specific seasons, and not year-round, the Association holds little interest for them to participate in club activities. More than a hundred times when I ask folks at the Dixie Deer Classic, "what kind of black powder rifle do you have, the response is an inline rifle of various makers, oh and they have an "old" Hawken rifle back in closet, that hasn't been shot in a couple of decades.
Notice that Thompson Center Arms, maker of their "Hawken", Renegade, New Englander, and Seneca/Cherokee since the late '60's has dropped their entire line of Traditional Firearms. It's no longer popular. The inline rifle is "King".
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Membership in the NMLRA dropped by at least 10k when I just getting into the hobby. Many folks rebelled against the NMRLA's acceptance of in-lines and their inclusion in the magazine, Muzzle Blasts. While in-lines have been around since the 1850s (someone here posted an image of one such percussion cap fired inline that was made way back then), the modern ones that are reliant upon shotgun primers for ignition are repulsive to many. Also consider that we are an aging group. Unless we recruit younger members, we will continue to decline. The third is the fact that as a nation we have been in a declining economy since 2007. Less disposable capital means less ducats for hobbys.
Tallbald
Member
How expensive is membership? I'm living on a fixed income, but Muzzle Blasts sounds interesting. I sure wish there was a chapter close to Bowling Green, KY. But then again, if only "traditional" black powder weapons are viewed as being in keeping with the spirit of the hobby I wouldn't be very welcomed, nor be interested in joining only to be shunned. All I have are four beautiful stainless Ruger Old Army's and a CVA Optima V2 stainless inline pistol, all of which I love and shoot with enthusiasm. Not interested at my age in joining a group only to have to defend my choice of tools. Pretty sad that there's any conflict at all in a segment of the shooting hobbies. Seems to me we better all hang together or hang separately. Don.
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Here you go: http://nmlra.org/become-the-newest-member-of-the-nmlra/ The membership price depends on the duration you join. One year is $40 and three years is $115. It gets cheaper. I'm a life member.
Tallbald
Member
4V50 Gary thank you. I looked online to perhaps see a copy of a recent Muzzle Blasts issue but the latest available I can find to look at is almost 15 years old. Much has changed in 15 years. Would our local library perhaps have an issue I could enjoy? Don.
whughett
Member
Quote :Well, the WWII boys are in their '80's & '90's, and us "Baby Boomers" are in their '60's & pushin' 70. In many black power clubs, the average age is 55.
WOW! Mr. D. Buck you skipped a whole generation of peoples, us war babies born in the late 30's and thru the 40's. But then again perhaps we are too few to matter. Did not discover black powder shooting my self until well into my sixties, even though I've owned and used firearms since the age of twelve. and by any definition could be classified as a " gun aficionada"
Just funning, love the smell of gun powder, black or otherwise.......................
WOW! Mr. D. Buck you skipped a whole generation of peoples, us war babies born in the late 30's and thru the 40's. But then again perhaps we are too few to matter. Did not discover black powder shooting my self until well into my sixties, even though I've owned and used firearms since the age of twelve. and by any definition could be classified as a " gun aficionada"
Just funning, love the smell of gun powder, black or otherwise.......................
D. Buck Stopshere
Member
whughett, regrets about leaving you out, I was using the commonly use terms for those generations. I started black powder shooting in 1959.
Tallbald,
If you will send me your USPS mailing address to my e-mail address at: [email protected]/
I will mail the latest issue, January 2015, to your house address.
I'll extend the same offer to the next five who are interested in a copy.
I will be handing out hundreds of the magazine this weekend at the 2015 Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, NC, and anyone coming should be sure to stop at the North Carolina State Muzzle Loading Rifle Association's booth and say, "Howdy".
We'll have the usual rack of muzzleloaders, including a swivel-breech flintlock rifle/shotgun, a double barrel flintlock 12 gauge shotgun, a few beautiful flintlock custom-made rifles, C &B Ruger Old Army revolvers, and a flintlock rifle in the building stage to show interested folks the gunmaking process.
None of the firearms are for sale, they are on loan from their owners to add "sparkle" to our booth.
Buck Buchanan
Field Rep-NC
NMLRA Life Member
NRA Life Member
Tallbald,
If you will send me your USPS mailing address to my e-mail address at: [email protected]/
I will mail the latest issue, January 2015, to your house address.
I'll extend the same offer to the next five who are interested in a copy.
I will be handing out hundreds of the magazine this weekend at the 2015 Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, NC, and anyone coming should be sure to stop at the North Carolina State Muzzle Loading Rifle Association's booth and say, "Howdy".
We'll have the usual rack of muzzleloaders, including a swivel-breech flintlock rifle/shotgun, a double barrel flintlock 12 gauge shotgun, a few beautiful flintlock custom-made rifles, C &B Ruger Old Army revolvers, and a flintlock rifle in the building stage to show interested folks the gunmaking process.
None of the firearms are for sale, they are on loan from their owners to add "sparkle" to our booth.
Buck Buchanan
Field Rep-NC
NMLRA Life Member
NRA Life Member
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