Amusing/Ridiculous Muzzleloading Misconceptions...

[Dude]

I said I did not spend much time reloading. For a start I dont have to worry about case preparation.

...and you only have to make them out of cheap paper.

 

[troy2000]

That was then....this is now. I didn't do it.......you didn't do it....I don't owe them or anyone else NOTHING!! That was the times...period!

I don't think anyone was accusing you of being the guilty party...

 

[Dude]

I don't think anyone was accusing you of being the guilty party...

But it sounds like he's got a guilty conscience, so perhaps some penance is in order?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Not sure if I should add this but....
The other day at the Gunsmith a customer said there is no way he would use a muzzleloader because of all the time it took to reload.
Now this guy is competitive shooter.

I said I did not spend much time reloading. For a start I dont have to worry about case preparation.
He gave me a stunned look and said "I never thought of it like that before"

Funny you say that.
I use to spend loads of time reloading metallic cartridges and 12g hulls....not to mention a small fortune.
Now, thanks to Muzzleloading I have way more time to spend with family and as long as I keep away from the gun store extra money to treat my good wife

 

[Enfield58]

You're not from Arkansas are you. Had several people question my using a riding cart in Wal-Mart. Like I'm supposed to stop and relate how I achieved each of my injuries on demand. I really have to bite my tongue and not invite them out to the car and offer to shoot them through one knee and use a sledge hammer to bust 6 inches off the opposite thigh bone and see how well they can walk later on in life. And live on the pittance I worked for and paid into for over 40 years. The gall of some folks. Don't even get me started on my smokepoles, LOL!

I had back problems for several decades. Surgery corrected that. I also looked really young for my age. I looked age 12 till I turned 35. That's no exaggeration.

I share that because people would look at me, thinking that I was younger than I really am and could not believe that I had back problems.

When I would wince in pain on a couple of different occasions, someone would ask what was wrong with me. I replied that I had back problems.

Without skipping a beat, the jerk would reply, "there is nothing wrong with your back!"

I could probably repeat a lot of the myths that I've heard about muzzleloaders that has already been said here but will relate that looking young will get you a lot of unsolicited advice at the range.

For example, it almost never failed that the "old timers" would come up to the "kid" and start telling me how to load, shoot and clean my black powder guns. They didn't know that I had as much or possibly more experience with muzzleloaders then they did.

I'm now in my 60s but look about 20 years younger and still get unsolicited advice from the old guys (my age) who think I am some sort of a yuppie.

I've always been taught to listen politely and that we can always learn something new. The "old timers" assumed that I was probably just out of school and that I didn't have any experience with muzzleloaders.

I was an occasional guest with a friend at a muzzle loading club many years ago but never joined because I got tired of getting all the advice from the gray beards in buckskin. Yes, some of these guys believed that putting on buckskin and not shaving their gray beards gave them a mantle of authority. I'm not saying all graybeards are like that but some.

Anyway, my friend agreed, the way that some of the more prominent members of that club would talk to me as if I were an idiot was uncalled for but I remained polite.

One day they had a long range shoot but was only out to 400 yards. It was with black powder metallic cartridge rifles.

The target was paper with the black about 26 inches in diameter. The spotter down range was behind cover and in radio communication. He would spot the rounds after the shot was fired.

It was windy day and I got there after a lot of the members tried their hand. I laid down with my Sharps but amazingly didn't get any advice.

I put five rounds in the black from 400 yards. The spotter on the radio asked the RO what I was shooting. He replied that it was a Sharps.

Everyone was silent. I asked how that group stacked up compared with everyone else (me not knowing how everyone else did).

The RO replied that I was the only one to hit the paper that day!

After that, I stopped getting any advice from anyone.

Bonus story: I had an attractive girlfriend that went to another range with me one day because she wanted to shoot. To reemphasize, get this picture in your head. There appears to be this 12-year-old kid with a drop-dead-gorgeous-brunette that's got... Well let's say she was blessed.

Everyone of those %&*#%^@! at the range that day had to stop and give the little lady some advice because this 12-year-old-kid doesn't seem to be doing it correctly.

They were lucky that I'm a patient man. It's not wise to go bird-dogging another man's girl when he has guns and knows how to use them.

 

[toot]

I just got a flint lock for my wife, boy did I screw that guy!!!

 

[Sam squanch]

I just get rude and nasty with people that don’t mind their own business anymore. It’s the only message some idiots understand…

 

[Sam squanch]

And I quit shooting at public ranges years ago.

 

[Treestalker]

I had back problems for several decades. Surgery corrected that. I also looked really young for my age. I looked age 12 till I turned 35. That's no exaggeration.

I share that because people would look at me, thinking that I was younger than I really am and could not believe that I had back problems.

When I would wince in pain on a couple of different occasions, someone would ask what was wrong with me. I replied that I had back problems.

Without skipping a beat, the jerk would reply, "there is nothing wrong with your back!"

I could probably repeat a lot of the myths that I've heard about muzzleloaders that has already been said here but will relate that looking young will get you a lot of unsolicited advice at the range.

For example, it almost never failed that the "old timers" would come up to the "kid" and start telling me how to load, shoot and clean my black powder guns. They didn't know that I had as much or possibly more experience with muzzleloaders then they did.

I'm now in my 60s but look about 20 years younger and still get unsolicited advice from the old guys (my age) who think I am some sort of a yuppie.

I've always been taught to listen politely and that we can always learn something new. The "old timers" assumed that I was probably just out of school and that I didn't have any experience with muzzleloaders.

I was an occasional guest with a friend at a muzzle loading club many years ago but never joined because I got tired of getting all the advice from the gray beards in buckskin. Yes, some of these guys believed that putting on buckskin and not shaving their gray beards gave them a mantle of authority. I'm not saying all graybeards are like that but some.

Anyway, my friend agreed, the way that some of the more prominent members of that club would talk to me as if I were an idiot was uncalled for but I remained polite.

One day they had a long range shoot but was only out to 400 yards. It was with black powder metallic cartridge rifles.

The target was paper with the black about 26 inches in diameter. The spotter down range was behind cover and in radio communication. He would spot the rounds after the shot was fired.

It was windy day and I got there after a lot of the members tried their hand. I laid down with my Sharps but amazingly didn't get any advice.

I put five rounds in the black from 400 yards. The spotter on the radio asked the RO what I was shooting. He replied that it was a Sharps.

Everyone was silent. I asked how that group stacked up compared with everyone else (me not knowing how everyone else did).

The RO replied that I was the only one to hit the paper that day!

After that, I stopped getting any advice from anyone.

Bonus story: I had an attractive girlfriend that went to another range with me one day because she wanted to shoot. To reemphasize, get this picture in your head. There appears to be this 12-year-old kid with a drop-dead-gorgeous-brunette that's got... Well let's say she was blessed.

Everyone of those %&*#%^@! at the range that day had to stop and give the little lady some advice because this 12-year-old-kid doesn't seem to be doing it correctly.

They were lucky that I'm a patient man. It's not wise to go bird-dogging another man's girl when he has guns and knows how to use them.

Thanks for your story Enfield, I am in my 60's with a completely gray beard and hair, and I can relate to you. I was baby faced and had 'girls' hands until I was 17 or so. It's amazing how many people are medical professionals without licences are walking around. And child care professionals.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Thanks for your story Enfield, I am in my 60's with a completely gray beard and hair, and I can relate to you. I was baby faced and had 'girls' hands until I was 17 or so. It's amazing how many people are medical professionals without licences are walking around. And child care professionals.

Why what happened?
Did they mess up your chromosomes or something?

 

[Enfield58]

Why what happened?
Did they mess up your chromosomes or something?

Let's not get on the hype of "He has a really big bore rifle because he's got a little pistol crap."

 

[Britsmoothy]

Let's not get on the hype of "He has a really big bore rifle because he's got a little pistol crap."

The thought never crossed my mind.....

 

[MSW]

i sometimes ponder how the human race manages to propagate

 

[LME]

There was a saying about arguing with a person of little intelligence, i will clean it up. "Never argue with an idiot, as a stranger passing by might not realize who the idiot is".

The statement I like is," never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you to death with experience" !

 

[jefair1]

I prefer Mark Twain's saying:
" Never argue with a fool. They will pull you down to their level and beat you with experience."

 

[Whitworth]

Thanks for your story Enfield, I am in my 60's with a completely gray beard and hair, and I can relate to you. I was baby faced and had 'girls' hands until I was 17 or so. It's amazing how many people are medical professionals without licences are walking around. And child care professionals.

Had a friend who looked like "Gilligan" and stayed that way. He looked like a grown up kid.

 

[bud in pa]

Hey Enfield I grew up in the northeast part of Jersey. We were taught at an early age that we don't have to suffer an idiot! Do whatever necessary to cause them to leave you alone!

 

[ML48]

Not sure if I should add this but....
The other day at the Gunsmith a customer said there is no way he would use a muzzleloader because of all the time it took to reload.
Now this guy is competitive shooter.

I said I did not spend much time reloading. For a start I dont have to worry about case preparation.
He gave me a stunned look and said "I never thought of it like that before"

If he's shooting factory ammo, he's not worrying about case preparation either.
And if he reloads at home, he's probably got a crap load of cartridges on his person, and still not worrying about reloading.....just sayin'.

 

[ML48]

I don't think anyone was accusing you of being the guilty party...

No kidding....really? It was a statement made in general...get it yet???

 

[ML48]

I hear a lot of you making comments about talking to fools or idiots, etc.
I have always contended, "it takes one to know one"!!
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