I rode my Royal Enfield out to the Ben Avery range to see what was happening at the NMLRA (National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association) Western National Shoot today (Thurs. Feb 28).
The first thing I noticed was there was no tent set aside from the rest for selling black powder as there usually is.
Asking a guy in the NMLRA, who was selling raffle tickets about it he told me that the normal vendor cancelled out at the last minute and wouldn't be there.
He went on to say the NMLRA is having black powder shipped to them and he expected it to arrive today.
He said the tent would be located over by Traders Row but wasn't exactly sure where it would be set up. Normally, it is some distance from Traders Row because of the hazards.
Now, for the fly in the ointment.
Because the NMLRA is selling the powder this year, all buyers must be members. He went on to say that's the way the Insurance and sales licenses were set up.
When I asked him what happens if someone who isn't a member shows up to buy powder he said, "We can sign them up for membership right here", and showed me the forms.
"If they take this yellow copy over to the power sales tent they can buy as much as they wish."
Knowing that some of you are not members, if you plan on buying your powder at the shoot, plan on spending an additional $40 to join the NMLRA.
I know this seems like a extra expense and it is a lot of money but on the plus side (IMO), you will receive the Muzzle Blasts magazine for a year and despite what some others say it is a pretty good magazine.
Anyway, for those who don't usually bother reading all of the writing in the posts:
BLACK POWDER AT THE WINTER NATIONALS WILL BE SOLD TO NMLRA MEMBERS ONLY THIS YEAR.
The first thing I noticed was there was no tent set aside from the rest for selling black powder as there usually is.
Asking a guy in the NMLRA, who was selling raffle tickets about it he told me that the normal vendor cancelled out at the last minute and wouldn't be there.
He went on to say the NMLRA is having black powder shipped to them and he expected it to arrive today.
He said the tent would be located over by Traders Row but wasn't exactly sure where it would be set up. Normally, it is some distance from Traders Row because of the hazards.
Now, for the fly in the ointment.
Because the NMLRA is selling the powder this year, all buyers must be members. He went on to say that's the way the Insurance and sales licenses were set up.
When I asked him what happens if someone who isn't a member shows up to buy powder he said, "We can sign them up for membership right here", and showed me the forms.
"If they take this yellow copy over to the power sales tent they can buy as much as they wish."
Knowing that some of you are not members, if you plan on buying your powder at the shoot, plan on spending an additional $40 to join the NMLRA.
I know this seems like a extra expense and it is a lot of money but on the plus side (IMO), you will receive the Muzzle Blasts magazine for a year and despite what some others say it is a pretty good magazine.
Anyway, for those who don't usually bother reading all of the writing in the posts:
BLACK POWDER AT THE WINTER NATIONALS WILL BE SOLD TO NMLRA MEMBERS ONLY THIS YEAR.
