Generating interest and perhapse Getting Muzzleloading started in your area!

[JDBraddy]

I am a member at several local shooting clubs/private ranges, that have nothing to do with Muzzleloading.

Was hoping to perhaps guage if there would be interest enough to get others introduced and started shooting black powder, with the ultimate goal of getting one of these clubs to host monthly BP matches.

Was thinking about maybe trying to set up a Muzzleloading clinic where members can come learn how to load, shoot, and clean traditional muzzleloaders, and perhaps have a few of my rifles available for them to use. Have been hesitant, because of reservations about having guns damaged, and expense of supplying unknown quantity of powder, caps, and lead.

Was wondering what advice or suggestions members here might offer or perhaps experiences and cautions about how you have done or attempted to accomplish similar projects in the past.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I am a member at several local shooting clubs/private ranges, that have nothing to do with Muzzleloading.

Was hoping to perhaps guage if there would be interest enough to get others introduced and started shooting black powder, with the ultimate goal of getting one of these clubs to host monthly BP matches.

Was thinking about maybe trying to set up a Muzzleloading clinic where members can come learn how to load, shoot, and clean traditional muzzleloaders, and perhaps have a few of my rifles available for them to use. Have been hesitant, because of reservations about having guns damaged, and expense of supplying unknown quantity of powder, caps, and lead.

Was wondering what advice or suggestions members here might offer or perhaps experiences and cautions about how you have done or attempted to accomplish similar projects in the past.

Maybe invite a local N-SSA or Black Powder club to one of your ranges/clubs and let them put on a live-fire demo. That would certainly take all the pressure off of you going it alone, and with some folks in period attire that would be even cooler.

 

[rafterob]

My experience has been that if a range allows you to shoot black powder, that instantly drums up interest. Especially a flintlock! Use that as a foot in the door to offer a mini-session on muzzleloading. Many large ranges have a muzzleloading contingent.

 

[BillyC]

I’ve taken my grandson to a few youth days sponsored by local gun clubs and the ones that allowed the kids to shoot muzzle loaders were very well attended. The kids seemed to really like the smoke, the boom and the lack of heavy recoil. After his first one my grandson expressed an interest in flintlocks, which led to the purchase of a Kibler SMR, which led to the purchase of a second SMR for myself, which will soon lead to the purchase of a Kibler hawken.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I remember the blackpowder boom of the 70’s. Those were shining times, blackpowder bloomed…our collective history took center stage, rondys became very popular, the availability of smokepoles peaked…and then it was over, popularity of side-locks dwindled, and the average person at the rondys had greyer and greyer hair.

A bit of a grander view than what you are talking about, but I would love to bring a semblance of those times back, bring back the collective popularity of our American History, and the living history of those days.

So yeah…that would be nice.