Was thinking about renewing my NMLRA membership. Let it lapse a year or two ago. Muzzle Blasts magazine is really the only thing I’m interested in. I remember there starting to be more inline hunting content my last few issues. Has this continued? Are they trying to be more broad with the content or are they staying more traditional focused? Thanks…
Muzzle Blasts Focus?
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ILoveMuzzleloading
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I can only recall a couple of inline hunting stories in the past few years personally, but I could be mistaken.
No inline articles to speak of .
My problem is I can read the entire thing in 30 minutes and the one I read is basically the same as last month.
The Editor writes a page telling the reader what the reader is going to read?
Each month James Filmer tells how he is retired, about 10 years now, mentions how he was President, pictures of his wife and family, nothing new month to month.
High light is the Bevel Bros. when they have an article.
$75.00 is kinda high for a 76 page magazine...
My problem is I can read the entire thing in 30 minutes and the one I read is basically the same as last month.
The Editor writes a page telling the reader what the reader is going to read?
Each month James Filmer tells how he is retired, about 10 years now, mentions how he was President, pictures of his wife and family, nothing new month to month.
High light is the Bevel Bros. when they have an article.
$75.00 is kinda high for a 76 page magazine...
Dues have recently been raised from $50 to $75 a year. Too rich for me for just a magazine when my current enrollment expires after ~30 years. I'd say half the mag content has very little interest except to paper punchers who live close to Friendship.
Take a look at Muzzleloader Magazine if you are not already a subscriber. My only complaint with MM is that I wish they would concentrate on the West a bit more. I read each issue cover to cover though.
Take a look at Muzzleloader Magazine if you are not already a subscriber. My only complaint with MM is that I wish they would concentrate on the West a bit more. I read each issue cover to cover though.
Banjoman
Hillbilly
76 pages?! Wow! We can read that many here on any given day about the best patch lube or bore seasoning!
$6 a monthly issue. mm is ?? For 6 issues year.
I wasn’t sure so just looked… MM is $35 a year for six issues. So about the same price per issue between the two ($6.25 vs $5.80). Good point but $35 is a lot easier to swallow than $75 for a magazine. I could probably only read 1 magazine every couple months anyway due to all the others I get.
In fairness, you can save some $ with a digital subscription. I like real, paper magazines though, and have some Red Farris newsletters pre-MB issues from back in the 1930's and boxes of 1940-1998 MB I bought/subscribed when I lived only 5 hours away. Nowadays Friendship is a 2000 mile round trip.
Eric Bye had some good articles in MB a few years ago and wrote a good flintlock book they sell. Bevel Bros were mentioned already. The Fred Stutzenberger series of gunsmithing articles were outstanding, but will soon be no more with his passing. Hope they someday put all those in a book and sell it. I'd buy a copy.
I will miss my membership after all these years, but I have better places to put the money. YMMV depending on age, location or interests.
You can get a second year for $28.00 when you subscribe or renew. That is what I do. Being retired forces pinching pennies to pay for essentials like powder, shot and flints.
TexiKan
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I have been a long time subscriber to Muzzleloader Magazine and yes, I too wish there were more West and Southwest articles. I mentioned it one time in a letter to the editor and they added a writer who focused on those areas, which was great. However, he rarely submits articles, now. The editor's initial response has been they are at the mercy of those who submit articles and many of those sent to them for consideration tend to focus on the East.
Ok so here’s my .02 I joined the NMLRA about 30 years ago some time after I started playing with muzzle loaders, thinking I might someday get to friendship. Now I ve retired again (third time) and am still farming which doesn’t seem to work well with the 2 shoots that they hold that attract vendors and being a 2000 mile round trip I have given it a lot of thought good or bad they are the only voice for muzzle loaders. All of the other groups don’t seem to think we are worth considering because we are such a small group (especially with all of the snarky traditional vs modern
even on this site) I think we have to support them as much as we can and that is the only reason I remain a member.
even on this site) I think we have to support them as much as we can and that is the only reason I remain a member.
Mike in FL
50 Cal.
I hadn't heard about the price jump. I won't renew if that is the case. There is not enough in it for that much money unless the reader is really into the goings on at Friendship, which I ain't. I do enjoy the history articles though but not $75 worth. I will let it lapse and stick with Muzzleloader magazine.
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No. Very little "in-line". Still lots on the competitions, etc. I subscribe, and will continue, but also enjoy Muzzleloader magazine, with lots of history, and crafts (do it yourself column), specific shooting w. Mike Nesbitt, etc. I get 'em both. Try Muzzle Blasts on the newsstand, if there's one near you that carries the niche magazines like Backwoodsman, etc. The membership has been dwindling amongst the subscribers as us old timers pass along, so any support the NMLRA can get is good.
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I chose to renew to support the organization as much as for the magazine. There are improvements that could be made and I do wish they would bring back the podcast!
I expect the magazine would welcome some well written contributions!
I expect the magazine would welcome some well written contributions!
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Me as well. Just fortunate that I have the luxury of some extra money to spend on such choices. have a great holiday season!
And $50 is too high for the electronic version. This is my last year.
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I gotta agree with you; it's not for everyone; if I didn't value the overall presence of the NMLRA, I'd drop it pretty fast. I just think the organization is a good thing to have in general, but I can see where not everyone has the extra money or need for it. If you look at the circulation figures of the magazine, you can see how it's gone from about 15K down to 10 or 11K. I'm not interested in going to Indiana to see the site, nice as it may be. I wish it the best. Muzzleoader is my permanent one of that ilk.
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I have been to Dixon's several times, and Mr. Fulmer is from that area. It's nice to realize that Pennsylvania and area were so instrumental in muzzle loading rifle history.
I think we all need organisations like the NMLRA - I find value in that; even living in NZ. I have visited Friendship twice (1987 and 89) Best memory is shooting Quail Walk with Max Vickery's 20g Manton - wonderful Guy and a stunning firearm - I wait on each month's edition with anticipation and there is usually something of interest - even at foreign rates I will stay with it. If I lived in the US I would contribute - to paraphrase JFK = 'Ask not what the NMLRA can do for you; what you do for the NMLRA?' .
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