Muzzle Blasts Focus?

[Uncle Miltie]

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.

I agree. Those too tight to join can always support those other organizations focused on muzzleloading.....

 

[sturmkatze]

Been there. Not a

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.

lot of guns though, but it was in early 22. Maybe Covid. I live 7 miles from Ft. Chambers.

 

[Absoroka]

I subscribe to and enjoy both. After reading a similar thread a few months ago, I took a look at the amount of content related to advertising versus history, rifles and accoutrements, and hunting etc. The number of pages with that type of content of two MuzzleBlasts issues was almost identical to one Muzzleloader issue. I agree more articles on the west would be good. There was an article in MuzzleBlasts a few months ago on the life of mountain men. I do enjoy the articles that feature rifle builders and other craft folks in both magazines. There are some amazing craft folks making items of real value. (And you can't buy that kind of quality at the same price of a few years ago?) I like the paper magazine. You can sit down and read it by the fire and it does not beep or bing while you read it. Merry Christmas.

 

[WalnutRed]

I renewed my NMLRA membership last year after a 30 year lapse. I usually find two articles of interest in each MB magazine, one will be a Bevel Brothers piece. I think NMLRA is missing an obvious bet by not reprinting an article from an earlier issue in each magazine. I still have copies of the magazine from the last century and feel there is potentially a new generation of readers who would find the old articles interesting and educational. An old friend was a NMLRA member since 1934, I regret not being in the States when his final auction was held. I would have loved to have picked up his MB magazine collection.

 

[Jason Gatliff]

I would like to add my thoughts to this issue, it's not fair to compare MUZZLELOADER to Muzzle Blasts - it's apples and oranges. MB is the membership publication of an organization, we are a commercial magazine. I would imagine very few people join the NMLRA strictly so that they can receive MB. I would also like to add that I have surprised numerous people at Friendship when they would come to me to ask about my opinion regarding the inclusion of modern / in-line muzzleloaders in MB. The NMLRA is the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, not the National Traditional Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. Considering that shooting sports and our second amendment rights are constantly under attack, I support the welcoming modern muzzle loaders into the nmlra. We all need to stick together.

That being said, there are plenty of places you can read about modern muzzleloaders (and I don't personally care for them) so you won't see them in our pages.

I too wish we had more western stuff in MUZZLELOADER, but I am at the mercy of what is sent in (and unfortunately not everything that is sent in is fit for publishing). I have been trying to add a staff writer to write a column about the western fur trade era ever since Rex Allen Norman stopped writing (and I have heard he has pretty much dropped out of the hobby). I have yet to find anyone.

Western Fur Trade and a Women's column (like what Beth Gilgun used to write) are 2 areas I would like to have in each issue. That being said, the focus of the magazine will pretty much always be eastern / 18th century just because of numbers, the vast majority of our subscribers lives in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and New York.

 

[Mike in FL]

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...

 

[Mike in FL]

I renewed my NMLRA membership last year after a 30 year lapse. I usually find two articles of interest in each MB magazine, one will be a Bevel Brothers piece. I think NMLRA is missing an obvious bet by not reprinting an article from an earlier issue in each magazine. I still have copies of the magazine from the last century and feel there is potentially a new generation of readers who would find the old articles interesting and educational. An old friend was a NMLRA member since 1934, I regret not being in the States when his final auction was held. I would have loved to have picked up his MB magazine collection.

I feel like that too. I only joined to get the magazine. I don't shoot completive and I don't care who shot what score. I won't be renewing at the insane price they are asking.