Muzzleloading Future

[54ball]

If joining in a discussion and voiceing my 2cw makes me a NAZI then maybe I don't belong even in the outer circle. Bent

Huh ??

Bent nobody is calling you a nazi. You are entitled to your opinion and it adds to the conversation, but do expect a counter.

 

[Claude Mathis]

I have been in car clubs and motorcycle clubs and some of them also have standards some of which are tite that make it hard to become a member.

I'm in a couple "clubs". I joined because of the "standards".

Why would someone do otherwise?

 

[Coot]

Voicing an opinion in a civil way doesn't make anyone a Nazi. Voicing an opinion about events that one has never attended needs to be carefully done or there might be a credibility issue. :wink:

In general one might say that there are four main types of muzzleloading events: rondys, reenactments, shooting matches and shows. My experience has been that those who regularly participate in any of these events are interested in growing their particular part of the hobby but may or may not have any interest in the other areas.

Rondys are sort of family gatherings that enjoy an old time or primitive focus and support a wide range of skills & interests. Almost all have public hours where possible new members can come see & talk with participants to see what that event is like & whether they would be interested in joining. While the rondys typically include shooting matches, shooting is only one part of the whole rondy experience & not the most important part for many. Rondys are time specific only to "pre 1840" and are typically pretty relaxed as to standards but do want clothing & camps to be 'close enough' for the pre 1840 world.

Reenactments are events that are focused on specific times and locations (often specific historical events) and require guns and gear that reflect in a fairly accurate way the specific time & location for that particular event. Some reenactments are stricter than others and some require that you gear & camp be approved by the event organizers (juried) as accurate enough (for that event) before you can set up camp or join in as a participant (as opposed to a spectator). Like rondys, reenactments typically have public hours where questions with the participants can give one an idea if this activity & time frame appeals to them. Most reenactments do not involve live fire but only shoot blanks.

Shooting matches (which seems to be your area of interest) are most often found at shooting or gun clubs. Muzzleloading matches are just like any other shooting match in that the club or organizer makes rules as to what guns, targets, ammunition, sights etc are allowed to compete with each other. Most shooting matches do not require "period" clothes - and do not require a "camp" at all. The interest focus is on shooting & the shooters may or may not have any interest beyond punching tight groups or breaking clays.

Shows are static displays - some of antique originals & some of contemporary guns & some with both. Typically related items such as horns, bags, knives, etc are well represented. There are
collectors who have no interest in shooting the guns but are very deep into the study & history of them. The people at shows might or might not ever dress out in period clothes or camp out. Just as with the other events, the organizer/s make the rules for their event as to what is allowed or expected.

It is up to each of us to check on what is allowed or required at an event as part of our deciding whether it is of personal interest or not, and whether we are prepared (both in equipment and attitude) to be a full participant or just a spectator, or not attend at all. While the world has it's share of grumps, I have found friendly & helpful people at all types of events. Hopefully that will be the experience for the vast majority.

 

[Trench]

Most of the Rondies that post an ad give the time frame in which they portray and visitors are welcome for a few hours or certian days but unless you meet the standards then you must leave and then return the next day, some allow you to enter some of the contest, yes you can get items at the show/rondy but do you have any idea what to get ? as a new person and do you have the chance to spend time with the one of the well dressed/outfitted persons there? to pick their brain.

No I don't think the rules should be relaxed across the board, but there should be gatherings "open" enough to attract the wanna-be people out there. And yes there are some gatherings that are "open".
I have been in car clubs and motorcycle clubs and some of them also have standards some of which are tite that make it hard to become a member.

I have not been to a gathering as most have not been near enough or conflicted with life/work, but that was MY choice

If joining in a discussion and voiceing my 2cw makes me a NAZI then maybe I don't belong even in the outer circle. Bent

Interesting. This has been one of the easiest hobbies to get in to. I made some mistakes due to some lack of direction when getting started, but then some research and talking to others helped a lot. If you want to get involved, you have to take the first steps. No one is going to pluck you out of the crowd at an event and get you started. Next time you're at an event, just start talking to people. People in this hobby are the most friendliest I've ever met. Once you show you're interested, you'll be surprised at other's generosity in getting started.

 

[RedFeather]

Well, it would appear that, just as with any hobby, there are multiple levels or facets to shooting BP. Me, I just enjoy the doing it all in one shot (no pun intended), loading, capping (in my case) and shooting, then the huge puff of smoke. That's what sets it way apart from smokeless guns. To others, it's about duplicating a part of the past. That might be hunting with a flintlock or it might be living off the land for a week as they did back then. It's all good.

Concerning reenacting, I was invited to join a Civil War unit. When I asked about how it goes, they said, well, you can come in as a private or such but, if you have a horse, etc, you could be an officer. That sounded EXACTLY like the Civil War - no thank you, please! Maybe I could be one of those guys who paid for a substitute, too. :grin: On the other hand, there were a couple of guys shooting at the range (only BP burners there that day) and they had large straw hats with black grosgrain ribbons emblazoned with CSN. Yep, Confederate Navy. Very relaxed and in it for the fun. Would have joined that group but couldn't travel extensively at the time. So I guess it all depends upon what suits you.

FWIW, about the best way to get the sport to grow is to let a smokeless shooter have a shot or two next time you are at the range.

 

[Col. Batguano]

I couldn't agree more.

My experience running ranges at Boy Scout camp is that the boys mostly wanted to shoot. They'd try BP for the experience, but, because in 10 minutes they only usually got off 2 shots, it wasn't as appealing as rattling off 10 shots with a .22.

BP (and flinters in particular) are something you graduate TO, rather than something you come FROM.

 

[ryoung14]

I have been makin smoke off and on since the mid 80's and have NEVER been to a rondy because most have a hc/pc requirement to particapate in most or all of the matches.

Until this way of life relaxes a little and allows a beginner to join in without being HC/PC or razzed for having one of the starter/import guns its going to be tough to grow. Bent

Interesting viewpoint. It sounds like what you're say is, you'd like to join in, but only if they do away with the guidelines that make it what it is to begin with?

Kind of like a guy who wants to be in a band, but doesn't want to have to play an instrument. :wink:

Well, Claude, you did a good job of illustrating Bentchile's complaint. You're an articulate guy; Bentchile hasn't quite reached that level. Instead of taking advantage of this to make him look foolish, why not put yourself in his 'workboots' to see where he's coming from and why he might feel the way he does? Might not that provide a clue as to why some decline to participate?

This thread, in an unintended way, is doing a fine job of demonstrating the attitudes that limit participation in this sport.

 

[ryoung14]

I actually think the re-enactment stuff has driven the sport to be much larger in the U.S. than it would have otherwise.

I believe you're right, Dean, and that helps to accomplish the goal.

Same thing can be said of inlines, sabots, Pyrodex pellets and Powerbelts...and...extended ML seasons (according to people here anyway). These things help folks unacquainted with MLs to move from their familiar .30-06s and Rem 870s to a whole 'nother shooting world. In time, some will come to see the advantage of traditional arms; others will not.

So it boils down to this for the staunch traditionalist: Do you want to grow the sport or do you want to keep ML season for yourself and others that think like you?

If you want to grow the sport you'll have to learn to accept the inlines and other non-traditional technology as it'll lead some to the "path of truth" (or however you see it).

If your goal is to have more deer wandering within range of your flintlock smoothie by banning evil inlines from the woods, then fine; but don't pretend you want to grow the sport.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Well, Claude, you did a good job of illustrating Bentchile's complaint. You're an articulate guy; Bentchile hasn't quite reached that level. Instead of taking advantage of this to make him look foolish, why not put yourself in his 'workboots' to see where he's coming from and why he might feel the way he does? Might not that provide a clue as to why some decline to participate?

I think he did a fine job of articulating why he won't become involved, without me walking in his boots.

”¦ have NEVER been to a rondy because most have a hc/pc requirement to particapate in most or all of the matches.

”¦ the rules say that to camp in the INNER circle you must dress and camp hc/pc for a certain period

”¦ Until this way of life relaxes a little and allows a beginner to join in without being HC/PC or razzed for having one of the starter/import guns its going to be tough to grow.

If anything, I was trying to point out the paradox of having an historical event, without the requirements of having it be historic in nature.

People attend strict historical events because they are historical. To lower the standards for people who aren't interested in the historical aspects would, in my opinion, defeat the purpose of the event. What's the point in having a pre-1840 cutoff date if you allow tennis shoes and nylon tents, so the "beginners" feel welcome?

Another analogy: The argument that a Traditional Japanese Sushi Bar should offer hot dogs for people who don't like fish is lost on me. :wink: