non-ml shoots at NMLRA range

[Rifleman1776]

Several Facebook posts recently about .22 and bpcr matches at Friendship. This is our national MUZZLE LOADING range. Not much said about shooting ml rifles there. Kinda gives a warm, fuzzly feeling.....NOT. :cursing:
BTW, does the opening page on the NMLRA website still feature an archer? Just asking.

 

[FishDFly]

Several Facebook posts recently about .22 and bpcr matches at Friendship. This is our national MUZZLE LOADING range. Not much said about shooting ml rifles there. Kinda gives a warm, fuzzly feeling.....NOT. :cursing:
BTW, does the opening page on the NMLRA website still feature an archer? Just asking.

If you read the Muzzle Blast magazine it lists all the sanctioned muzzle loading shoots and they are listed on the NMLRA website as well.

There are not 52 sanctioned shoots at Friendship each year.

If they can rent out the range for other shoots and cover costs of the range and the organization, I am for renting out the range when it is not needed for sanctioned shoots.

Shooting events there keep folks interested in shooting and a place to go.

As the membership dwindles, it needs all the funds it can raise.

 

[akapennypincher]

Several Facebook posts recently about .22 and bpcr matches at Friendship. This is our national MUZZLE LOADING range. Not much said about shooting ml rifles there. Kinda gives a warm, fuzzly feeling.....NOT. :cursing:
BTW, does the opening page on the NMLRA website still feature an archer? Just asking.

If you read the Muzzle Blast magazine it lists all the sanctioned muzzle loading shoots and they are listed on the NMLRA website as well.

There are not 52 sanctioned shoots at Friendship each year.

If they can rent out the range for other shoots and cover costs of the range and the organization, I am for renting out the range when it is not needed for sanctioned shoots.

Shooting events there keep folks interested in shooting and a place to go.

As the membership dwindles, it needs all the funds it can raise.

You are correct as membership dwindles money is a problem. The other problem with the Friendship Range is it is not close to anything, and not a short drive off any Interstate Highway.

I was actually in Friendship in the Spring of 68, it was out in the middle of no where. We were exploring back roads of Indiana, when I live east of Indy Town.

Heck if you can bring in any source of revnue, you should not happy, not cry about it. As people money is good be they shooting smoke poles, or Weatherby Centerfires.

 

[Rifleman1776]

If you read the Muzzle Blast magazine

I would like to read it again, if they ever send it to me.

As the membership dwindles

I contend membership is dwindling is because the Association has deserted it's founding principals. Doing more to exacerbate the issue and drive members, and potential members, away is not a solution.
I founded a local club that shot on the range. It lasted for years until forced to move. That did not help at all. Now, the down times are being filled with .22s, archers, bpcr, inlines, etc. What is next? Mud wrestlers?

 

[tecum-tha]

Nonsense. The membership is dwindling because
1.) Younger people have less disposable income to "play" or spend it elsewhere
2.) Older folks who always retained membership slowly die away
3.) Your generation failed to bring in your children into the hobby, it doesn't help to bring only the grandkids as it takes a bit until they become "paying" members if ever
4.)Traditional weapons are not "cool" in the younger shooters eye
5.) Pure ML clubs will not be able to grow back enough young members to sustain ranges/bigger events (part of the dying away problem)
6.) The split off of NRHLF and then the TMLRA does not bundle forces and membership dues.

 

[user 2647]

All good points, I am a life member and am all for renting the range out when not in use to bring in some income. With a range like that you would be a fool not to capitalize on its use to raise money. but then again you could just let it set unused and keep paying the upkeep.

 

[FishDFly]

akapennypincher

It is not often we are in agreement, nice to see we are here.

Hwy. 62 is washed out now, makes getting to the range harder to get to.

At this time I am waffling on going in September due to the lack of places to stay.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

Part of the issue is that muzzleloaders are at odds with the trends popular among younger people now. They live seamlessly with computers and online. It's an almost entirely digital/online lifestyle at this point for some people. Many are constantly on their smart phones, online, texting/chatting/facebook/twitter, etc. Maybe in some form the online world is replacing real life for some people.

On the other hand, you have muzzleloading, which is not "digital" or "electronic" really, requires a lot of "stuff" in the form of guns and equipment, and a reputation for being the sport of older, white men. Not a lot going for it from the standpoint of a reasonably wealthy 25 year old. Furthermore, many have student debt and other financial issues, as you mention.

The result is that you have a younger generation who enjoy facets of life at odds with muzzleloading, at least in its current form.

 

[Claude Mathis]

On the other hand, you have muzzleloading, which is not "digital" or "electronic" really, requires a lot of "stuff" in the form of guns and equipment, and a reputation for being the sport of older, white men. Not a lot going for it from the standpoint of a reasonably wealthy 25 year old.

Excellent point.

Let’s face it, the competition for people’s participation and dollar's is becoming more difficult with time. When it comes to “role playing” you’ve got WWII, Civil War, Vikings, Old West (Cowboys, Indians, etc.), Mountain Men, Medieval Times, and the list goes on. And they are all admittedly, small niche markets.

Then there’s Cosplay (think Comic-Con, etc.). You might say it’s a niche market as well, but a very large niche.

Cosplay is growing at a rapid rate and it offers a tremendous variety of “personas” at a single event. Comic-Con’s attendance has been well over 100,000 in recent years.

Comic-Con International has exploded in size and popularity in recent years. Comic-Con attendees brought in $2.5 million tax revenue in 2012, spent another $77 million and brought in an estimated $175.4 million to the city in tax revenue.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

Comic Con and Cosplay are somewhat more successful because they have a direct connection to a very powerful, advertising machine. It's a niche, but it's a niche attached to a massive media and merchandising machine.

Anyone remember Mel Brooks in Space Balls? "Merchandising!"

Many of the people who are into muzzleloading today actually were exposed to it through a similar, but much smaller mechanism. The old west, pioneer days, and other historical themes were big in the 1950s and 60s. Kids had coon skin caps like Davy Crockett. The bicentennial in 1976 also contributed. These people are getting older now, and we're short on new blood.

Perhaps muzzleloading and, to some extent, reenacting could reinvent themselves as a reaction against our increasingly artificial way of life- show people that these are down-to-earth hobbies that you cannot capture through the internet or CGI graphics. I'm sure there are some people around who could go for that sort of thing.

 

[b737tvc]

I agree with that statement, why have a range sit idle when you have a chance to help fund it. Makes sense !


Beaver T.

 

[fleener]

As a parent with young kids there is soo much to take up your time. Baseball, football, basketball, soccer, track, swimming, dance. Lots of things to do with your family.

I have had some terrible experiences with people at Friendship and their lack of civility towards others and my son.

People there get very set in their ways and with their group of shooters, a new person is not very well tolerated with many.

I will be there again next week with my youngest son. We both are very much looking forward to it.

fleener

 

[Rifleman1776]

My sons practically grew up on the range. We spent almost every weekend there for years. I started a club that shot on the range.
I disagree with why the membership declined. It began declining when the first executive director was hired. He was arrogant and indifferent to members wants and needs. His way or no way. Then the inline thing started and purists/traditionalists rebeled and left in droves. I'll agree using the range does bring in needed revenue and it would be self-defeating to kick out non-ml'ers at this point. If attitudes have changed and people feel unwelcome that needs to be explored. I am in almost daily contact with active ml'ers, many of whom simply REFUSE to join NMLRA. It is not a matter of lack of interest, but they feel the association has deserted it's roots and them personally. One of the most common gripes I hear is the magazine is dull and does not speak to them. Instead they subscribe to Muzzleloader or other publications. Those who run the association believe they are doing a great job. I believe they are trying but do not see the real picture. My complaints are not intended to be negative but as a view from the other side with hopes the association and all it stands for (or did) can be preserved. I hate seeing the numbers going down.

 

[Snakebite]

Rifleman,

I totally agree with you. After twenty some years I quit the NMLRA because they started going the inline route. That was back in the 90s. I do think they are trying though to come back to the way it was. A couple years ago I got a copy of Muzzle Blasts and it looked like it was going back the mostly traditional so I gave it another change and joined again. I haven't been to Friendship since the 80s when I was in the Army at Fort Knox but I don't really mind them having other shoots. I will tell you that I'm still a little concerned because several months ago they put out the list and bio's of the people running for election. I wrote each and every one of them, only 4 replied, but I asked what their opinion was about inlines and each was pro inline. That didn't give me a warm and fuzzy, but we'll see what happens.

I also think the cowboy action gang has hurt muzzle loading. I knew some guys who were big time into the mountain man thing but left for the cowboy action crowd.

 

[bob308]

I was a long time member donated money a lot of times. then they got real arrogant to anything that was not a flint lock. if you shot a cap lock you were a second class member at best. they even took swipes at the cap lock shooters in the magazine. so I said good bye. others I have talked to said the same thing.

 

[Snakebite]

That attitude may not just be at Friendship.

Too bad though, the couple times I went, I walked around the primitive camp and hung out at vender's row drooling over some of the stuff they had there. I met Homer Dangler and his Mrs's. Really nice people. I still correspond with Homer every now and then. Back then everyone was pretty nice that I ran in to. Maybe I was just lucky or times have changed. It was back in the late 80s.

 

[Artificer]

I also think the cowboy action gang has hurt muzzle loading. I knew some guys who were big time into the mountain man thing but left for the cowboy action crowd.

I know Cowboy action shooting took a BIG toll of the membership of the NSSA and largely because it seemed to be more fun to many people.

I know I enjoyed the Primitive Range and those events rather than the "Tin Tipi Side," when I went to Friendship. However, I had nothing against those who were not in the Primitive Side. It takes all kinds of people for a major organization and there is some to much we can learn from each other.

I too, decry the Inline guns, BUT if those guns get folks hooked on muzzleloading then we have a better shot at some of them/more people getting into traditional muzzleloading. However, for the major shoots at Friendship, one would have to be VERY careful balancing some inline shooting so as not to drive away the Traditional Muzzleloaders who are much more the Core Membership.

Gus

 

[fleener]

I very much enjoy shooting my original ML and love the beauty of them and my contemporary built ML's. However....

Between my son and I Friday we will have the truck loaded with all of our gear. Including 3 original ML, 3 contemporary built ML and 3 inlines.

Plastic stocks and stainless steel, with scopes. Not a thing to drool over. But we like to shoot and like to play with new toys. It does not have to be all or none approach or a us against them attitude.

In todays world how many 16 year old boys will be with their dads at Friendship? Not many, but we BOTH are really looking forward to going, to shoot and to have the fellowship of our friends that we hang out with. I am ticked to death that my son is wanting to go with me and he is a very good shot for his age. He is looking forward to seeing what he can do with his original shotgun AND his inline and I am too.

I am not sure if I restricted my son's to ONLY ML, if they would be as interested shooting.

Tolerance is a good word.

Fleener

 

[Ray-Vigo]

I would indeed encourage people to transition to Inlines from modern arms, but look at inlines as a transition on the way to side lock and traditional guns rather than an end in themselves. Inlines could be a good gateway to transition people from modern to traditional arms.