Ponderin' on the future

[Falco sparverius]

This is my first post, seemed like a good place to tune in.

I'm 26, so a youngun in the minority. I don't know anyone else that shoots a sidelock. I have a few buddies that shoot inlines, but that is it.

I inherited mine from my late father, who passed about 2 1/2 years ago. He was really into it when he was about my age, but couldn't find the time as the family grew. He was able to teach me enough so I know how to shoot the thing and I have just begun really getting into this summer. This forum has been a great asset.

We have 23 days of hunting where I can carry the .54 this year, but right now I am just hooked on shooting it! I am going to the range at least once a week, and having a ball the whole time.

As for the future, I will try to bring in as many as I can, in a positive light. I wish everyone could just see how darn cool it is to "make smoke"

Falco

 

[RangerThacher]

Most of the ML shooters I know are in their late 40s. There are a few youngsters, and by that I mean kids not yet old enough to drive. It seems like the bell curve is inverted.... old folks and young folks, with only a few in the 20-30 year old band.

I've been thinking about why that is. In my experience, during my teens I had a lot of time, not much to tie me down, and nothing to spend my money on except muzzleloading and reenacting. So in my late teens I was very active in ML and reenacting. Then life came along. College, especially moving half-way across the country to go to school, was a huge impediment to ML and reenacting. Then I got married. Then moved around the country some more trying to find a job. Now at 26 I'm in Grad. School, have settled in one spot for awhile, and am starting to have some more time to be involved with ML during the summer. My wife wants to start reenacting too. So hopefully we'll be more involved in the next few summers. But if/when kids come along, who knows what we'll have time/money for. My dad also had done a little muzzleloading in his teens. But he didn't pick it up again until I started in my teens, his late 40s. Now he's still involved on his own.

 

[AZ-Robert]

In one of those remarkable coincidences of timing, I today read this remark on another gun-related forum:

"Most of the over 75 crowd I know tend to stick to blackpowder arms."

 

[fw707]

Looks like the replies are winding down. The average age right now stands at 50.
Thanks again everybody for the information and comments. I hope y'all got as much outta this thread as I did.
:winking: :hatsoff:

 

[ronrryan]

I will be 74 shortly, its an average: brain is 54, body feels 94. Have shot everything from pellet guns to elephant guns, last ten years flintlocks only, everything else is boring. Used to have 6-8 BP shooters at local range, now I am usually alone. Got my grandson interested, now he is a Confederate infantry reenactor. God bless, ron in FL

 

[Eric/WV]

I'm 33, and I have been shooting traditional muzzleloaders since I was 25 yrs old. I killed my first deer with a flintlock last fall. Most of the guys I work with shoot inlines, but there are a couple that hunt with percussion and they are in their late 40's. I recently started bow hunting with a recurve too. The older I get, the more I steer away from modern implements. I guess I like the challenge. I don't get a sense of accomplishment by bagging a deer from 300 yards away. Sure, I don't kill as many deer as some folks, but I have become a better hunter by doing it my way. This may sound strange, but I feel that I am disrespecting the animal if I don't even the odds a little.

 

[jderrick]

Darn, I feel young.

25.

I started last winter at 24 with a flintlock kit. Given a nearby range, sufficient PRBs and good powder I shoot about twice a week pretty religiously. I stick to BP mostly but try out the other types as well. I like to think that developing the skills to use the old technology gives a certain edge when it comes to the new stuff.

I've been trying to get more of my peers into BP, and have given a half dozen or so their first time with a ML. If I can find a good range around my school (going back to grad school) I hope to up that number a lot!

 

[hornetk4]

Well I'll be 54 in two days and thats a high milage 54 . Most folks say they are pushing whatever age they are I feel that I'm dragging it with a vengence anyway I've shot guns all of my life , from at least 10 years old but have only been shooting bp for about 20 . I have two sons that I would love to teach to shoot bp but they don't have the patience yet , I hope to get them into it befor I die cause they'er going to inherit all this stuff anyway but they all think it's too much work .I know a lot of folks my age that shoot but they can't get into bp they think it's too much work .I really think it takes a shooter that is a cut above the rest to apreceate what it takes to be a good bp shooter and for you yunger guys and gals , that are into this sport you are ahead of the pack . good luck to all and shoot safe .