Face it, we need to expose more folks to muzzleloading and how much fun it can be. The numbers of people in the hobby have been dwindling and those left getting grayer and grayer. On February 26 in Winchester VA, one of our N-SSA members held a "recruit skirmish" that he had organized and then invited a number of folks who had expressed an interest in our form of competition. Of the group in the picture some are N-SSA members assisting in the event. There were about 20+ non members attending and of those, 10 joined the N-SSA. That's a 50% rate, outstanding in marketing terms. People don't know how much fun you can have with muzzleloaders until you get them to the range and actually shooting. Guests were outfitted with muskets and gear and put through a training session and then an informal version of our competition. Tim Scanlon, our property manager, brought out one of his cannons and did an artillery demonstration as well.
"Papa" Rob Harrison, 48th VA Inf, event organizer and certified NRA Muzzleloading Instructor, demonstrating how to load a musket.
Guests on the firing line with N-SSA members monitoring for safety and to assist. Note this is Positions 9&10 on our National range. Look how far it goes into the distance to Position 73.
Get them interested at a young age. Even this little fellow was shooting.
The musketoon is perfect for young shooters to learn how to load and fire a musket safely.
Those who get aggravated by my shameless promotion of getting kids to the range, maybe this will help you understand why I do it. This is what it's all about. Moments like this are priceless and those who help will never ever forget.
Today's kid is tomorrow's adult. Get them interested, teach them well. There's no reward other than seeing our hobby live on after we're gone and being a positive influence on a young person. Take a kid to the range!!!
Yup, artillery got fired live as well. This is a full size "mountain rifle" used by cavalry and in rough terrain.
"Papa" Rob issuing ammo.
This is "Papa" Rob Harrison, the driving person organizing this event. He's a fellow NRA Muzzleloading Instructor, US veteran, fellow N-SSA member, and a true example of what makes a Southern Gentleman. Although he's on a different N-SSA team from me, we share a passion for working with others to share muzzleloading and frequently discuss muzzleloading and instruction. At a competition, when the horn sounds, I'll do my dead level best to beat him and he'll be returning the favor but at the end of the day, this is the kind of person I will always be proud to call my friend.
"Papa" Rob Harrison, 48th VA Inf, event organizer and certified NRA Muzzleloading Instructor, demonstrating how to load a musket.
Guests on the firing line with N-SSA members monitoring for safety and to assist. Note this is Positions 9&10 on our National range. Look how far it goes into the distance to Position 73.
Get them interested at a young age. Even this little fellow was shooting.
The musketoon is perfect for young shooters to learn how to load and fire a musket safely.
Those who get aggravated by my shameless promotion of getting kids to the range, maybe this will help you understand why I do it. This is what it's all about. Moments like this are priceless and those who help will never ever forget.
Today's kid is tomorrow's adult. Get them interested, teach them well. There's no reward other than seeing our hobby live on after we're gone and being a positive influence on a young person. Take a kid to the range!!!
Yup, artillery got fired live as well. This is a full size "mountain rifle" used by cavalry and in rough terrain.
"Papa" Rob issuing ammo.
This is "Papa" Rob Harrison, the driving person organizing this event. He's a fellow NRA Muzzleloading Instructor, US veteran, fellow N-SSA member, and a true example of what makes a Southern Gentleman. Although he's on a different N-SSA team from me, we share a passion for working with others to share muzzleloading and frequently discuss muzzleloading and instruction. At a competition, when the horn sounds, I'll do my dead level best to beat him and he'll be returning the favor but at the end of the day, this is the kind of person I will always be proud to call my friend.
