Superflint said:
Very few shooters turn out to shoot the ML. Lots of shooters stop and watch when we are shooting and invariably they express surprise at the fact the gun always fires, with no misfires or flashes in the pan. They also mention how much trouble it is to clean after each session. I have come to the conclusion that a good many people don't shoot ML's because they are too lazy to clean the gun after shooting, and have no idea how to get good ignition.
I find you post very interesting, and will share some first hand experience about what I see at the Public Range where I R/O when customers come out with Flintlock Muzzleloader and start shooting their Flinters.
Customers take notice, watch, and ask questions. If the Muzzleloader Shooter offer the Curious the Opportunity to load, and Shoot their Flinters, the CURIOUS most take the opportunity to do it.
Several have gone always say things like they want a Muzzleloader, or they are going to Buy a Flinter. But few follow through.
Plus the ML Club that shoots one Sunday a Month at the Range is NOT FRIENDLY too Newbees who visit the club because of the interest. So most go away saying them folks are Anti Newbee.
Plus as you said folks is just "too lazy " to deal with the loading, swabbing, wiping the bore, and Cleaning etc. involved with Shooting Muzzleloaders.
Plus the current generation has had ZERO Exposure to Muzzleloader compaired with those who grew up in the 50's & 60's with Davy & Daniel. Kids of today only know AR's, AK's, Glock's, 1911’s Machine-guns and Autoloaders.
Last I will tell the story of when I asked one of the Executive of Ruger and Co at Winter Range a few years back. Why they made an INLINE, as the Company was Perfectly capable of building a Hawkin Percussion Rifle of high quality to selling to those who want to hunt with a Muzzleloader, so they could Hunt the Muzzleloading Season.
My answer was the idea of a Hawkin Type Rifle was actually considered by the Executive at Ruger, including Bill Ruger (who at one time WAS an NMLRA Winter/Western Shoot Supporter).
But a Centerfire Rifle Type design was chosen (aka INLINE), as the buyer would be MORE FAMILIAR with this Design, (as it look like a bolt Action Centerfire Rifle) and it would have MORE/EASIER SALABILITY, than the Foreign Looking Hawkin Type Rife, that had an additional sales obstacle of not looking like what the hunter used in regular hunting season.