Why are or aren't you an NMLRA member?

<shrug>
I've not been deluged with calls from either organization. I've never been to Friendship nor to the other group's range in New Mexico. I get no discount at the gun show entrance fee area because I'm already a Life Member, and they only offer discounts for new members. I like both magazines, especially since the anti's that I encounter pontificate about what the NRA does (and they don't see any difference with the NMLRA folks) and I have to ask them if they have ever read either magazine? The answer is always "no" and then I tell them they need to work on their "uninformed" position and walk away.

LD

sonnyboy said:

I was a member in the NMLRA for 30 years, then gave up my membership due to inline an modern sabot bullets being included into the magazine makeup. I have no problem with modern inline rifles, just start your own magazine an let the NMLRA go back to how it all started. I bet the originators of the magazine at its start, are flipping in there grave seeing how the thinking format for this magazine has changed to include inlines , scopes, sabots. Is it the extra money the club makes getting them on board.....hummmmm, follow the money!

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Like everything else, follow the money. just can't seem to find the cash for a membership. Yep, I'm cheap, the main reason for using, and building my muzzle loaders.

I just joined with a digital membership. Which is a good deal if your comfortable reading on a tablet or such. This is the first time I have been a member. I have been shooting traditional style muzzleloaders since the mid nineties. I’m concerned with how it’s getting harder to find MZ items in general. I think getting more people involved in the sport is important to keeping it alive. I think people will move to doing more traditional styles if they get exposed to them. I shoot at my range with my traditional styled guns and I’m next to guys with ar-15s . I will occasionally get one of them come up to me and say I’ve always thought about getting one of those. I always volunteer to let them shoot it and show them the loading process. The more people I get exposed the cheaper my supplies will be if demand goes up. If it means pulling them in with something more modern like an inline then yes I will help them and then I’ll be hey you want a real challenge try this flintlock. As for NMLRA putting this in their magazine I think they are trying to keep their organization growing but in the end I look at it for the nice traditional stuff if they go to far to the inline side they will lose supporters and another group will take they’re place.

The sale of inlines has decreased some what in the last few years.
The NMLRA has added matches for them mainly in hopes that those inline shooters will see that the traditional guns ususlly out shoot there inlines. Then maybe the next shoot they will have a traditional muzzle loader.The NMLRA has collected membership,shooting and range fees from the newbies. They will realize that the experienced shooter will win the match with any gun. Hopefully that will happen.

As for me, it is a question of cost and time.
The current cost of membership is not overly prohibitive. Add the cost of several memberships in organizations, both local and national. The budget goes quick.

I was a member in the mid 90's, my wife and I had our first child in 97, 2nd in 2000. In my opinion the quality of articles in magazine became poor and I would rather spend the cash on my kids instead of a magazine that offered little usable information. Maybe it was a slump in the magazine at the time, but I could care less about members patting themselves on the back instead of offering historical articles, how to articles or build articles. Maybe it has changed since then, but it was pathetic at the time.

I've been a Life NRA member for well over 20 years. The weekly mailings and nearly daily calls begging for more money became aggravating to say the least. I asked one caller to take me off the list of people to hound and to please use those resources and postal cost for the political battles they allegedly fight. I have not received a phone call from them in years and it greatly reduced the number of mailers.

I'm only replying to keep this thread active and maybe it wont get stuck back in the archives. Seen alot of negative replys. I"m not a member and really cant afford it unless its next thing to free. Fixed income, you know!

8 BORE said:

The sale of inlines has decreased some what in the last few years.
The NMLRA has added matches for them mainly in hopes that those inline shooters will see that the traditional guns ususlly out shoot there inlines. Then maybe the next shoot they will have a traditional muzzle loader.The NMLRA has collected membership,shooting and range fees from the newbies. They will realize that the experienced shooter will win the match with any gun. Hopefully that will happen.

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The vast majority of inline shooters aren't interested in muzzleloaders. Probably less than half of the traditional muzzleloader owners aren't interested in the historical aspect of their choice of weapon. In both cases it's just a means for deer hunting.

When the early 90's rolled around the muzzleloader market was completely saturated. Manufacturers started making inlines and lobbying states to implement muzzleloader seasons. These new guns could be manufactured and sold at a fraction of the cost of a traditional muzzleloader. They were made to appeal to the modern deer hunter. Scopes, slings, synthetic stocks, stainless barrels, fiber optic sights, aluminum ramrods, simplified loading components easy cleaning powders etc.. They changed every aspect that was viewed negatively by the modern hunter.. It was a market takeover, an assault on traditional muzzleloading. It was very successful. Typically when inline owners grow tired with their new toy they return to where they came from, a cartridge gun not a traditional muzzleloader.
The NMLRA thinks this group is beneficial, I disagree. It/they will not have the lifelong interest that traditional muzzleloaders have, they will come and go but, while they are there they will create division and strife, they will divert funds and resources. It will ultimately force them to choose one or the other or they will be assimilated. They will become the NMMLRA, the extra M is for modern.

waarp8nt said:

I was a member in the mid 90's, my wife and I had our first child in 97, 2nd in 2000. In my opinion the quality of articles in magazine became poor and I would rather spend the cash on my kids instead of a magazine that offered little usable information. Maybe it was a slump in the magazine at the time, but I could care less about members patting themselves on the back instead of offering historical articles, how to articles or build articles. Maybe it has changed since then, but it was pathetic at the time.

I've been a Life NRA member for well over 20 years. The weekly mailings and nearly daily calls begging for more money became aggravating to say the least. I asked one caller to take me off the list of people to hound and to please use those resources and postal cost for the political battles they allegedly fight. I have not received a phone call from them in years and it greatly reduced the number of mailers.

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I agree with you on the NRA mine just expired and I'm questioning rejoining or go with another group. I like Muzzleloader magazine it's pretty good more like what you said muzzle blasts was.

Out of curiosity what does a membership cost, in round figures. Do they also have a life membership like the NRA?

Joe B. said:

There was some talk in the editorials and letters about that to help revive a flagging membership a while back, but I have not seen an article with any inlines, scopes or sabots (did I missed them?). And no talk about it lately either. Magazine's better than ever. I'm especially enjoying Fred Stutzenberger's "Parallel Wars" series. Don't see any inline matches in the Nat. Shoot results neither, (see Dec. cover). Joe B., member 71570.

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after I dropped the magazine, I stop looking at it. Did they learn that the main body will not tolerate modified weapons, an article's about them. Time will tell the full story about the muzzleblast magazine article base..........sonny

uno676 said:

I just joined with a digital membership. Which is a good deal if your comfortable reading on a tablet or such. This is the first time I have been a member. I have been shooting traditional style muzzleloaders since the mid nineties. I’m concerned with how it’s getting harder to find MZ items in general. I think getting more people involved in the sport is important to keeping it alive. I think people will move to doing more traditional styles if they get exposed to them. I shoot at my range with my traditional styled guns and I’m next to guys with ar-15s . I will occasionally get one of them come up to me and say I’ve always thought about getting one of those. I always volunteer to let them shoot it and show them the loading process. The more people I get exposed the cheaper my supplies will be if demand goes up. If it means pulling them in with something more modern like an inline then yes I will help them and then I’ll be hey you want a real challenge try this flintlock. As for NMLRA putting this in their magazine I think they are trying to keep their organization growing but in the end I look at it for the nice traditional stuff if they go to far to the inline side they will lose supporters and another group will take they’re place.

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They have AR15 magazines, an I bet not (one) muzzloader article. All I am saying is this, If you can only afford the Hawkins, plains rifles,etc, then joint a club where you fit with others as yourself.But, do not squeeze into a purest organization with custom builders an hand made historically accurate components an give me amendment rights, to let them join so they some day! may get a custom made weapon. NO NO NO, if I was the NMLRA president, it would be traditional , just like the good ole boys wanted it, an made it. sonny

I really dont see how inlines have anything to do with traditional muzzleloading. In my opinion they were just an excuse to get the jump on an early hunting season. I'm at a loss to explain how the word "beneficial" even comes into play.

8 BORE said:

The sale of inlines has decreased some what in the last few years.
The NMLRA has added matches for them mainly in hopes that those inline shooters will see that the traditional guns ususlly out shoot there inlines. Then maybe the next shoot they will have a traditional muzzle loader.The NMLRA has collected membership,shooting and range fees from the newbies. They will realize that the experienced shooter will win the match with any gun. Hopefully that will happen.

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BALOGNA!!!! sugar coated answer to keep the dollars coming in. Just Say No!!!

NRA LIFE Endowment member. My wife is also NRA member.
SASS members for many years, until last year. VFW, SAR, USCCA at one time, range member, Buckeye Firearms Association, Navy reunion VA-65 member. All these add up. I joined NMLRA after finding this forum. I thought I would enjoy the Muzzle Blasts mag. We are only a couple hours from Friendship, probably won’t ever visit it though. As others have said there is only so much cash to spread around. We not only are members, or have been, but like many others here support beyond just annual dues.
My entire family are staunch supporters of 2A. We do what we can to preserve our liberties. With so many billionaires on the left of the political spectrum diligently working to outlaw gun ownership in US, us working class, grass roots folks, do what we can, if and when we can, to support pro 2A organizations.
Having said that, I am in a better position to support now, than I was as a young man with a family to support.
Also, least you think I am recruiting for NRA, or any other 2A organization. I encourage others to join IF, they choose to. If not I get it, no judgement here. And yes, I’ve been boiling mad at the NRA, at times in the past. Case in point, when they gave Harry Reed $5,000 for his re-election for example. But, these things are never as simple as they seem on the surface. Sometimes, politics do make for strange bedfellows. And sometimes, supporting someone who’s views are not pro 2A, is done because, the guy or gal that could or would replace them could be far worse!
Sorry, for the long, meandering reply. I sometimes envy folks who choose to pay no heed to politics, I try not to watch too much of the BS these days myself. I do know the billionaire globalists will never relent their assault on our freedoms, and so I try to stay ever vigilant. And as we all can agree, once our 2A liberties are taken, all the others will follow.
I often delete a reply like this. I’ll probably regret posting this one.
This is after all, a very OLD thread. If you want to tell me to p__s off, have at it.
Back on topic (finally), I found an old Dec ‘95 issue of Muzzle Blasts on eBay. It was in mint condition, and It had a short article on a Souder Village custom build of one of my Patriot ancestors Pennsylvania long rifles. Adam Yerian (Jerian) was a gunsmith, as was his father, and some of his brothers. I suspect those Yerians, who served in the militias used long rifles in the Revolutionary War.

Membership in almost any organization is a luxury these days for us folks on a fixed income. I too am at odds some of the time with the NRA. But they must be doing something right if the "antis" are mad at them.

In 1993 I had been an NMLRA member for about 20 years and had recently published a story in Muzzle Blasts. The NMLRA sent their "Rendezvous Coordinator" and a group of other Friendship people to the independently run Rocky Mountain Rendezvous in Colorado that July and announced that if that event wasn't run to NMLRA rules they would remove the elected rendezvous Booshways and run it themselves. Their Coordinator also announced that if anyone could not produce a paid up NMLRA dues card they would not be allowed to vote in the camp election for future Booshways.
I had sent in my dues in January that year and had not yet received my dues card in July. That's when I decided to stop sending them my money.
There floats my stick.
Tanglefoot

Tanglefoot said:

In 1993 I had been an NMLRA member for about 20 years and had recently published a story in Muzzle Blasts. The NMLRA sent their "Rendezvous Coordinator" and a group of other Friendship people to the independently run Rocky Mountain Rendezvous in Colorado that July and announced that if that event wasn't run to NMLRA rules they would remove the elected rendezvous Booshways and run it themselves. Their Coordinator also announced that if anyone could not produce a paid up NMLRA dues card they would not be allowed to vote in the camp election for future Booshways.
I had sent in my dues in January that year and had not yet received my dues card in July. That's when I decided to stop sending them my money.
There floats my stick.
Tanglefoot

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WOW! Way to tangle up and divide the muzzle loading community huh? Power struggles everywhere you go in life I guess! Thanks for sharing.

I'm hoping gunowners never get completely divided,((completely). We need each other , sort of.

Eutycus said:

I'm hoping gunowners never get completely divided,((completely). We need each other , sort of.

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Man ain't that the truth. Now perhaps more than ever! Here is a picture of the reproduction of Adam Yerian's rifle. Man, I have got to get up there to the Sauder Village Gunshop before I croak LOL! Bucket List! The magazine was in plastic wrap, looked brand new, I paid more than $3.50 for it though! I think around $15.00. I was glad to find it though. I'd looked before with no luck.