Why are or aren't you an NMLRA member?

I have been a member off and on since the 80's. I have an animal in the record book. I have not shot at Friendship but would like too. I am a member of a local NMLRA charter club and just returned home from our monthly shoot. I have been a member of the state association for ML. If we think of what's in it for me then it's not worth it. Get involved, shoot with a local or state club. Membership helps local clubs get coverage for gun range/event insurance. Invite people to participate. Membership will then become meaningful.

steam1993 said:

I am A member of the Traditional Muzzleloading Association, as i HAVE no interest in the so called modern muzzle loading guns. To me there are for want to be muzzleloaders, who don't want to take the time to learn the art of muzzleloading.

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Some folks are all in in on one discipline of shooting sports. That is great! Every group needs enthusiastic folks like that. Others are involved in many groups and interest. Only so much time, energy, and so much to do.
Everyone has their own choices to make. If you are enjoying yourself, you are doing something right!
The traditional muzzle loading is steeped in rich history, old ways, and yes, often not the easy trail. God bless those who keep this living history alive!
I admire and respect the dedication, reenactors, traditionalists, PC and HC bring to this wonderful forum. I’ve learned a lot here in the short time I’ve been lurking, posting here.
I have been at a place in life where, too much work, too many bills, not enough hours in the day, left little time for anything except soldiering on and providing for my family, in the stubborn German way my family always has.
I can now afford some of the nicer things in life, and finally have time to enjoy them more often. Still, I can remember, hunting with a used single shot 12 gauge, that was the only gun I owned at the time. And, I was proud to have it. It was called a “White Powder Wonder.” Grandson has it now.
I am trying very hard to encourage others, share life’s joys, bring a sense of brotherhood and unity to the Patriot 2A supporters I meet along the way.
I do enjoy looking at posts of members with a used TC, that may be their first BP rifle, just as I do picture heavy posts of custom built works of art, that both humble, and blow my mind with the detail and craftsmanship. I can often feel the same sense of pride of ownership, in both posts. Imagine that!

Robby said:

I am not a member because all the spare money I have for such things goes to organizations that are sworn to protect my God given right to bear Arms and the NMLRA doesn't do squat.
Robby

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Fair enough! And sound reasoning too!

I am an old man, if you young guys know what has already been lost then you know what I mean. You think they aren't coming for your old and outdated equipment then you are deluding yourself. We are loosing, and ignoring the truth so you can blissfully go about you fantasy life will not stop the purge that is coming our way.
Robby

I've been a member of the NMLRA for 23 years.
Their magazine Muzzle Blasts usually has at least something I'm interested in and more often than not there are a bunch of good things in it.

When all is said and done, I consider the magazine enough reason to pay the membership dues and I would like to think some of the money goes to expanding the knowledge of others.

Although they include shooting matches for modern style guns, they primarily support traditional style guns.

As for the occasional modern gun ad that they might print, I just notice it and move on to the things that interest me. Sorta like ignoring the fancy NRA watches and collector coins I see advertised in the NRA, "AMERICAN RIFLEMAN" magazine.

Excuse my ignorance , I'm still kind of green on some of this. Sounds lkke you got it made if you live in or near Friendship, whatever that is? Could someone enlighten me as to just what or where Friendship is. And what it has to do with Muzzle Loading.

Eutycus said:

Excuse my ignorance , I'm still kind of green on some of this. Sounds lkke you got it made if you live in or near Friendship, whatever that is? Could someone enlighten me as to just what or where Friendship is. And what it has to do with Muzzle Loading.

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Friendship is a small town in SE Indiana. In 1933 a group from Cincinnati decided start a National organization for ML. (Guess the previous 150 years no one thought about ML enough to do so). They were shooters who enjoyed shooting ML, they didn't accept Smokeless and those guys created the ASSRA in the late 40's. Like the NRA who started in 1872, they support all regardless of what they shoot - apparently that is unacceptable to some -ha (imagine if the NRA stopped with Sharps rifles and the like of that era). The NRA hosted the 1st International match in 1874; Creedmoor -BL vs ML. The NMLRA actually host the NRA ML Championships and makes ML policy for the NRA, etc. (read post #246 from yesterday as to why I'm a member).
There are 1000 registered ML shooters at both June & September National Matches, people from everywhere come and shoot including from overseas - if you've never been, you must try to go at lease once..
They also have Charter Clubs and Field Reps in all 50 states that host local matches - they are listed in their Muzzle Blast magazine, but were all getting older.
Everyone is a Volunteer with exception of the office staff.
Maybe you will be the next to Volunteer to host a ML match?

It is about a 10 hour drive for me to get to Friendship. I have not missed a June Spring shoot now for the pat 12 years or so. I have only been to the Fall shoot while I was in the area passing through a couple of times just to stop and see friends.

When I first went to Friendship, I did not know anyone there. Now, some of my best friends are folks that I have met through association of the NMLRA.

My youngest son (age 20) has been going with me for several years now. We both love going and doing what we do. I am hopeful that he can go again with me this year.

Both of my boys have received college scholarships from NMLRA and we are very thankful for those. To get those scholarships both boys demonstrated wood working skills building furniture, restoring a Browning Mountain rifle and knife making.

As for the inlines, I own a few of them and my son and I have shot in the inline matches at Friendship. There are not that many people that shoot in those matches. Quite a few of those shooters also shoot traditional style rifles. The inlines are just something to play with like any other toy. It is a challenge to see what size group you can wring out of the rifles at 300 yards or beyond. Just like shooting my original long range rifle at 500 yards. It is just seeing what you can your rifle can do. I like to see what I can do with any rifle wither it be a ML or more modern rifle. Or even my pellet rifle I have setup in my basement to practice with.

If you go to Friendship, I bet that you will not see more than 7 inlines shooting at any given time. Certainly not taking over the range.

I have personally converted several people from inlines to traditional rifles. Who does not love the beautiful lines and the soft wood tones of a traditional style rifle or shotgun?

The NMLRA has given me so much more than I have given it.

I am a proud life member of the NMLRA.

Fleener

I have a bucket list a yard long, but sorry Indiana, You arent on it. Okay I understand Friendship is a town in Indiana and has a big range. And has something to do with NMLRA. Any thing else?

Skychief said:

Simple as that.

Why are you or aren't you a member of the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association?

Thanks, Skychief.

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For the Magazine and it helps support black powder hobby.

Eutycus said:

I have a bucket list a yard long, but sorry Indiana, You arent on it. Okay I understand Friendship is a town in Indiana and has a big range. And has something to do with NMLRA. Any thing else?

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52bore did a nice job summarizing the NMLRA.

Besides the Jun. and Sept. shoots they offer quite a few other shoots during the year.

"I have a bucket list a yard long, but sorry Indiana, You arent on it. Okay I understand Friendship is a town in Indiana and has a big range. And has something to do with NMLRA. Any thing else?"

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Yep, you can buy all the powder you should need there.

The Pistol Range is enjoyable. They shutdown for one hour each day for lunch. You can sit and learn from the top B/P shooters while you eat. On Thursday night they have a group supper which is fun. The Offhand range and the Trap range now have group suppers as well.

If you are a member of the NMLRA, you can attend Territorial Matches in 21 states.

There is more to the NMLRA than a magazine.

The cover picture has a young girl with a modern break action shotgun and people are complaining about inlines?

What exactly does NMLRA have to offer in CT other then a magazine?
I teach the state Hunter safety courses, NMLRA has never provided information for students and even after reaching out to them and offering to volunteer to help, they respond by asking me to join, but never offered to help.
If there was some indication they were truly interested in supporting the sport of muzzleloading instead of having a wonderful head quarters and range that only 10% of the membership can actually use, they would have my support.

CTShooter said:

The cover picture has a young girl with a modern break action shotgun and people are complaining about inlines?

What exactly does NMLRA have to offer in CT other then a magazine?
I teach the state Hunter safety courses, NMLRA has never provided information for students and even after reaching out to them and offering to volunteer to help, they respond by asking me to join, but never offered to help.
If there was some indication they were truly interested in supporting the sport of muzzleloading instead of having a wonderful head quarters and range that only 10% of the membership can actually use, they would have my support.

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Hi CTShooter! In CT it is going to be what we make of it. In our club we found enough interest in ML to start a charter club and have just started to get going with how we will organize and if we are going to have public shoots. I am a newly minted field rep and will be reaching out to clubs in your part of the state to see if there is any interest. There are a lot of folks who are very interested in "traditional" ML around here who feel like you. I was surprised at the interest in my area.

I am a member. Ya, there are territorials but those guys from Indiana & Ohio won't travel to them , I have seen maybe 2 of those guys at a territorial in all my years.

It's like the Camino de Santiago.

It is interesting that quite a few of the folks that do not belong simply cite the reason is that they cant see the benefit to them, or rather "whats in it for me".

Stop and think about it for a second. If everyone took that approach we would not have any volunteer firemen, we would not have any organizations that is run by volunteers. We would not have our local ML clubs and the guys that put a lot of work into hosting a match. I am thankful that not everyone feels that way. How could everyone receive more benefits then what they put in it?

My family has a strong belief that it is our social responsibility to give back and serve the organizations that we have an interest in. Someone has to or they simply would not exist anymore.

Of coarse we cant belong to every group that is out there. But we can belong to those that share our common interest.

Off to the fire department for a meeting

Fleener

I too am on a fixed income. I support organizations that support/promote my sports and I do belong to the NMLRA and a life member of the NRA. I support organizations that promote guns, shooting and hunting and we all should be a brotherhood no matter what guns we own or soon the antis will be knocking on the door. I own and shoot all sorts of guns including the dreaded unmentionable. 100% of my hunting and 99.9% of my shooting is my flintlocks because I enjoy them the most. Once in a while I break out the spray and pray to keep in practice. I saw a comment the other day that I really enjoyed. The guy or gal said "after all Paul Revere did not make his famous ride yelling the deer are coming"!!!!!!! Gotta keep in mind what the 2nd Amendment is for.

Dave

Why Fleener, what ever do you mean?
You're volunteer fire organization offers me nothing - not even a magazine.
If I call, they will probably ask for a donation (or join) - I want something given to me.
I saw a fire truck run a red light when I was 7 and I will never forget it (there was no fire).
Someone told me the color of the truck is really not Red - I like Red.
I saw one a Yellow fire truck and that is not a fire truck.
I offered to assist in an emergency, but was told they didn't need me.
I held a car wash once, only once, and the Fire Truck drove by and honked the horn - the nerve.
Your station got a new fire truck, the old one was vintage - it was a real fire truck.
Although the fire station has been at it's location for 100 years - I want the fire station closer, just in case.
I don't want to complain, but I saw fireman standing around when a house was on fire.

In all honesty, you are a ML in every way and a rare breed.
I hope to see you and others at Friendship.

johnhalf said:

Hi CTShooter! In CT it is going to be what we make of it. In our club we found enough interest in ML to start a charter club and have just started to get going with how we will organize and if we are going to have public shoots. I am a newly minted field rep and will be reaching out to clubs in your part of the state to see if there is any interest. There are a lot of folks who are very interested in "traditional" ML around here who feel like you. I was surprised at the interest in my area.

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When I started a post about increasing participation in my area I got "start a one man club, go shoot by yourself"
I have been trying to make CT better and got no support. One person was kind enough to invite me to a shoot, but the distance doesnt' make it practicle at this time.

I try not to complain, but I have severe spinal issues, 2 kinds of cancer and I'm going blind and all I'm trying to do is share something I truly love to do.
Best of luck being a field rep, I'm going shooting