a very hearty thankyou

I wondered off to the range again today [ARPC ... Albany Rifle n Pistol Club] and found that the local muzzleloaders club was shooting there today as well.

I do not usually fit in with groups of folks but this flintlock bug has me rattled ... so I wondered into their midst and began to look around. the [host I think] welcomed me and asked if I shot black powder ... to which I said YES but that I desired to observe some flintlocks in action and lo and behold he just walked me up to a feller and introduced us and the bait was set.

come to find out this feller works at the [GUN WORKS] here in Springfield Oregon and is pretty sharp on the flinters. he had a smooth bore [60 cal I think] and as he had just loaded it ... wondered if I might want to shoot it. HECK YES I said and thusely the hook was set. 6 or 8 shots later he wondered over to another feller that was shooting a 75 cal Bess and introduced us as well. you know what happened then ... I shot that wonderful musket as well with the huge lock and rock it had.

so today I not only got my renegade settled in but found new friends [enablers every one] and not only shot my first flinter ... but my first smoothie as well. what a grand day and making new friends was the icing on the cake as well as the friendly advise and allowing me to shoot my new addiction I think.

so don't know if any hang out here but I would like to again extend a heart felt thanks for the good time today ... made my day complete.

That's exactly how it starts, they're all friendly...then 30 flintlocks later no one knows what happened.

I've found traditional BP shooters to be some of the friendliest and most generous people around. I think this applies to a lot of the shooting world but the BP folks seem to kick it up a notch or two. If they weren't enthusiastic they wouldn't want to deal with the extra maintenance, slower pace and other fiddling MLs require.

Jeff

I do not usually fit in with groups of folks...

Click to expand...

:haha: Neither do most traditional shooters. That's why they're nice to each other. :haha:

Sounds like a great day.

Seems as tho traditional BP shooters and traditional bow hunters are cut from the same cloth. For the most part very friendly and laid back people that would help any new comer that shows an interest. Glad you had a great time. Greg.

Sounds like fortune was smiling on you all there in Oigan!

Perhaps that is the reason I ended up loving BP so much, even tho I found most shooters to polite,
The Black Powder gang welcomed me, made me feel like a part of the family.
A lot of smokeless shooters are into "look at what I own and spent" Smokepole shooter are just more in tune with the sport itself, and what you hit, and missed!
I have NEVER felt more welome around a group.
It is kind of like when you go camping in a tent only area, just good times and great people.
I'm glad you found us...
I joined about 8 years ago but mostly haunted the forums, then got severely hurt at work. but I
am posting now and enjoying the site immensely.
Mostly I love the VAST knowledge base here.
Thank you all!

Jethro224 said:

I do not usually fit in with groups of folks...

Click to expand...

:haha: Neither do most traditional shooters. That's why they're nice to each other. :haha:

Sounds like a great day.

Click to expand...

Amen to that sir, couldn't be a more truthful statement. Also, bigted welcome to your new addiction! :thumbsup:

Sorry answered to the OP

Black powder shooters go out of their way to help a new shooter.

That includes teaching them to shoot better than they can themselves. Welcome to the brotherhood!!!

That is 100% correct! If someone would've told me years ago that I one day would own all these black powder guns I would've laughed at them.

Welcome to the addiction, A good friend of mine told me one time the only cure was more black powder...... :wink:

Good to hear you had a great day shooting.
I had a friend that got me hooked when I was about 18.
My other hunting buddies just don't seem to understand why I like smoke poles so much.

As a general rule, people who enjoy getting together and shooting flintlock rifles are a friendly bunch. I, myself enjoy showing people my rifles, explaining how they work and letting them shoot them. Most people who shoot a quality flintlock rifle for the first time tell me that it is not at all what they expected and are genuinely impressed.

when the flame of powder toucheth the soul of man it burns exceeding deep
Roger Bacon