Lack of younger shooters?

Banjoman said:

Television may have a lot to do with it. Back in the 50’s and 60’s and even into the 70’s when a lot of us were growing up, there were a lot of westerns being shown on television. Shows like Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Bonanza, Gunsmoke and many others were very popular then. At the toy stores you would always find a lot of cowboy cap guns, holsters and coon skin hats.

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Very true different days I think it has to be part of a person’s make up. Do they like to tinker enjoy hobbies that involves crafts. Amazed by our history and fore fathers exposure to shooting sports. Plus a host of other. When I go to local range there’s many 20 and 30s with there WW2 era rifles and of course there modern day firearms. They see me and most are very interested especially when old Bess is going bom. They could probably be won over and maybe some day probably will. But I can see cost of nice rifle and access to BP a hindrance. Those two things will limit the draw imo. I think it’s up to us to keep it alive as it seems to be. I let anyone shoot my rifles and if they are hanging around I always ask. Of course they love it. I also think knowing our history and enjoying a challenge (building shooting) is a very big plus. Today’s youth are not like we who were playing in the woods getting poison ivy every now and then. Rambling but there’s a lot there and then don’t forget all the negative 2nd amendment schools are pushing.

Rock Home Isle said:

I started a thread awhile back…to see what others here are doing to bring new shooters into the fold.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/next-generation-smoke.143981/There are few young, next generation, shooters because the current participants do nothing to bring new shooters into this sport.

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You just hit the nail square on the head

granth said:

Hello, everyone. I posted a similar topic in the Member's only forum and I think it would get more traction here. So I am 16, and I have noticed the lack of young shooters in this sport. I'm relatively new, but so far I have had a blast. I've observed that the majority of BP shooters are in the older demographic. Why do you think this is?

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This has been mentioned before here. I replied at the time, the NMLRA is very concerned about getting younger people into the hobby, and joining it would be a good thing, as their magazine, Muzzle Blasts, is an informative monthly. Us older guys grew up in an era when we saw history portrayed on TV and movies; WW2 heroes, frontier types. Now all history is being questioned and youngsters are frankly confused about what to believe. Best of luck to you, you sound like a fine entrant to the black powder hobby. (Or life-style, as many believe!)

Most young people are mainly interested in what is high performing or new. People in general seem to acquire a greater interest in history, art, and quality hand made items as they get older.

Without a mentor or a parent that shoots black powder from a muzzleloader, it's much less likely that a 20-year-old would research black powder and muzzleloaders, find a store that actually sells black power, and then take teach oneself how to shoot it.

Being an early 18th century fur tapper larper just isn't cool!

One thing that has always bugged the snot out of me is Black Powder groups in this area anyway don't advertise. They always say there are fewer young shooters but yet I never find Flyers in local gun shops or other public places and now even with the internet it takes some serious searching to find a rondy in the area. The last muzzleloading group we were in told us they didn't want to advertise because it might attract the wrong kind of people ???. Hard to get young people interested if they cannot find you.

I am 74 and have exposed my children to guns and hunting modern as well as black powder. My son killed 3 pigs and a couple of quail with my Navy Arms double 12 gauge at the age of 12. I have taken my grandchildren (7 of them, 3 boys, 4 girls) hunting and to the range. My oldest two, 22 and 20, both hunt and both shoot black powder with me when they are around. The 20 year old is currently serving in the Marine Corps so he is far away. My 22 year old grand daughter and one 22 year old grandson both moved away for work. However I still have 3 granddaughters and one grandson close by. They have shot with me and will most likely retain the knowledge about muzzleloaders throughout their lives.

I'm really glad to see some folks already understand that as the comic strip said "we have met the enemy and he is us". Far too many of the geriatric muzzleloaders are content to just do their hobby with their contemporaries and not get any new blood in the hobby. That's never going to help. We all have to work with youth and those who've never shot traditional guns. Club outreach is great, working with kids is great, doing nothing is a very bad idea.

Son and wife are expecting a baby late this month. First grandkid. I already bought him little tiny moccasins. gotta start somewhere.

dave951 said:

I'm really glad to see some folks already understand that as the comic strip said "we have met the enemy and he is us". Far too many of the geriatric muzzleloaders are content to just do their hobby with their contemporaries and not get any new blood in the hobby. That's never going to help. We all have to work with youth and those who've never shot traditional guns. Club outreach is great, working with kids is great, doing nothing is a very bad idea.

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I think the most safe affordable kits should be present in most gun shop and big box stores that will still carry them otherwise unless you give or loan your BP rifle the are going to be a hard sell. Then the need for local ranges there’s just not enough . I offered a friend at work my Kibler SMR Brown Bess and another 45 cal sweetie to date has not taken me up but he’ll gether them up to shoot 22 bow and shot gun. No strings just have fun and that includes powder and accessories. So far no joy.

One of my favorite subjects, and as I see from many comments, as often as not the "customers" (youth) are being blamed for not not being "customers." Same on many forums.
And yes, the future is in youth, and if we want to see our sports survive, the industry had better start treating people as customers, especially teens.
If your school is like most, it has extreme anti-gun policies, perhaps zero tolerance for even clothing or jewelry that depicts firearms. Starting or participating in shooting clubs is typically not an option today in school.
I am a multidiscipline shooter, and some organizations are better than others at getting everyone of every flavor, shape, age, and size involved, and having fun.
The CMP is a model for inclusion. Lots of younger people participate. Lots.
I suggest a SAFS to get your feet wet. No investment, just a match fee, and you'll meet people.
Not much ml (but Talladega actually has some), but many other opportunities to find like minded people your age are at these large venues.
Wear ml t-shirts and/or sticker up gun cases, etc, with muzzle loading stuff at any gun/shooting event or gathering and conversations will soon follow.

Joemolf said:

I think the most safe affordable kits should be present in most gun shop and big box stores that will still carry them otherwise unless you give or loan your BP rifle the are going to be a hard sell. Then the need for local ranges there’s just not enough . I offered a friend at work my Kibler SMR Brown Bess and another 45 cal sweetie to date has not taken me up but he’ll gether them up to shoot 22 bow and shot gun. No strings just have fun and that includes powder and accessories. So far no joy.

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That's why I have a couple "beaters". I'd never advocate putting your best, prized rifle in the hands of a complete noob. Let them shoot the beater for a bit before letting them experience "the good stuff". Part of what we do in our work with kids is we have a set of loaner muskets designated for just that purpose. We also have some traditional style guns that were either donated or purchased very inexpensively for the kids to shoot.

In far northern Ca. I hold a Peewee Long Gong at several Rhondys At Louderback Rhondy every few years we bring in the scouts for a flag retirement. My wife is getting together a few of the high school trap clubs to compete each year for a perpetual trap shooting trophy. If we want BP to continue we must work at it. This is a flick from Northern Free Trappers and Yolla Bolly Peewee Long Gong.

Of my 4 grandkids only the youngest who is 9 is interested in shooting. He has an arsenal of toy guns. He considers my TC Hawkin as his and loves my 51 Navy. I only let him shoot under VERY controled conditions. He knows power patch ball, but I cap at the firing line with the gun on a rest.

I dont think its anti gun, there are too many youth 22lr rifles, .410 guage ect ect being made by every manufacturer. If kids weren't getting involved in shooting no one would make pink 22 long rifles that have a lop of 6 inches. Probably because both parents work 40 + hours a week, barely make it financially, and a 130.00 22 is alot more budget friendly than a 800.00 flintlock. And honestly most families barely have time to eat dinner together let alone shoot blackpowder which is slow and time consuming. Plus for some reason the ar15 is today's youths flavor of the month. You can't even find a wood stocked modern rifle at most stores and heaven forbid looking for a percussion or flintlock you'd have to drive 100 miles to find one if your lucky. Basically time is money, more shots per minute equals more fun with less time invested.

Just a thought. I had never really seen a Muzzleloader except in museums, history books, maybe hanging on a wall or in tv and movies until I decided to build one in my mid twenties. But I had done a lot of hunting and shooting mostly with BB gun, a 22 or 12 gauge shotgun. Sooooo, if we can get them to shooting any gun we can suck some of them into this wonderful pastime and hobby. I know it is a way of life for some.

barnettshale said:

I am 74 and have exposed my children to guns and hunting modern as well as black powder. My son killed 3 pigs and a couple of quail with my Navy Arms double 12 gauge at the age of 12. I have taken my grandchildren (7 of them, 3 boys, 4 girls) hunting and to the range. My oldest two, 22 and 20, both hunt and both shoot black powder with me when they are around. The 20 year old is currently serving in the Marine Corps so he is far away. My 22 year old grand daughter and one 22 year old grandson both moved away for work. However I still have 3 granddaughters and one grandson close by. They have shot with me and will most likely retain the knowledge about muzzleloaders throughout their lives. View attachment 136394View attachment 136395View attachment 136396View attachment 136397View attachment 136398

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GREAT!

Kansas Jake said:

Just a thought. I had never really seen a Muzzleloader except in museums, history books, maybe hanging on a wall or in tv and movies until I decided to build one in my mid twenties. But I had done a lot of hunting and shooting mostly with BB gun, a 22 or 12 gauge shotgun. Sooooo, if we can get them to shooting any gun we can suck some of them into this wonderful pastime and hobby. I know it is a way of life for some.

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And just an experiment, about how old are you? Were you alive and old enough during the 70s & early 80s to have an interest in guns in general? Not to be cracking on you but if you were born in the early 80s, you missed the modern heyday of muzzleloading and didn't get exposed to them like us boomers.

Do not underestimate the cultural divide between rural and suburban/urban America. My southern end of this county is rural. There are lots of kids interested in firearms and shooting and their families encourage them.
The northern half of the county has seen much suburban development. We have friends there who visit us. Their kids are not big on going outside, are glued to electronics, and are literally frightened of inanimate objects - Guns.

I grew up on a farm in the 1950s-60s so very much a boomer.

Anybody born during the WWII years used to be considered a war baby. That is what I consider myself. I think boomers were supposed to be born after the war. What the rest of them are I don't know. Most of the country lives in cities or suburbia and don't have much of a chance for shooting. Were losing open land and the educational system doesn't help. Movies and tv are modern day violence oriented and that's what the kids get to see. Our old standby's are gone. I guess we have to teach them as we can one at a time.