Age Range of BP shooters

Rock Home Isle said:

Could you provide a link to that thread…I’d like to see the data from the polling.

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This is it https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/average-age-of-muzzle-loading-enthusiasts-poll.141505/ started Jan 19 2022

41 to 60 is a broad range..........I'd say try the poll again with more relatable numbers like Youth to 18, 18-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 60+ ......since 60 is a median retirement age , kinda.

I mean I'm 41 and I feel like I'd be in a whole different generation and demographic than someome who's 60.

I'm in the 80+ group. Been shooting and using bp since the 60's with a few interruptions.Bought my first flintlock from Turner Kirkland. It was a 45cal made by Freddie Harrison. Still have and use it .

I'll be 55 here real quick. I've been shooting muzzleloaders for 42+ years. Percussion guns first and almost exclusively flintlocks since 1991. My buddies and I all started muzzleloading to extend our deer season. Maybe these days that sends the young guys to inlines?

Lol, I'm 0.6% of the vote .

Stantheman86 said:

41 to 60 is a broad range..........I'd say try the poll again with more relatable numbers like Youth to 18, 18-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 60+ ......since 60 is a median retirement age , kinda.

I mean I'm 41 and I feel like I'd be in a whole different generation and demographic than someome who's 60.

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I can’t say I don’t agree with you. I actually started to set it up in 10 year increments, but decided against it.

My interest started with Fess Parker as Daniel Boone in the 60's. The 'cheek-uh-boom' sound of his rifle got me hooked..

Pushing 40 now, but what really got me interested in my late 30's was BP revolvers. I love the tinkering involved in tuning one. A few YouTubers had videos that showed me how easy it is to actually get into shooting BP, which I had always (incorrectly) assumed was a steep learning curve. Make the knowledge accessible and people will find their way to it.

Well, the poll is over. Thanks to all that participated. Results are what I thought we’d see with the most votes in the 61 to 80 age range.

I’ve been into it since I was a kid because of Davy and Danel…. I’m 63

gunpa said:

I'm 69 and holding. Got into black powder in 89 and loved it! Only have 4 BP guns but they are my favorite guns to shoot. Lung cancer is slowing me down but still shootin!

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I am 67 and built my first muzzleloading pistol from a kit in 1976. I have had several muzzleloading firearms over the years but right now I am down to five. These would include two cap and ball revolvers. I have been into motorcycles most of my adult life and it was not uncommon back then to see some of these bikers with long hair and beards at the local black powder gun shop having a new front sight put on their favorite rifle or picking up some needed powder or lead. The same was true at the shooting ranges. It seemed back then, if someone rode a Harly Davidson or a Triumph or BSA they were into muzzleloading. I would enjoy having casual conversations about my two favorite hobbies with fellow muzzleloading enthusiasts.

80 YEARS OLD. BEEN SHOOTING SINCE I WAS 15. BLACK POWDER SINCE 1975. STILL SHOOTING AND BUILDING THEM.

Well the poll is closed and the results make it crystal clear, we're aging out and there aren't many coming behind us. The Bell curve is seriously skewed to the geezer side. And most of us geezers have an approaching expiration date.

The thought everybody should carry away from this is we better start working with kids at every opportunity. Get involved somewhere, somehow or get out of the way.

Probably the best thing to do would be to give all of your fancy custom rifles to the ones who answered 40 years old or younger. That way they can continue to get younger folks involved when the older generation dies out. Just saying...

dave951 said:

Well the poll is closed and the results make it crystal clear, we're aging out and there aren't many coming behind us. The Bell curve is seriously skewed to the geezer side. And most of us geezers have an approaching expiration date.

The thought everybody should carry away from this is we better start working with kids at every opportunity. Get involved somewhere, somehow or get out of the way.

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Too True

How "accurate" this poll was is sorta moot, as there are lots of ways to skew the results....
Not everybody on this forum checks in often enough to have seen the poll to be able to answer before it closed...
Not everybody on this forum will answer a poll...,
and as pointed out on page 1..., not everybody will provide an age or date-of-birth so that the Administrator could provide data as well.
Further..., this forum is dedicated to Tradition Muzzleloading Firearms..., my daughter participates in the hobby of Living History, but doesn't shoot. Now if she gives me a grandchild, that might lead to my having another ML shooter in the fold...

So I still think it gives the proper picture that activity with younger people is needed.... regardless of accuracy...

LD

At 75 I am deep into the 61-80 demographic. Got my first .22 unmentionable for Christmas when I was 6 years old. But did not become interested in ML and BP until about 10 years ago.

Little slow I guess.

There is no doubt that young folks are needed and should be encouraged to join in. I do think it may not be as bad as we think. I mentioned this earlier, but I’ll mention it again. Hunting is where most of us (around here anyway) are rooted with the shooting sports. We progress as hunters from what’s easiest to something more challenging. Some of us anyway. That means a progression from the dreaded inlines (easier) to traditional (harder) arms. If I’m right that means that the number of traditional shooters will always be skewed towards the older (read that as mature ) age groups.

toot said:

you left out FASTE HORSES- WILD WOMEN & AND GOOD WHISKEY!

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Yes, toot, but at my age GOOD WHISKEY is all that is left.

Grenadier1758, that is so true. I also fall into that category!! and that is IFFY with SOCIAL SECURITY AS THE only option.

When I got into muzzleloading, back in the mid-70’s, most of the shooters, & rendezvous attendees were in their mid 20’s to early 30’s…this is an aging group, with traditional muzzleloading following in the steps of the mega-beasts of the Pleistocene.

I haven’t seen data, but I would surmise that most current participants of today’s modern in-line are in their mid 20’s to early 30’s…so muzzleloading in some form will survive.

Hopefully the pendulum swings again and there is a resurgence…