Heads UP

[Dave951]

Most folks just like pew pew and I get that. I used to play in that world in 3G, IPSC, USPSA, IDPA etc, but there is more to shooting than pew pew, so I ask, please read to the end of this post.

So onto my soapbox-

Muzzleloading shooting can be very challenging. FACT Muzzleloaders can be as accurate as most modern current factory guns. FACT. Muzzleloading is often an introduction to other shooting sports in a youth organization. FACT So where am I going with this? Take a kid to the range, give him/her an enjoyable experience with shooting, make a convert to the shooting sports. Expose the kid to as much of the shooting sports world as possible, get another "gun guy" for life. For many, that first experience is in muzzleloading in a summer camp setting. Even if you don't like muzzleloading, keep reading, it's still relevant.

In the Firearms Instructor world, the certification in Muzzleloading is pretty rare. Rarer still is an Instructor who is an active muzzleloading competitor/enthusiast. Many of the few with the credential only hold it to be able to perform their jobs in a youth shooting sports program. Our competition organization, the North South Skirmish Association is working to change that. For the youth to get the best, positive, fun muzzleloading experience, we believe that the Instructor must also hold enthusiasm for it. To that end, we just completed an intense Instructor training session at our home range, Fort Shenandoah and we now have 20 certified Muzzleloading Instructors who are also avid competitors and very knowledgeable in muzzleloading accuracy and marksmanship (didn't I mention we are competition shooters?)

We will be getting our new corps of Instructors organized and tasked to work with various youth camps/orgs to maximize our efforts.

Even if you don't like muzzleloading, we could use help in the form of donations or assistance. This effort is going to be expanded in the future. Our goal is to expose as many to the world of muzzleloading shooting sports as possible. If they stay with it great, if not but they move on to other shooting sports, that's still great, but NOTHING is going to happen without that first effort. Our contact website-

Muzzle Loading Youth Training – A North-South Skirmish Association Committee
http://muzzleloadingyouthtraining.org/

Please consider how you could help, even if only linking to our site.

 

[Button Pusher]

Perhaps a Muzzleloading sub forum?

 

[Dave951]

To give an idea of the impact this can have, last summer, just 3 of us Instructors-

spent 7 days in a youth summer camp, one day each weekly session

worked with over 300 youth and youth leaders in muzzleloading, firearms history

worked with nearly 150 more youth in 1 on 1 marksmanship training with muzzleloadings resulting in kids being about to shoot 8moa offhand with Civil War muskets

Yes, we made an impact and we want to make a bigger one

 

[Dave951]

Perhaps a Muzzleloading sub forum?

Maybe, but how many of you pew pew guys would EVER read it? The disdain for muzzleloading and black powder is strong and it's been building for a long time. There are tons of misconceptions about it and I'll challenge one right here and now, get good with a quality muzzleloader offhand, and you'll be a rock star with an AR. All a modern rifle does is cover up poor technique in marksmanship.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Muzzle loading was a very popular activity for the scouts at Camp Cherokee outside of Yanceyville. A good draw for the older youth that already did the usual merit badge stuff. This is the first image when you launch their website

 

[Dave951]

Camp Cherokee is blessed with some former NMLRA guys and they are the exception to the overall status of things regarding muzzleloading. Most camps do not have that luxury and my conversations with a person on the BSA Shooting Sports committee (at BSA National) confirmed that. We're working to change that.

 

[BigWaylon]

Perhaps a Muzzleloading sub forum?

Can’t the existing Black Powder one be used?

 

[Dave951]

Can’t the existing Black Powder one be used?

How many go there? We need exposure for this to work. Kids need to get on the range, Instructors need to be there, this at it's most basic is NOT a black powder only issue. What are others in the pew pew world doing to get kids into shooting sports? Shotgun guys, yup. Think bigger and much more long term.

 

[Button Pusher]

G&A. magazine Jan 2020 issue pg #33
Muzzleloading Basics article.

 

[Dave951]

I posted this on another forum, but I think it's still relevant to all of us in the shooting sports-

On my ranting philosopher soapbox-

Shooting sports are under attack from the outside and those who would like to see all guns go away are relentless and subtle. We shooting enthusiasts have too long let them guide the narrative while we remain on the defensive. I don't care if your passion is 3Gun, Long Range Precision Rifle, IDPA, USPSA, SASS etc, name the game, make no mistake here, the left would like to see you GONE Look at what's happening in VA. Did you ever, in a fever induced hallucination, ever think this would happen? If you're serious about helping to turn this around and go on the offensive, it is extremely important that we have to work with kids. Face it, your passion for 3G, IDPA etc, ain't a happening thing in a youth camp or with most youth organizations. How can you help in this endeavor? Simple support someone who IS working with youth be it in scholastic shotgun, 4H, >US< muzzleloading guys, or ANY group promoting safety and fun in shooting sports in a positive manner to youth. Kids today are voters tomorrow. Want more good little snowflake democrats? That's easy, just sit on your hands