by James C. Fulmer | Past President, NMLRA
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association will once again hold an 18th Century Marketfaire and Rifle Frolic at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club October 6th-8th 2017 in Sinking Valley, near Huntingdon, PA. The range is located near Fort Roberdeau which was reconstructed in 1976 as a Blair County Bicentennial project on the original site in the Sinking Valley. Fort Roberdeau is also known as The Lead Mine Fort and was built in 1778 during the American Revolution and was occupied until 1780. Here is where American Patriots mined lead so desperately needed at that time period of the Revolution. The “Lead Fort” reminds citizens of the sacrifices that were made in the early days of America. The Fort is close enough to walk but many do drive to it for a visit so they don’t miss too much range time.
This young man stuck both tomahawks on his second attempt during the Black Powder Days event.
The NMLRA runs a large all-inclusive match schedule at this event. Last year, every type of muzzle-loading firearm was fired at this event including scoped in-lines, flintlocks, and over the log rifles weighing over 20 lbs. There was something for everybody. The range is unique in the fact that there is a modern range as well as an area separate from the main range that allows for primitive-style shooting for 18th century firearms and dress only.
The public who attended make this event special. The NMLRA has an area for “first shots” at the range where NMLRA range officers give a brief history of the firearm the person chose to shoot. Their choices ranged from flint and percussion long-rifles to half stock Hawken rifles. Nearly 400 visiting public shot during this event. Some were not only shooting a muzzleloader for the first time, but shooting a firearm for the first time. After shooting they were given their targets and many carried them away like diplomas. Saturday evening after the shooting an event “Come and Meet Your Neighbor” is held in the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Clubhouse with entertainment, door prizes, and fund raisers to help support the event. This event is a great event for first timers or new people to be introduced into primitive camping and rendezvousing. Here is where a nylon pup tent or a tin tepee can be set up right across the road to a primitive encampment with pre-1840 camp rules in effect. This is where people can learn and experience and grow in the sport. I have watched people who were novices evolve into experienced shooters by having the chance to watch and learn in this type of atmosphere.
“Lovely” was from the Bronx borough of New York City and had fun shooting bow, throwing tomahawk and shooting blanks in a cap & ball revolver.
The NMLRA will be doing the same type of program now for 5 years. Some people call this event the beginners Rendezvous, others call it one of the toughest Rendezvous they have been to, with the 280 yard shots and the “Iron Valley” for their shooting pleasure. There need to be more events like this across the country to get new people started and build the grassroots for our sport.
Every event I know needs help. The life blood of any event or undertaking is volunteers. The reason there isn’t any more shooting at the this event is not because of room or prizes, it is working to physically do the event. If you get a chance volunteer, if you can’t volunteer thank the volunteers who do work the event. They do appreciate that they make a difference.
The difference of having a good experience or bad one while learning something different such as shooting a muzzle loader or throwing a tomahawk or shooting a bow is the difference between a person who embraces the muzzleloading sport or sells all the gear he just bought.
Everyone enjoyed shooting the archery gear against a deer target with an arrow curtain behind it for safety.
To reach more people who aren’t into our sport of muzzle-loading or even know about it the NMLRA has just started another event to expose new people or novices to our sport and our association. This last July 22-13 from 10AM to 3PM at the Cabela’s store in Hamburg, PA, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association had a Black Powder weekend. The NMLRA was able to set up a primitive encampment and camp overnight on site at the store. Here the NMLRA was able to give a glimpse back into history by using muzzleloading firearms, tomahawk throwing and primitive archery.
Located outside in front of the Cabela’s store from the front door down to the open fields were displays of all sorts and demonstrations being given about muzzleloading.
There were people demonstrating how to clean and maintain a flintlock, percussion or in-line rifle. Blanks where being fired constantly out of an original double-barrel muzzleloading shotgun, a re-pro style Hawken and cap and ball revolvers. It attracted literally hundreds of people at a time to see what was going on and maybe get a chance to fire off a blank after plenty of instruction. For many people this was the first time they ever had an opportunity to fire any firearm let alone a muzzleloader. I was amazed at the fact that Cabela’s not only attracts customers from all over our country but all over the world.
The cap & ball revolvers attracted a lot of attention and first time shooters.
The tomahawk throw was very popular among the store customers. All of us remember how it was when we threw our first hawk and it stuck. It was no different for the general public who came to the store and stumbled into the Black Powder Weekend. Cabela’s sold out of tomahawks by the afternoon of the first day. Everybody that tried it had fun because we had a great bunch of instructors for tomahawk throwing for the first time. They could teach anybody to throw.
The Primitive Archery was popular for everybody. Experienced archery hunters fielded a lot of questions and enjoyed it a lot but also I heard something several times that weekend on both the muzzle-loading range and the archery: “I haven’t done this since I was in the “Boy Scouts” or at “Camp.” There were many, many, way too many, people who said the same thing: “haven’t done it since.…”
We need to change that. The Cabela’s event at Hamburg , PAA, was a very successful event. I can’t thank the people at Cabela’s for all the support they have given us over the years. But their success is our success. For every customer that buys a muzzleloader has the potential to be a new NMLRA member. For every NMLRA member there is the potential to be a Cabela’s new customer. Yes, it is that simple.
More events like the “18th Century Rifle Frolic” and the “Black Powder Days at Cabela’s” are needed to drive the sport with new people. There are many events out there just like these; support them and we will grow.
