OK, this isn't funny anymore. There has not been a new post since June 4th. I've seen many times with a few days without any posts, but this has been two weeks with zero activity. I am starting to worry about the state of our most prolific posters. Consider this a welfare check.
That means if y'all are still alive and upright, check in.
Please
Por Favor
Bitte
My brother hotfxr has made the most pointed comments I've read on this site in many months. So what do we do? I have always posted something from time to time when a lengthy silence settled in. But for weeks I've checked pretty regularly and am disheartened from the lack of interest. I finally tired of nudging everyone, hence my own absence and acknowledge my share of the fault. Does anyone else care at all?
Life marches on and the pendulum swings to and fro. The black powder world is on the wrong side of the swing at this time. We need a GOOD movie or some such thing to rekindle interest in our "sport". Mainly, black powder shooting need to be "cool" and get some young blood interested. How??? Damned if I know. I'm just one of the grey haired old farts that likes the sport and we (old farts) are slowly fading into the sunset. There is no pat answer on how to pep up our sport. Sad but true.
Here in south Mississippi, some 4H clubs are getting their shooting teams to shoot black powder. Still it is not enough to keep the sport alive nation wide.
doggoner
Perhaps we should refer to our flintlocks as "assault muzzleloaders".
Just a thought, but if interest in muzzleloading has been declining (if it really has) what are the reasons ?
One I can think of, is the most unfortunate and disappointing demise of Thompson Center Arms.
When they began in about 1967, they made muzzleloaders that people could mostly afford to buy and use, and I think this company had a lot to do with the developing interest in muzzleloaders hunting/shooting and overall hobby. I remember them advertising every month in The American Rifleman in the first few pages of the magazine, particularly for the Scout in line muzzleloading rifle. Ah, those were the days.
Need a remake of Jeremiah Johnson to kick start interest.
I was hoping that "The Revenant" would be a boost. However it was 2 1/2 hours of my life I'll never get back. It also seems that in todays society, anything to do with firearms is publicly frowned upon. Especially here in CA. [hmm]
I have to agree with all you who have posted. We need ""cool" rifles that are affordable and the game depts. need to step up with some fresh ideas.
We don't need a new movie... We need an entrepreneur to open a new muzzleloader manufacturing plant so we can get SIDELOCK's again. I go to the store and I see TRADITIONS 99X and other modern style BP firearms but not a single fullstock flinter ....
Pedersoli still makes good sidelocks, but the price is high.
I think there are a number of factors. Nobody wants to manufacture a product that they can't make a profit on. There is not enough market for the guns that are out there.
The political climate is a factor and the young folks mostly aren't interested. It doesn't help that in some cases there are folks who are too self important to help a newbe and look down on them for bringing the wrong gun and/or not being dressed absolutely period correct by their standards.
More or less overlooked is the loud silence screaming from US who are still BP fanatics yet refuse to post anything not already started by a movie, new gun source or another member. Hiding away and waiting for someone else to pick up the baton and run with it is NOT the way to start, renew or continue interest and participation in traditional black powder sports.
At last count I noticed two more BP sites down for the count and dead. But then I noticed SEVERAL others that are either thriving or, at the very least, continuing ahead modestly or better.
Look at your computer, touch a key and press. Then pick another key and press that one. Soon you will notice you have posted a message that has started a discussion. It's a easy as that.
Yes but the sites that are thriving have embraced the dreaded shall not be mentioned device that has a hole on both ends of the barrel giving it it's name that will not be mentioned here.... :mini-devil-28492: and allowed the use of PLASTIC .....