This article comes from the November 2020 Issue of Muzzle Blasts Magazine. Subscribe today to read more great articles.

By Dave Ehrig 

November is the last full month of autumn, so let’s get all of our outdoor shooting, trekking, camping and hunting in, before the brown landscape grows “snow deep” into whiteness and the ice glazes the frozen roads. November is also one of the busiest months in the calendar. The shorter length of sunlight is really noticeable and our circadian rhythms are thrown into a tail spin on November 1st as we all “fall back” into the old “standard time” of sunrise and sunset. Election Day is on November 3rd and some newly elected, as well as old familiar faces, will accept their responsibilities as elected officials and take on the challenges of the country. In my family, everything stops in our busy lives as we honor our military heroes on Veteran’s Day, November 11th. And, as if that were not enough, who doesn’t look forward to family and food that graces our tables on Thanksgiving, November 26th?

And for each of us in our wonderful NationalMuzzle Loading Rifle Association, our competitors; accoutrement and horner artisans; merchants; musicians; primitive rendezvousers; historic researchers/photographers/collectors/creative artists with pencils and pigments; and media folks can’t wait to celebrate together this past year’s happenings and accomplishments. 2020 has been a rough road for all, but in spite of the face masks, social distancing, prohibition on gatherings for state, regional and national shoots, our muzzleloading culture has survived, has had some notable successes and we are ready to give thanks together by gathering once again amongst friends.

If you took to heart what was just written in the previous two paragraphs, why not share it in your magazine; your Muzzle Blasts?  You will find friendly faces and support in our MB office to help you become a “noted writer/photographer/artist” within our national magazine.  And it is easy: Send an email idea to the editor at dehrig@nmlra.org and I will promptly send you writers’ guidelines; Discuss your art and photographs with our MB Coordinator (of layout and design) Amber at amay@ nmlra.org; or phone 812-667-5131, extension 230; or talk to our Advertising and MB Secretary Lindsey at ext. 231, or write lbrown@nmlra.org. We are all anxious to assist you and your article ideas; photographs; and art.  Our magazine is as fresh, inviting and stimulating as the people who contribute. We want you to join with us.

We have a great line-up for you in this issue of Muzzle Blasts. Beginning with the Bevel Brothers picking up the challenge to a reader who wrote: “According to the Boyle's law as I remember it from school sixty years ago, a given quantity of gas at standard temperature will have a pressure that varies directly as to the volume of its container.” They responded:” Well, it took me a while to digest that question. But after much thought I was able to determine that I didn’t know enough about internal ballistics to actually answer those points without excessive reliance on guesswork, supposition, and idle speculation. So I got on the phone with Terry Diehl and Calahan McIver over at Hodgdon Powder. Terry is one of the guys that run the pressure gun

where they test out all those GOEX and Olde Eynsford black powder and Pyrodex and Triple 7 loads they publish. Calahan got me the pictures and explained what I was looking at. Terry said that there are many factors that affect the internal ballistics of firearms. What is happening inside the bore as the powder burns and the ball or bullet moves forward is a very complex physics problem. . . And, after wrapping our collective intellect around their esoteric and effete response (huh?} they give us an explanation that can help the common man (or woman) understand how this will help them harvest a deer this year.

Ivan Judd relates; “I had just blown a chance at the biggest buck that I have ever seen in a hunting situation. I was so angry with myself that going home was almost an option, except during the time spent seeing where the big buck was going, another herd was spotted about a half mile away. Again, these deer were on the downwind side of an open hillside with one animal standing out from the rest.”

And again, James Baichtal writes, “I always start second guessing the shot wandering if I rushed the shot; didI not hold center I beat myself up as I moved further along the trail. I had set up where I had many bucks on a trail camera and I sat there for over an hour. At about 10:00 I decided to move closer to where I suspected the bucks might be bedded. I used the Primos Long CAN®. I would make 3-4 calls every 4-5 minutes. About 20 minutes after I started, I saw a portion of an orange antler moving through the brush at about 80 yards. For the next few moments I caught glimpses of movement. Finally, 32 yards away through a slim opening in a mountain hemlock I saw a face, a nose and a double white throat patch. . .

So what keeps are readers faithful to Muzzle Blasts.  Consider Board of Director Rick Weber’s phone call to a member:” Renew at any age? Membership Chair and Board of Director Jerry Von Dielingen asked fellow NMLRA Board of Directors to make a few phone calls to memberships that have lapsed. Some forget, some are not in a financial situation (COVID) and some have changed their phone number... But, it was a fun endeavor to those who we talked to – they appreciated the call.  In my case, one call to NV was such a wonderful conversation that the member who was 87 and was no longer shooting, reenacting, etc...Still enjoyed talking Muzzle Loading.  He had been a member of the NMLRA since the 80’s and enjoyed MB all those years.

Like with any ML enthusiast, it’s easy to start up conversations talking about guns – in this case Hawken.  Oh, did we talk and email about Hawken’s...  Dale acquired his 1st Hawken after he attended a rendezvous in Big Timber, MT. He recalled having to ford a stream to get to the site. Tepees surrounded the rock circle of an old Crow campground – a wonderful weekend. After the event, he ordered a Don King rifle, yet having to wait a while for Don to complete a rifle for Peter Fonda. It was completed the year of 1975 and was in the early Jake Hawken style – full stock Flint. It had a GM 54cal, 38” barrel. . . “

And finally, NMLRA Vice President Jerry Von Dielingin writes in his article, All Roads Lead to Friendships:

“I know many of you have not been able to make a journey to Friendship, but have had similar experiences at regional and local shoots. It is the only sport I know that has the camaraderie, values, enjoyment, family focus and affordability for all people. In addition, I am continually impressed with the artisans that are part of this organization and their willingness to share their knowledge and skill. Friendship and Friendships are more than a place and a person. They are the chances for you to enjoy what is good about people and share yourself as well.”

Keep yer powder dry; shoot straight . . . and Happy Thanksgiving. 

Dave Ehrig