Earlier this month, we talked to Caleb Hinkle about his bill working to bring a muzzleloader hunting season to Montana. At the time of our interview, Caleb was presenting the bill to the Montana House of Representatives but was hopeful about it’s passing through the Montana House and Senate.
Talking with Tambi Dudley from Schuetzen Blackpowder about the state of muzzleloading in 2021
NMLRA's Terpstra/Swallow Long Range Match at Camp Atterbury
Pandemic Lifehack: Blunderbuss with InRange TV [Video]
FLAT TOP ELK HUNT | Muzzle Blasts Archives April 2020
Four a.m. comes early wherever you are. Early morning is just as dark in the Colorado Flat Top mountain range as it is in Coshocton, Ohio. The hunt prep routine is different. Instead of hopping into a pickup, then onto an ATV, my partner and I were saddling our horses and loading the equipment we prepared yesterday afternoon. It would be an hour ride to the jump-off point for our morning elk hunt.
Black Powder TV takes on the American Longrifle Forum June Postal Shoot
What is Hodgdon Triple Eight, and when will it be available to the public?
Hodgdon 888 or Hodgdon Triple Eight, as it’s known is a totally new blackpowder substitute announced at SHOT Show 2020. Not much is known about this new powder from the makers of GOEX, but we do know a few things.
Hodgdon boasts it’s “clean burning” properties, we assume this means hunters won’t need to clean their rifles as frequently as in the past. This is a hurtle to hunters interested in Muzzleloading.
Right now it’s available exclusively in Federal’s new “Fire Stick”, a new charge casing designed for the Traditon’s NitroFire Rifles
When will Hodgdon Triple Eight (888) be available to home reloaders?
We spoke with representatives from both Hodgdon and Traditions at SHOT Show 2020, and right now there are no plans to release Hodgdon Triple Eight to the public. It has been designed specifically for the Federal Fire Stickand Traditions Nitro Fire Rifles.
Rest assured, Muzzle Blasts will be reporting on these new developments in the world of Muzzleloading as soon as they happen.
How to stop grave robbers in the 18th century
Happy #flintlockfriday! Here’s a look at a flintlock I’ve never seen before. This is an English “Cemetary gun”, used to keep grave robbers away from your newly deceased relatives during the height of medical “study” in Victorian England.
Mounted on a swivel, this beast of a muzzleloader would be tied to trip wires that, when tripped, swung the muzzle in the direction of the thief and sent a lovely lead gift their way.
Boone’s Trace Biathlon 2020
Help with Chronographing my 52 caliber Bench Gun | Ask the Experts
Questions and answers from the NMLRA Facebook Group
“Does anyone have experience using a chronograph with muzzleloaders. I concerned with the unburned powder flash, patching and the smoke's impact on equipment and actuate readings. I have heavy and light bench guns, both .52 calibers that I was thinking about testing But would hate to cause damage to the equipment.s.”
-Chris West
Here are some of the most informative comments from the post.
Tom McEWen said, “I have a tripod mounted and a bayonet style. I have used the tripod style (Caldwell) with no issues. I will not use the bayonet style with a Muzzleloader (again)”
Robert Wetzler - “shooters used to use one put cardboard in front of screen”
Carl Hill Chronograph my 4 bore with a 1500gr. Ball, worked but i’d suggest moving it at least 15 yards away from the muzzle
Terry Sensenig - “I put a small piece of wood over the digital readout to minimize the shockwave. Other than that I feel like I get consistent readings with muzzleloaders. Prior to shooting muzzleloaders I will shoot a pistol through just to make sure the equipment is reading correctly”
Rick Weber- “I ruined a chrono with a felt wad. At 1500fps the conical traveled thru the wire way, but the wad hit face of the display- maybe 25’ away. Bought a LabRadar a few years ago, no problems.”
Ed Radzinski “I use a chrony, don't use skyscreens. Just put a piece of plexiglass over it. Works great.”
If you’d like to join in on the conversation, head on over to our NMLRA Facebook Group! The group is open to anyone who is interested in Muzzleloaders and living history as long as they follow the rules.
Find out more about the NMLRA
Duelist1954 Builds a York County Flintlock
Popular muzzleloading and black powder youtuber Duelist1954 has been working on building his own York County Flintlock for a while now. In case you’ve missed it, he’s uploaded part 17 this week focusing on his process of inletting the butt plate.
In this update I'll install the butt plate on the York County flintlock rifle.
How to Load a Muzzleloader
We wanted to bring this illustration out from the Muzzle Blasts Magazine archives. Commissioned in 2015, we’d like to thank Larry Small for illustrating this great diagram.
How to load a Muzzleloader
Make sure the bore is dry by using a ramrod with a cleaning jig and a clean, dry patch.
With the hammer down for safety, clean the frozen, pan, and flint (watch out for the sharp edges of the flint). Be sure the flash hole is clear of obstruction by inserting a vent pick, paper clip, or pipe cleaner. Load a flintlock with the frizzen and hammer all the way forward.
For a percussion firearm, inspec the nipple for obstruction by using a nipple pick or paper clip. With an unloaded firearm, snap a cap or two. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Pour the powder from a powder horn or flash into a measure. For safety, never pour powder directly into the bore from a horn or flask.
Pour the measured powder charge down the bore. Avoid placing your hands or face directly over the muzzle.
Center a lubricated or moistened patch over the bore and place the lead ball onto the patch.
With the short end of a short starter, set the patched ball into the bore. Use the Pam of your hand to press the ball into the muzzle.
Push the ball deeper with the long end of the short starter by using the palm of your hand.
Firmly seat the load against the powder charge by using short strokes with your ramrod. NEVER fire a muzzleloader if the ball is not firmly seated on the powder charge.
Use a pencil to make a reference mark on your ramrod when the lead ball is correctly loaded.
Remove the ramrod and store it under the barrel.
For a flintlock, fill the pan 1/4 to 1/3 full of priming powder, place the hammer into the half- cock position, and close the frizzen. When ready to shoot, bring the hammer into full cock position.
For a percussion muzzleloader, bring the hammer into the half-cock position and place a cap firmly onto the nipple. When ready to shoot, place the hammer at full cock.
Be certain of your target and what lies beyond. Aim and fire.
Run a damp cleaning patch down the bore and begin the process again, no need to repeat step #9
The NMLRA on Shooting USA! Tonight on the Outdoor Channel!
Tonight! Thank you Jim Scoutten's Shooting USA for featuring us on tonights episode!
(AmmoLand.com)- We’re slowing things down for Muzzle Loading in Friendship, Indiana at the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s Nationals. It’s one part competition and one part living history from the 1820s. And we’ve got George Sutton – Mr. Flintlock from Impossible Shots – as our guide to the people and the competition that draws folks to black powder.
Plus, the long story of the 1911s that are now History’s Guns.
Then, John reports from Hollywood with the cowboy guns from the movies.
And JP shows you how to choose and set your zero. More Info…
USA AIR TIMES
Wednesday 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on Outdoor Channel
Shooting USA is listed as a one-hour show in your cable menu.
AND NOW IN CANADA
On the New Sportsman Canada Channel
Our Same Show, the Same Week, as in the USA
Sportsman Canada Channel is available in 750,000 Canadian Households. Find the channel and find us north of the Border.
Subscribe to see all shows as often as you like at www.ShootingUSA.com
Jim
Defending the 2nd by Example in the 26th Year
Announcing the 2019 Longhunter Society Muzzleloading Photo Contest!
With hunting season on its way here in Indiana, we at the NMLRA are getting excited about the chance to get back into the woods with our muzzleloaders. With this excitement, we put together “The Longhunter Society 2019 Muzzleloading Photo Contest” as a way for us to give back to our hunters and share our love of hunting.
This photo contest has a class for flintlocks, caplocks, inlines, as well as an open class for those of us who might not bag a nice buck but still had fun anyway.
Post your Longhunter Photo to facebook or instagram using the hashtag “#NMLRALonghunter2019” and tag us in your photo (@NMLRA on Facebook and @muzzleblasts on Instagram), you can also email your photo to media@nmlra.org with the subject line “ NMLRA Longhunter 2019 Entry”
To see the rules of the contest, head over to nmlra.org/longhunterphotocontest to learn more.
Happy Hunting!