Muzzle Blasts

Luke's work has been making the round at NMLRA competitions, it was great to sit down and chat with him about his life, hunting, and  Arrowhead Rifles. We'd like to thank Luke for sponsoring our "Long Range  Muzzle Loading Hunter" Match for July 2020. Keep a lookout for the video coverage of that event next week.

Luke has been a hunting and shooting fanatic as long as he can remember, "I was homeschooled through high school.  My brother and I  could usually wear our mom down in 2-3 hours tops and get kicked out of the house for the rest of the day which meant lots of time for hunting,  trapping, and fishing.  In my very early hunting years (probably around  10) my younger brother and I would go on frequent all-day sparrow safaris at the neighbor’s dairy farm.  From there I graduated to squirrels, rabbits, and pheasants.   I have a lot of wonderful memories of chasing Iowa roosters with my dad and brothers. In high school, I  began hunting Iowa Whitetails which have been my primary pursuit for the  last 15+ years." 

ArrowheadRifles.com 

Arrowhead Rifles on Instagram

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Learn more about how Lucas Oil is working to promote shooting sports

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

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Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

This week we dive into the Muzzle Blasts Archives and bring you this article on the Battle of Fallen Timbers by Joshua Shepherd.

For the new administration of President George Washington, the first few years of national governance had proved disagreeable. Mounting tensions abroad threatened to entangle the young republic in foreign disputes for which Washington had little stomach; domestically, financial instability endangered the nation with economic calamity. Worse yet, antagonistic ideological factions - pitting those who opposed a strong central government against those who favored increased Federal power -were laying the seeds of partisan political parties.

But perhaps the greatest threat to the new nation lay beyond the western frontier, where a confederacy of Indian tribes had repeatedly bested American forces. The day after Christmas,

1791, Secretary of War Henry Knox presented Congress with the president's plans for pacifying the hinterlands of the Ohio Country. Because the region's hostiles had refused "offers of peace on reasonable terms", Knox requested an unprecedented expansion of the Army. The tribes were flushed with "the pride of victory'', claimed Knox, and "a strong coercive force" was needed to secure peace. Despite the horrors of an all-out conflict on the frontier, as well as the tremendous cost of blood and treasure it would entail, Knox advised Congress that there was little choice. ''. An Indian war of considerable extent," he warned, "has been excited."

Listen to this episode on youtube

Read this article at NMLRA.org

Learn more about how Lucas Oil is working to promote shooting sports

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Shop for your muzzleloading supplies with our sponsors 

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

This week we are talking to Jason Gatliff, owner of Muzzleloader Magazine and American Pioneer Video.

A native of Georgia, Jason got involved in living history at a young age thanks to a family friend. By the time he was 16, he began driving himself to rendezvous in the American south. As he grew, so did his interest and involvement in the muzzleloading community. While in college, he published his blacksmith club’s newsletter. This experience gave him a head start when “On the Trail” Magazine came up for sale. With investment from a friend, he had met while camping the rendezvous circuit, “On the Trail” became the first of many ventures for Jason.

Listen to the podcast to hear how Jason went from a young man who enjoyed camping and throwing tomahawks to publishing some of the best articles and videos in the muzzleloading community.

This chat isn’t all business, at his core, Jason loves the muzzle loading community and takes time to trek, camp, and hunt just like his readers. We dive into the shape of the hobby, how it’s changed over his 20+ year involvement, and where he sees muzzle loading and living history in the years to come

Send your articles or ideas to Jason - [email protected]

Muzzleloader Magazine

American Pioneer Video

On the Trail Magazine

Historical Trekking.com

Historical Enterprises LLC

Coalition of Historical Trekkers

Learn more about how Lucas Oil is working to promote shooting sports

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Shop for your muzzleloading supplies with our sponsors 

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

The following is an actual ac­count of the three men, Ed Keney, Tom Grant, and Gordon Byrd who set out from Pittsburg, Pa., in an eighteen-foot canoe and pad­dled 525 miles in 15 days, to the Walter Cline Range at Friendship, Ind. A feat of endurance, determ­ination, hardship, and not ex­cluding the heartbreak loss of equipment. As you follow along with these men, part in the narrative, part . in actual daily entries from their diary, you will see they still have the fiber of the frontiersmen who opened this country. 

This story is from 50 years ago nearly to the day. Expedition participant Tom Grant reached out to share his story with us. This episode features the telling of the tell by Tom Grant as well as reciting of the original article from 1970. 

Listen to the whole story today on the Muzzle Blasts Podcast from the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association.

Learn more about how Lucas Oil is working to promote shooting sports

Read the full article from 1970 and see the photos at NMLRA.org/news

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Shop for your muzzleloading supplies with our sponsors 

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Kibler of Kibler Longrifles and how the Kibler Kit got started. Jim has always been interested in making things, but after being laid off from his job as an engineer, he began building custom long rifles. Wanting to push the envelope a bit, and with the help of his girlfriend Katherine, Jim started developing the means to produce a high quality but affordable kit just about anyone could build. 

Listen to the whole story today on the Muzzle Blasts Podcast from the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. 

Learn more about how Lucas Oil is working to promote shooting sports

Links to what Jim discusses -

Jim's Website

Jim's Kit Website

Jim Kibler on Facebook 

Jim's Youtube Channel with tutorials and guides

Kibler Longrifles on Instagram 

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Shop for your muzzleloading supplies with our sponsors 

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

 In this episode we sit down with Greg Murry, the craftsman behind the Crockett Longrifle Project. 

After having built his first longrifle for his 9-year -old son in the 1990s, Greg was bitten by the bug of muzzleloader building.  Having never thought himself an artist, he built 4 muzzleloaders before diving in headfirst into making original works. 

Greg's work is not tied to a specific medium, he builds long rifles, knives, tomahawks, accouterments, and creates his own version of hanging art he calls "Steel Canvases". 

Listen today to hear Greg's story of getting into the world of muzzleloading and how he stumbled into seeing some of the only original Crockett Longrifles in existence and how he works to preserve their history. Greg shares some wonderful down to earth stories about his life and his work. With historic references to back up his work, this episode is a great point of reference for anyone researching the Crockett Family Longrifles. 

Greg delivers an exact copy of the original Crockett rifle with a  certificate of authenticity documenting the reproductions serial number,  along with a smoke print of the hand-engraved reproduction stamping die of the signature on the original rifle. 

See more of Greg's work on Facebook, where he shares delightful daily videos, and on his website, CrockettLongrifle.com 

Greg is currently accepting custom work, you can contact him through his website. 

Links to what Greg discusses - 

"Hugo Blac, the Artist"

"Esther Thompson's Cabin"

"LT. A Crockett, Sons of the American Revolution"

The Genealogy Connection of Davey Crockett

Samuel Crockett Homestead 

Daughters of the American Revolution Monument

The Painting Referenced

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to  be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

Of all of the interesting headgear associated with the American Revolution, one of the simplest forms was the "Liberty Cap." 

Today we dive into the Muzzle Blasts Archives to bring you this article from the NMLRA Bicentennial series. With the 250th Anniversary of the United States in full swing around the country, we thought it appropriate to share the story of a forgotten little red cap from the front lines of our war for independence. 

In conjunction with this podcast, the NMLRA youtube channel has a new video walking you through the steps of making your own Liberty Cap so that you may erect your own liberty pole proudly exclaiming your freedom, just as the founders did years ago. 

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to  be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

We're under lockdown in Indiana due to COVID19, please see NMLRA.org/covid19 for updates on how this affects the NMLRA. (5/2020)

We're joined by Andrew and Hanna Davies to talk about being NMLRA youth competitive shooters, what it's like growing up in a shooting household and more. 

Follow Hanna on Instagram and Facebook

Follow Andrew on Instagram and Facebook 

Hanna Davies is 16 and has been shooting since about age 6 or 7. She began shooting black powder trap competitively a few years ago. She has numerous wins under her belt but her most recent accomplishment was tying for first in the NMLRA women’s national championship. When it was all said and done she placed 3rd.  Hanna shoots a single shot shotgun converted By Jeff Fisk to shoot black powder. Hanna began shooting steel challenge matches last year and is progressing quickly. She enjoys the lifestyle and wants to continue to be a better shooter.

Andrew is 14 and has been shooting since at least age 5. He began shooting black powder trap competitively a few years ago. He has numerous successes in black powder trap at the jr level. Andrew likes flintlocks and with the addition of a custom flintlock shotgun by Mike Longstreth has moved into more flintlock clay matches. Andrew is a big fan of the quail walk as well. Andrew also began shooting steel challenge matches last year. He is a high-speed kid.

Both are great kids being raised in a shooting household. They both hunt and fish but are more into shooting as opposed to sitting and waiting for a critter.  Both kids shot at least 13 events last year including both NMLRA national shoots, steel challenge matches, and some sporting clays just for fun. 2020 holds a lot of opportunities for the kids. They are on schedule to shoot the South Carolina state steel challenge championship, matches at Oak Ridge Shooting association, and both NMLRA national shoots to name a few.   They are honored to have the support of the NMLRA, Steel Target Paint and Wiland USA! And look forward to spreading the word about them

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at  the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made  possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

We're under lockdown in Indiana due to COVID19, please see NMLRA.org/covid19 for updates on how this affects the NMLRA. (4/2020)

After attending an NMLRA National Match in the early 1990s, Rick Weber sold all of his modern firearms and began collecting original black powder arms. Listen today as Rick talks about how he began fixing up original muzzleloaders, shooting them to 1000 yards, and what it's like hunting with an original muzzleloader. 

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to  be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast, or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member

We're under lockdown in Indiana due to COVID19, please see NMLRA.org/covid19 for updates on how this affects the NMLRA. (4/2020)

This week we’re talking with Dave Ehrig. Dave is the editor of Muzzle Blasts Archives, but he's also got decades of experience as a hunter, outdoorsman, and writer. In this episode, Dave lays out some helpful tips for anyone wanting to drop a turkey with their smokepole. It's not a lecture though, listen in as Dave shares some of the funny stories from his life as a hunter. 

Check out Dave's most recent book "Muzzleloading for Deer and Turkey" on Amazon

Dave also has a book that focuses on whitetail deer hunting - Read "Black Powder White Tails" Today

Read Dave's work on the NMLRA Website Here

Find out more about the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association at our website - NMLRA.org

Muzzle Blasts on Instagram 

NMLRA on Facebook

NMLRA on Youtube

Muzzle Blasts Podcast

A special thanks this week to the guys at Primitive Pursuit for sponsoring the podcast! Primitive Pursuit was founded in 2017 to be an outlet for learning experiences as a traditional bowhunter.

We couldn't have this conversation, the podcast or anything here at the NMLRA without the support of our members. Everything we do is made possible because of their generosity. Thank you.

Find out more about being a Member