Blackpowder Blasts
By R.J.Ratner
There's a place in Floyd County where a unique and richly diverse gathering
of sportsmen come together. It is a place where forested mountain slopes
meet fescue and clover rich grazing fields. It is where the BLAST of blackpowder
longrifles firing in competition sequences makes a very distinct sound.
The sound that echoes off of these hills and out of these hollers reverbs
with roots soundly grounded in the history of the exploration and settlement
of this country, and this countryside.
(honing the art of the frontierswoman)
Adherents and admirers with a keen perspective towards
the pleasures of this particular firearm's tradition, will gather
on these fields and mountainsides, or along forest paths, to practice and
fine tune their sport. Hiking densely wooded and winding paths that meander
along the ridges and hillsides, there are carefully placed targets nearly
hidden to encourage a heightened sense of the well earned excitement associated
to the occassion of a blackpowder shoot.
 (One
of the pitched tent communities at the Rendezvous; the tents are replicas
of those from the mid 1800's)
Down along the orderly firing line at the bottom of a
long sloping field that backs up into a thick stand of timber, other accomplished
marksmen, and those in training, will open fire at the variety of
paper,wood and iron targets placed strategically and at various distances
in the open and otherwise empty pasture
The report of the muzzleloaders(also called longrifles
because of their obvious extended lengths) resounds across this rural land
with a noise much like hammers smacking wooden planks at a construction
site where framing rises as fast as gnats at a picnic.
 (poles
in place, the tepee goes up;with a little help from some friends)
Mechanics and tradesmen, doctors and homemakers,
people from every type of livlihood
and walk of life, regularly meet on secluded private
property in northwest Floyd county for highly
competitive, and highly social events, called blackpowder
shoots.
Once a month they come together in Floyd for club shoots...and then twice
a year for what
they call big shoots ..shooting matches that include
more of the historical element into the look
and feel of the gathering.
 (Many
come traditionally garbed;
some do
not)
 (A
participant who traveled many miles, and through time, to the Floyd Rendezvous)
They will also join with other kindred spirits in places
like Friendship, Indiana, as some of
the thousands of participants in Rendezvous, a full out,
period-clothing and encampment
gathering centering around the lore and allure of the
muzzleloader.
There is also a Western and Eastern Rendezvous
each year that draws thousands. The
Eastern Rendezvous is sponsered by the National Muzzleloader
Rifle Association.
 (At
home afield)
One of the twenty year plus veterans of the blackpowder
lifestyle at the Big Lick Big
Shoot, Dennis Maness, of the American Mountainmen, who
opts to dress in full period style, told
of one of his experiences at the Eastern Rendezvous that
provides essential insight to the nature
of the individuals who attend.
(Dennis Maness)
Dennis relates," After getting our camp site set
up..among the
some four thousand people in attendance, my friend and
I strolled through the encampments til
we had gotten acres away from our camp. It started to
rain and so we headed back. Before long
the rain was really coming down and we were concerned
for all of our gear and rifles that we
had casually left on the ground in front of our tent.
When we got back to our site we saw that
someone had anonymously taken it upon themselves to gather
up all our stuff and place it
orderly and safely within our tent and out of the rain.
Nothing was missing,"
(some of the wares for sale;
finished longrifles and unfinished rifle stocks,powder horns,ammo cases
and bags and always a knife or two)
 (A
longtime regular at shoots and rendezvous, selling some of his homemade
wares from the back of his station wagon)
Dennis' story is echoed by others with whom I spoke. "There
is a wonderful
comaraderie among these people. And a very strong trustworthiness
permeates each and every
gathering", Pat Patterson and Everett Boone tell me.
Pat is the Vice President of the Virginia
Muzzleloader Rifle Association. Even though still enjoying
actively shooting once in awhile, he
prefers vending supplies and kits and premade rifles
at many of the meets. But Everett Boone
points out with a humor characteristic of so many of
these gregarious people that "it might be a
bit of a deterrent to someone who might think of stealing
something or causing trouble when
nearly everyone around him is carrying a gun and a knife."
 (Socializing
at a campsite)
Members of the Big Lick Longrifles and their associate
club, Appalachia Primitive Riflemen, whose membership consists of local
and regional residents, will be joined with dozens of other avid participants
who will quietly arrive in Floyd from a myriad of other places and states
for the occassion of a Big Shoot. They will arrive in vehicles that tote
the tall poles for their tepees, lodges, wedge and wall tents. Many who
attend wear clothing or garments that are homemade and mirror their respect
for the authenticity to a time period they so admire. They will also bear
the replicas of the longrifle or pistol of their choice that they, themselves,
crafted out of a kit or from the remnants of actual antique muzzleloaders.
Some may purchase it ready-made from a blackpowder outfitter. Whatever
their source or choice of firearm and apparrel, for a few
days these friendly and considerate sportsmen and sportswomen
who are extremely generous with conversation, guidance and instruction,
and even the tools of their sport, step back in time, blissfully quaking
the bucolic sounds of the contemporary countryside with their well intentioned,
ancestrally echoing BLAMS, BLATTS AND THWACKKS!.
(One
of the tent communities; the tents are replicas of mid 1800's styles)
Always open to newcomers to the sport, there is great
encouragement for beginners at any age to come to a shoot for an introduction
into this pasttime. No experience necessary. Although I have been an observer
of these shoots for many years I had never fired a muzzleloader. One time,
a blackpowder sportsman for over twenty years and as kindly and
pleasant a person as anyone might hope ever to meet,
Jerry Jones, from Chatham, and a member of the Wynne's Falls Riflemen in
the Danville area, extended me the opportunity along with basic instructions
while he was in the midst of a competitive match! He had self-crafted
his 40 caliber longrifle from antique parts as well as from a maple
stock he had won at a previous match. It was this rifle he allowed me to
fire. The fact that I struck the metal target dead-center
was more a testament to the quality of the workmanship
of the rifle than to any skill of my own.
(Jerry Jones at the firing line)
I also admired, but did not shoot, two pistols
he had made. One pistol very sleek and
modern appearing with its handcarved finger rests in
the well worn maple grip; the other looking
much the history piece, as could be used in a duel, or
fired from a schooner by a buccaneer.
 (Jerry's
Pistols)
Someone like myself, new to the activity, or anyone long
experienced in the process, is
always welcome to attend or to participate. Interested
beginners or novices are encouraged to
contact any member of the Blackpowder Clubs or an individual
involved in the sport for specific
hands on instruction and training in the correct use,maintenance,safety
and shooting range
etiquette.
(Firing range etiquette, even
more than what's on the sign, consists of things unsaid, but commonly understood
and not only accepted, but appreciated)
The Big Lick Club shoots paper targets mainly, but remains open to suggestions.
The Appalachia Primitive Riflemen prefer shooting at
primitive targets..those of wood or iron. The award for best marksman will
vary from match to match.On some occassions the winners of the matches
(smooth bore,musket,hunter's as well as women's and kid's) receive groceries.
The split pot money matches are reserved for blackpowder
pistol and steel silhouette targets.
Unlike contemporary firearms where the explosive mix that
propels the bullet is all self-
contained within the ammo cartridge or shell, muzzleloaders
require the sort of attention to the
routine of loading and shooting that may generally be
found in the craftsman or artisan.
(Taking their shots)Before loading the firearm it is an essential part of
the process to determine the nipple
and combustion area is clean and clear. These are the
areas where the priming charge is,
depending on the specific type of muzzleloader, and where
the initial ignition takes place that
will lead to the igniting of the powder charge beneath
the ammo in the muzzle. The muzzleloader
is loaded from the top end of the muzzle, or barrel.
The load depends on the caliber of the gun
as well as the type of shooting intended ( hunting, recreational
or target shooting) and includes a
specific measure of powder, usually a wad or patch( also
called a jag), and a ball or charge of
shot.
(loading the longrifle at the firing range)
Into the longrifles' muzzle is poured a specific
measure(by volume, not weight) of the
blackpowder. This is gradually tamped down with the shot
or a ball..along with a small rip of
cloth. After the rifle is loaded using the somewhat tedious
routine of short starter and then a
ramrod to secure the load, and once all the safeties
are checked, the gun needs to be primed if it
is a flintlock or matchlock or have a cap placed on the
nipple if it is a percussion gun..so as the
trigger is pulled and the hammer snaps down onto the
piece of firing cap..or a finely sharpened
flint striking the frizzen or the match drops onto the
priming powder, there is ignition,usually,
sparking the powerful black granules to combust..( the
expression .. "keep your powder dry.." is
self explanatory when involved in the muzzleloader process
and lifestyle as is evidenced by the
occassional thud of the "dry-fire" or mis-fire when there
is no ignition).
The ball,or shot, hurtles out with a loud, flat
blast releasing a plume of smoke at the end
of the barrel( if they are firing a Flintlock rifle there
may also be a smaller expulsion of smoke at
the point of ignition near the shooters face.)The projectile,
striking its target, or missing its target,
can travel at a range of 50 to 500 yds.
(Waiting for the signal to begin shooting)
The shootist, observing the location of his or her
hit or miss, reloads, begins anew the process in methodical steps in each
preparation to refire. An experienced blackpowder shooter can
complete the process in about forty-five seconds..though
more difficult when under the duress of
a battlefield imperative as during the revolutionary
and civil wars where a soldier may be forced
to master the process somewhat faster. But, in the pleasureable
environs of a non war venue
such as this one.. thirty or forty or a minute and a
half..no matter..the shootist has a respect for,
and learns the patience with, this age-old traditional
ritual.
(Two of the "primitive" participants)
While paying homage to the lineage of these firearms and
to our forefathers,foremothers
and founders with a great individualistic enjoyment,
there is sincere hope for the opportunity to
share this on any level with others. That anyone or any
group that may have any interest or
curiosity in or about this sport or any of its related
activities, whether borne out of an appreciation
of history or as some here have..moved out of the ranks
of the casual modern firearm user into a
deeper admiration of the muzzleloader, will come by a
future shoot, or contact someone in a
club.
(Some of the wares salemen trading stories)
Word of the meets and rendezvous are spread primarily
by word of mouth..pony
express(the mail).. or anachronistically..by E-mail.
Phone contacts may be made to Marie
Dehart or Ted Greer, President and Vice President respectively
of the Big Lick Longrifle Club at
540-694-7072 & 540-694-3723 or Randy Weeks, Secretary-Treasurer
at 540-763-2792. Mail
contacts should be addressed to Marie Dehart 558 Rye
Cove Creek Rd. Stuart,Va.24171 or to
Randy Weeks at 184 Private Drive, Floyd,Va. 24091 or
to E-mail address:
mailto:bigbear@swva.net
(The only sign at the entrance)
If you would just like directions to attend one of Big
Lick Longrifle's club shoots at their
shooting range in Alum Ridge, give them a call, since
only the subtlest tell-tale sign marks the
entrance to the long driveway leading these time travellers
off the twentieth century macadam
onto a dirt and grass path guiding them straight back
into history.
The history that is part and
parcel of America and of these Blue Ridge Mountains.
Short History of the Blackpowder Firearm - more>>
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