Martin's Station Rifle Project

Martin's Station is thought of as a great place to view and become involved in living history. Their calendar is filled with living history activities for the observer as well as the re-enactor. In the midst of these experiences is a great new project.

NMLRA 1 of 1000 Endowment

The NMLRA's "1 of 1000 Endowment Program" was the brain child of former president Merrill Deer. He hoped to find 1000 members who would each contribute $1000, to support the NMLRA. The funds go into a restricted endowment fund.

David Wright's painting, "The Spirit of America" will be used to support the program in a variety of ways.

Traditional Arts & Arms Making Workshop

Held at Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Noblesville, Indiana, this program is in its 22 year. Keep the dates October 8-14 2011 in mind -- classes fill quickly.

317-776-6006 or 800-966-1836

Friendship 2011 Spring Shoot

Ever see a shooting line a quarter mile long? Ever seen a muzzleloading slug gun that weighed over 100 lbs? Ever watched a barrel being rifled by hand? Ever seen a shooter bust doubles with a double flint fowler? You can for 10 days each spring and fall in southern Indiana. Come join us!

Filled Vent Test

Filling a flintlock touch hole with priming powder causes a slower ignition. The pan fire has to burn through instead of flash through the vent. Is this "fuse effect" true? Can the difference be measured? Are the "hang fires" experienced by black powder shooters caused by something else? Reporting the answers to these questions is the purpose in this article.

CLA FEATURED ARTISTS --James Blake

The Ties That Bind the Hands of a Craftsman

By John W. Hayes

Photography by Rick Lambert, James Blake, and H. David Wright

Reprinted by permission of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association/ Muzzle Blasts magazine, December, 2010. For information on the NMLRA and other black powder topics please visit the website at www.nmlra.org

Bedford Co. -- John Stoudenour

---pretty neat original Bedford County gun---

photographs by Larry Pletcher

Black Powder Artist of Note -- Art DeCamp

November 2010 - vol.6, Larry Pletcher, editor

Conner Prairie 21th Annual Traditional Arts and Arms Making Workshop

The Conner Prairie 21th Annual Traditional Arts and Arms Making Workshop has just concluded. As you enter Conner Prairie to attend class you see CP's new addition: a tethered balloon in memory of the aeronauts and the beginning of balloon flight in the 1800's. There is more to Conner Prairie than the classes for blackpowder folks.

photo credits: Steve Chapman, Larry Pletcher

editor: Larry Pletcher

Blackpowder Slug Guns - The Mitchell Gun

Slug Guns Part 2 allows a unique look into the world of slug guns. Blackpowdermag.com is pleased to bring you this look at the "Mother of all Slug Guns."

Blackpowdermag editor, Larry Pletcher

Blackpowder Artist of Note -- Ken Scott

October 2010 - vol.5, Larry Pletcher, editor

Blackpowder Slug Guns – Precision Paper Punching Machinery

Blackpowdermag editor, Larry Pletcher

For years I've been fascinated with the slug guns during the Muzzleloading Championships at Friendship. This year I decided to do an article on these remarkable guns. This article is the first in a two part series on slug guns. The second will look at the largest slug gun I have ever seen.

Blackpowder Artist of Note -- Mark Wheland

October 2010 - vol.4, Larry Pletcher, editor

Blackpowder Artist of Note -- Charles Wallingford

October 2010 - vol.3, Larry Pletcher, editor

Blackpowder Artist of Note -- Homer Dangler

September 2010 - vol.2, Larry Pletcher, editor

Blackpowder Artist of Note -- Jeff Bibb

September 2010 - vol.1, Larry Pletcher, editor

ITX Non-Lead Field Test

Do you live in a lead-free hunting zone? Are there alternatives for the traditional muzzleloading hunter? BlackPowderMag examines one possibility.

Screw Tip Horn Class repeated at Conner Prairie

Art DeCamp's instruction and horn-making techniques were invaluable to me in making screw-tip horns. Thank you, Art, for the class and the extra help you provided. Art has a new web site at:www.artspowderhorns.com

Pan Vent Experiments - Continued

In my earlier article called "Pan Vent Experiments", I examined powder placement in the pan and timed vent locations. I found that pan placement was far more forgiving that we thought. I found that a vent covered with prime did NOT slow ignition as we once thought. In fact priming powder located as close as possible to the barrel was the fastest way to prime. In this photo article, I will look at the possibility that a vent can be placed too high.

New High Speed Video from Friendship 09

Blackpowdermag.com and Olympus Industrial bring you more flintlock videos. The frame rate is 5000 fps.

Flintlock Timing Part III

Reprinted from MuzzleBlasts December 1992 by Larry Pletcher ---- This article is the third in a series of three reprinted articles that measure a flintlock's ability to ignite black powder. This article deals experimental Siler flintlock components from Jim Chambers, riflemaker and vendor of black powder parts.

Priming Powder Timing

Reprinted from MuzzleBlasts April 2005 by Larry Pletcher ---- This article is another in a series of reprinted articles that measure a flintlock's ability to ignite black powder. This article compares ignition time of black powder varieties used for priming the flintlock pan.

CLA Show - The Best Yet!

The CLA Show in Lexington brought together black powder fans from all over the country. Shooters, collectors, and makers all enjoyed the many displays. The following is a collection of photos from a number of sources. We hope you enjoy them.

Pan Vent Experiments

Learning how black powder ignites in a flintlock has been a passion of mine for 20 years. In this series of tests we examine the way fire travels from the pan to the barrel. The process involves the use of camera, computers, and a physics interface. What we learn may change the way we think about flintlock tradition.

Part 1 -- Black Powder Ignition Characteristics

Black powder ignition in a flintlock pan is different than inside the barrel. Here we look at black powder ignition in open air..

Part 2 -- Initial Pan Experiments

Burn marks on a card help us to determine the intensity of the black powder burn in the flintlock pan. This was a preliminary step to help determine how to prime the pan.

Part 3 -- Photography through the Muzzle

Comparing the strength of the black powder burn by looking through the barrel muzzle. Here we see that where the blackpowder is placed in a flintlock pan is crucial.

Part 4 -- Priming Powder Amount by Weight

Determining the amount of black powder to be used in testing. Since flintlock pans are of different size, I felt that this was a ncessary step in our process.

Part 5 -- Timing Powder locations in Pan

Is it better to bank the black powder priming away from the vent? This piece of conventional flintlock wisdom will be tested.

Part 6 -- High and Low Vent Experiments

Low vs High Vent Test Phase . . . . Where should the vent be positioned for best black powder ignition? Again, conventional flintlock wisdom is tested.

More High Speed Video from Friendship

This is the complete flintlock video library of the high speed film done at Friendship during the spring of 2007. Earlier articles contained highlights - like the original Manton supplied by Jim Chambers. Finally they are all together. Now we can watch black powder ignite!

Load Compression and Accuracy

We attempt to measure the effect of seating pressure on black powder ignition in both percussion and flintlock rifles. - Larry Pletcher and Steve Chapman -

Dixon's 2007 Gunmakers' Fair

Dixon's is the Mecca for all things relating to black powder and muzzleloading. Some of the most beautiful flintlocks in the world find their way here to be judged and displayed.

Slow Motion at Gun Makers’ Hall

Are you interested in watching an original J. Manton flintlock in slow motion? How about a wheel lock? BlackPowderMag was able to do just that at Friendship this spring. With help from blackpowder riflemaker, David Price, and Grant Ferguson from Olympus, we filmed 30+ flintlocks at 5000 frames/second.

Ultra High Speed Flintlock Movie

It's finally ready! Flintlocks with multiple variables at 5000 frames/second. This movie will run at GunMakers' Hall this spring. Here's your chance to see it early. See if you can see individual blackpowder grains ignite.

Lead vs Leather Flint Attachment Study

A flintlock needs a secure method of attaching the flint. There is spirited disagreement on the best way to do this. Whether to use lead or leather is the subject of this study. Perhaps this study will help your flintlock to ignite black powder more quickly.

Ron Ehlert -- His Legacy

The passing of Ron Ehlert is loss to all who appreciate fine traditional black powder arms. His artistry and his willingness to teach others will long be remembered. Ron's many fine flintlock firearms will be long treasured as well.

High Speed Video of a Flintlock

The high speed flint video project is done. BPM, working with Grant Ferguson from Olympus, captured video of a flintlock using different grades of black powder as well as flint configurations.

Flintlock Timing Part II

Reprinted from MuzzleBlasts September 1992 by Larry Pletcher ---- This article is the second in a series of three reprinted articles that measure a flintlock's ability to ignite black powder. R. E. Davis Company, black powder vendor in Pleasantville, Ohio provided the flintlocks used in this article.

Black Powder Photography

For some time I have wanted to take a high speed photo of a patched ball from a flintlock muzzleloader shedding its patch. This article documents the six month process of my attempts. Included are all the mistakes I made and what I learned about black powder as a result.

Conner Prairie Traditional Arts and Arms Making Workshop

The Conner Prairie 17th Annual Traditional Arts and Arms Making Workshop is history. Flintlock fans came from California to New England to learn from a core of talented instructors. A majority of the students come back year after year. Take a look at what you missed and what is in store for next year. If you shoot black powder, you'll want to see this.

Control of the Bisley Camp

Submitted by Joseph M. Hepsworth.... also appeared in "Shooting Sports USA" March 2006....... The U.S. long range team placed first at 900 and 1000 yards, setting a new world record. Bisley is the mecca for long range black powder target shooting.

Three National Records for Jason Chapman

Here is the future of the NMLRA. Jason Chapman set three records in the 2006 Fall Nationals at Friendship this fall. Read further and you'll see the effort that Jason and his father made in black powder shooting at this level.

Flintlock Timing

Reprinted from MuzzleBlasts January 1990 by Larry Pletcher ---- This article is the first in a series of three reprinted articles that measure a flintlock's ability to ignite black powder. L&R's Durs Egg and Manton locks are the subject of this article. Both performed well and provide a standard of comparison for flintlocks in future articles.

Friendship News

Records fall at Friendship.....The future of black powder shooting is our youth.

Is Black Powder Calling You?

Shooting black powder is addictive.  While there are many kinds of shooting to be enjoyed in America, shooting black powder, especially in a good flintlock, is my favorite.  To many like me, hunting with a black powder gun, whether it be a rifle, shotgun or pistol, adds immensely to the sport.