National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association facts for kids
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA) is the biggest group for people who enjoy muzzleloading in the United States. Muzzleloading is a sport where you shoot special firearms called muzzleloaders, which are loaded from the front of the barrel with black powder. The NMLRA started in 1933 to help more people learn about and enjoy this sport.
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Joining the NMLRA
Becoming a member of the NMLRA means paying a small fee. Members get special rights and receive a monthly magazine called Muzzle Blasts. This magazine is full of interesting stories and tips about muzzleloading.
Local Clubs and Groups
The NMLRA has helped start many local and regional muzzleloading clubs. These clubs are found in all fifty states in the U.S. and even in Canada. Each club usually holds its own shooting competition. They then share the results with the NMLRA.
The NMLRA Home in Friendship, Indiana
The main home of the NMLRA is in Friendship, Indiana. This town is about 40 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. The NMLRA site in Friendship has both modern and old-fashioned facilities. This shows the different ways people enjoy muzzleloading.
What You Can Find at Friendship
At the Friendship site, you can visit The Museum of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. There's also Gunmakers Hall, where you can see amazing firearms made by skilled craftspeople. The Museum is inside a historic building called The John Linsey Rand House. The Rand House also holds the offices for Muzzle Blasts magazine.
Friendship has two shooting ranges. One is the Curly Gostomski Primitive Range, and the other is the Walter Cline Modern Range. During big events, there's a special area called Commercial Row. Here, talented muzzleloading artists and sellers offer their unique goods.
The site also has two camping areas. One is for modern campers and tents. The other is a primitive area for canvas tents and tipis. Please note that pets are not allowed during national shoots or other NMLRA events.
National Shooting Competitions
The NMLRA hosts two big national shooting events each year at the Walter Cline Range in Friendship. The Spring National Shoot happens in mid-June. The National Championship Shoot takes place in mid-September. Members pay a small fee to join these events.
What Happens at the Shoots?
Shooters from all over the world come to compete for national records. There are many types of competitions. These include events for muzzleloading rifles, pistols, shotguns, and muskets. You can also find competitions for bench and slug guns. Plus, there are fun events like tomahawk and knife throwing!
Other Weekend Shoots
Several smaller weekend shoots are held at Friendship throughout the year. These include:
- A 4-H Invitational Championship Shoot
- The NRA National Muzzleloading Championship Shoot
- A Youth Shoot (just for young people!)
- A Family Shoot
- The Lore of the Laughery Shoot
- A Turkey Shoot
- A National Women's Weekend Shoot
National Rendezvous Events
The NMLRA helped create several National Regional Primitive Rendezvous events. These are like historical reenactments of the old North American fur trade. They started in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These events took place all across the United States.
How Rendezvous Are Managed Now
In 1998, the NMLRA decided to let another group manage these rendezvous. They created the National Rendezvous and Living History Foundation (NRLHF) for this purpose. The NMLRA still supports these events, but the NRLHF now runs them. Some of the rendezvous still connected to the NMLRA are the Eastern, Northeastern, Southeastern, Old Northwest Territory, and Midwest Regional Rendezvous.
Other Fun Activities and Programs
The NMLRA also offers other exciting programs:
The Longhunter Program
This program encourages muzzleloading for hunting large game. It's a thrilling challenge! It's linked to the Big Game Records Program. This is the only program that recognizes hunting trophies specifically for muzzleloading hunters.
Muzzle Blasts Postal Match
Each issue of the Muzzle Blasts magazine includes a special target. You can shoot this target at home and mail it back to the NMLRA with a small fee. Winners are posted online, and the money helps support the NMLRA's Youth Program.
Helping Restore a Historic House
The NMLRA is working to restore the Rand House. This historic building at Friendship is home to the NMLRA Museum and the Muzzle Blasts offices. To raise money, they are selling bricks. People can buy a brick and have a message carved into it. These bricks will then be used in the restoration of the Rand House.
College Scholarships
The NMLRA also helps students go to college. They offer two $500 scholarships each semester. These are for NMLRA members or their children. The scholarships are given based on school grades and financial need.
Building for the Future
The NMLRA is also trying to create a special fund of $1,000,000. They are looking for one thousand people to donate $1,000 each. This money will be kept in a special account. It will only be used to earn interest or buy important assets like land. The main amount of money will never be spent on daily operations. The interest earned will help fund new programs and ensure the NMLRA continues to grow and succeed for many years.
Learning and Training
The NMLRA also focuses on teaching and training people in muzzleloading. This helps them achieve their goals as an organization. It also makes sure there are skilled people to manage all their activities.
See also
- National Rendezvous and Living History Foundation
- Statue of Hope - Wilson Memorial, Friendship, Indiana
