Southern Chester County SportSmen's and FARMERS' ASSOCIATION

Black Powder:

Whether your interest is target shooting, historical reenactment or just getting another chance at a deer during hunting season, there is 

something to be found for everyone in the fascinating world of muzzleloading. For some it’s connecting with our great American firearm heritage with a traditional American Longrifle, or for many others, it’s about hunting with a modern synthetic-stocked In-line rifle. No matter where your interest lies, the SCCS&FA Blackpowder committee welcomes all muzzleloading enthusiasts. SCCS&FA is an official NMLRA (National Muzzleloading Rifle Association) affiliated club, that supports the safe use and conservation of historical firearm technologies and techniques of the past, as well as a firm supporter of 2nd Amendment rights for all firearm owners, regardless of style or loading method. The SCCS&FA Blackpowder Committee sponsors many shooting and educational activities that include:

• A monthly match sponsored by Brandywine Long Rifles – BLR is a club within our club, of traditional rifle and pistol enthusiasts. Matches are open to the public and held on the SCCS&FA 50 yard range and generally consist of a mixture of paper and novelty targets. Entrance fees are $10.00 for members of BLR or SCCS&FA and $15.00 for non-members. While the targets are challenging, prizes consisting of meat or other edibles are awarded down to the 4th place for each target. Almost everyone goes home with something after the match. As with all of our Blackpowder matches BLR shoots are as much a social event as formal competition. BLR events are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month (except December and January) starting at 10 am. Traditional rifles and Blackpowder with open sights
• Quarterly Matches sponsored by the SCCS&FA Blackpowder Committee – We run our matches on Sunday’s on the 50 yard range. Match fees are $10.00 per shooter for members of SCCS&FA or BLR or anyone with a current NMLRA membership card. Both traditional sporting rifles or military muskets and In-line rifles are welcome, with iron sights. Prizes are awarded for each target to the third place (usually 4 or 5 targets) See club calendar for the next available match date
• Junior Fun shoots – Close distance novelty targets, under close adult supervision. The committee has available several rifles including 2 handmade traditional rifles made for us by Mike Lange (choose_yer_weapon@yahoo.com) of Indiana, that are specifically built for young shooters in an easy to handle scaled down versions. Mike calls these “rug-rat” rifles. This event is a perfect way to introduce safe and fun muzzleloading rifle craft to the youngster and impart some interesting American history along the way. Our focus is to teach gun safety and allow kids to have some fun while learning. See club calendar for the next Junior Fun shoot.
• Hunter sight-in day – As our muzzleloading hunters prepare for the hunting season the Blackpowder Committee sponsors a free day of informal target shooting to help hunters prepare for the opening day of muzzleloading deer season. NRA – NMLRA certified instructors will be available to lend a hand. Learn to get the best from your rifle before the hunting season begins. A light lunch will be served by the Blackpowder Committee. Space is limited for this event – Watch the calendar as fall approaches and reserve your spot for this fun and information filled event.
• Muzzleloading Rifle Instruction – If you have always wanted to learn more about the world of white-smoke and Blackpowder, SCCS&FA has three NRA – NMLRA certified instructors to help you get started in a safe and practical manner. We offer low cost, expert education by instructors with more than 60 years of combined experience in the world of muzzleloading shooting. We teach both Adults and juniors in our classes, and look forward to seeing you in our next class. See the training and education page for more information regarding firearms education and make your request for education today!
• Need help with a Muzzleloading question? – While your local gun shop may be really good in answering questions regarding your concealed-carry pistol or your hunting shotgun, sometimes the frontloading firearm causes blank-stares and a shrug of the shoulder from your otherwise well informed and experienced gun shop owner. Muzzleloading firearms are can be safe and surprisingly accurate when good information is available to the shooter. While we don’t pretend to have all of the information for every question, we can usually point you in the right direction. If you have a question regarding safe handling, loading, shooting or care of your Muzzleloader, send an email to –Blackpowder@sccsfa.org with the words “Help needed” in the subject line. We will help you locate safe and accurate information to help you get the best from your Blackpowder experience.

“As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives [only] moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion to your walks.”
– Thomas Jefferson, writing to his teenaged nephew

“There is a certain fundamental truth, although often denied by the modern media and ridiculed by the dictator, both of whom prefer blind obedience and imbecility, in which it is understood that the Liberty of the Individual can only be preserved by the potential of equal force of that of an abusive government. It is the only way in which a just and lawful government can be instituted among men.”
–Author Unknown