ML Instruction: Oldest to the Youngest!

[Adam Helmer]

Today I had a wonderful day at our Annual Tioga County (PA) Youth Field Day; it was their 15th event and my 12th as an instructor on the Black Powder Station. There are 10 Stations such as archery, trap, .22 rifle, orienteering, etc. We had 166 kids registered and all needed to be accompanied by an adult.

We had .50 caliber inlines and 50 grain charges propelling a patched round ball at balloon targets 20 yards away from the firing point. In the past we had flintlocks and caplocks and now have T/C Black Diamonds. All 166 kids had to be accompanied by an adult/guardian for the FREE event.

Today was a total revelation for me as I was the sole person who capped the muzzleloaders at the firing point for each of 10 groups, numerous times, for their alloted 30 minutes at the BP Station. After the kids aged 8 to 14 fired a few times, we asked the parents/guardians to fire at balloons.

Here is my Revelation for Today: One guardian was a woman aged 88 years (Young) who never fired a gun in her life, and she broke her balloon target. Another adult man brought a 3 year old son to the firing line. I told our ML Loader, "Half Charge", and she complied with a 25 grain charge behind a .50 roundball for Zack. He shot and hit his balloon and I held/supported the forend while his dad held him in place while he wore his safety glasses and ear muffs. I regret we did not have photos of both these folkdsfor Sarah Brady's confiture. Nuff said!

Adam