Welcome to the TMA - the Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The TMA is always free to access: totally non-profit and therefore no nagging for your money, no sponsors means no endless array of ads to wade through, and no "membership fees" ever required. Brought to you by traditional muzzleloaders with decades of wisdom in weaponry, accoutrements, and along with 18th and 19th century history knowledge of those times during the birth our nation, the United States of America.
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Recent Posts

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11
Long Range Muzzleloading / Re: Are you up to a Revolutionary sized personal challenge?
« Last post by KDubs on February 19, 2026, 01:48:12 PM »
Good for you my friend.
 I know what you mean about withdrawal, the smell of the charcoal burner is addicting.
 Kevin
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Was beginning to have withdrawal symptoms, so headed to the range. One of the targets I grabbed, was the long range target.All I have to say is, I missed, but got rid of the withdrawal symptoms.
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People of the Times / 2/19/1838: Captive reunited with husband
« Last post by Craig Tx on February 19, 2026, 10:02:00 AM »
On this day in 1838, captive Rachel Plummer was reunited with her husband after spending over a year with the Comanches. Born Rachel Parker in Illinois in 1819, she moved to Texas with her father, James W. Parker, and her family and married Luther Plummer in 1833.

In May 1836 their settlement was attacked by a large group of Indians. Five settlers were taken captive: Rachel and her son James Pratt Plummer, Cynthia Ann and John Parker, and Elizabeth Kellogg. James Pratt was taken from Rachel, and she never saw him again. Rachel became a slave to the Comanches and traveled thousands of miles with the band. She was pregnant at the time of her capture and bore a second son about October 1836. The Indians thought that the baby was interfering with Rachel's work, so they killed him when he was about six weeks old. Rachel was ransomed by Mexican traders north of Santa Fe in June 1837. Several months later, Rachel's brother-in-law escorted her back to Texas, where she was reunited with her husband. In 1838 she published an account of her captivity entitled Rachael Plummer's Narrative of Twenty-One Months Servitude as a Prisoner Among the Commanchee Indians. This was the first narrative about a captive of Texas Indians published in Texas. Rachel bore a third child in 1839 and died in Houston shortly thereafter; the child died two days later.
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You had your work cut out for you on that one buddy. I wish our NMD could come up with a target similar to that to use in the postal shoots.
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Running into all kinds of problems trying to shoot a milk jug full of water behind a steel plate.

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Fulfilling another viewer's request trying  to shoot spoons with round balls and shot.
The results are unusual.....



18
The Campfire / Re: HAPPY BIRTHDAY smokepolepaul!!!
« Last post by Winter Hawk on February 17, 2026, 08:59:46 PM »
I'm late (as usual); hope it was a grand day for you, and that we see more of you in the coming year!

~Kees~
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Accoutrements / Re: Small Accoutrement projects I do
« Last post by Winter Hawk on February 17, 2026, 08:55:35 PM »
What Bigsmoke said!  I'm glad to see you here again.

~Kees~
20
General Interest / Re: Searching for the proper powder charge
« Last post by Bigsmoke on February 17, 2026, 06:42:22 PM »
I've seen a couple of other methods of seating the ball with relative consistent results.
Several years ago, like maybe 25 or so, I bought a rod handle from an outfit in Texas that is probably now defunct.  Anyway, it screws into one end of a brass rod threaded 10-32.  The internal rod goes through the black, powder coated, knurled handle and through a coil spring.  At the top of the rod, there is an Allen screw that sits below the top of the handle.  When the ball is seated one continues pressing down on the handle until the Allen screw starts to protrude.  When you feel it surface, the ball is seated.  The screw can be adjusted in or out to fine tune how set the ball is.

Another slick little device used a short throw slide hammer incorporated  onto the rod.  I guess it works kinda like bouncing the rod, without actually bouncing it.  I am not much of a fan of bouncing a rod or a brass slide hammer for that matter, but it is great for setting a screw when pulling a ball.

Personally, my favorite rod is one I made several years ago.  It is a brass 3/8" rod about 36" long with a lathe turned, cow horn handle held in place by two homemade brass pieces.  I just kinda lean onto the rod once the ball seats and I think I get pretty consistent pressure.

Whatever method you use, trying to get identical results with each loading is the key.
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