Schuetzen Powder declares an end to the powder shortage

After years impacted by lockdowns and then war, Schuetzen blackpowder is announcing the END of the blackpowder shortage. In a Facebook post shared Friday, January 6, 2023 Schuetzen shared that their distributors (22 nationwide) are stocked with powder and a new shipment is just weeks away.

“No Powder Shortage” is a strong phrase, but when backed by Schuetzen it’s a call we can trust moving forward. If you are looking for powder or have been going without for some time, now is the time to stock up. You can find a distributor near you directly from Schuetzen on their website.

Estes Energetics expands hiring for GOEX Blackpowder Plant

In job listings posted in mid-January, Estes Energetics shared they are looking to bring on more engineers, logistics specialists, and maintenance staff to “modernize and expand the only black powder plant in the US, and work on other exciting chemical production projects”.

CEO Karl Kulling shared their goal of continuing to make black powder and build new chemical production lines.

Some have speculated this could mean other types of black powder or black powder substitutes, but it’s important to remember that sporting powder is only one segment of the Estes Energetics business.

The Leatherman under new ownership, business to continue

For the last 25 years, Gary Fatheree has made and sold a like of American made muzzleloading products. Over the years, Gary and the business have supplied dealers Cabela’s , Track of the Wolf , Dixie Gunworks , Gunworks of Oregon and many more smaller muzzle loader supply shops across America.

Many of you have probably purchased directly from Gary or at least passed his booth at some of the largest muzzleloading events around the country.

Late last year, Gary found the next owner of “The Leatherman in, Clayton Miller located in Abbottstown PA Clayton is currently working with Gary until March of 2023 when we will move all the machines and equipment to his location.

The new Business name will be Leatherman LLC and the website address will continue to be www.blackpowderbags.com

All product will remain the same as before and there will be some new items coming down the road. Clayton will continue to attend the shooting events and Artisan Trade fairs as usual.

Join me in welcoming Clayton and thanking Gary for his service to the community over the years. I know I have seen Gary’s work hanging from shooters and laying around in camp my whole life, reviews have always been great, so it’s nice to see the lineage continue for future muzzleloading enthusiasts to enjoy just as we all have already.

Trade Show Season Brings Updates, New Muzzleloaders to Market

Traditions Shedhorn

The biggest release so far for 2023, in my opinion is the Traditions Shedhorn. Known for their longstanding commitment to traditional, sidelock muzzleloaders and modern muzzleloaders, Traditions is bringing some modern features to their line of sidelock rifles.

The Traditions® ShedHorn Muzzleloader is musket cap, sidelock ignition rifle that is loaded with features. The Shedhorn™ muzzleloader is capable of firing both loose powder and easy-to-use pellets thanks to the removable Breech Plug. The breech plug allows for an incredibly consistent in-line ignition, and removing the rear breech plug makes cleaning the muzzleloader as easy as modern inlines.

I admire Tradition’s continued development focusing on ease of introduction into muzzleloading for new hunters and shooters. Much of their line is focused on the beginner and that’s not something we see from everyone. Regardless of if you shoot your Traditions muzzle loader for a few seasons or much of your life, the companyis dedicated to getting people started affordably and effectively.

Learn more about the Shedhorn in my Everything you need to know video on the new muzzleloader

CVA 2023 Updates

CVA has announced the Paramount Pro V2, an entirely new model of the favorite Paramount Pro with updated features and stock design.

We also caught a glimpse of some more cosmetic updates on the original CVA Paramount, including a new camo pattern and threaded muzzle for a muzzle brake.

The CVA Optima V2 is getting 3 new camo patterns for 2023

Learn more about the releases from CVA in my Everything you need to know video.

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Lyman Customer Service Announcing the end of the Lyman Muzzleloader Line

This is a story that I’ve been asked about for months, going back to Summer, 2022 and has been difficult to verify. For many of you, this may be old news, but for those of you catching up, it looks like Lyman is officially out of the muzzleloading rifle business.

Keen eyes have noticed that Lyman has removed all muzzleloading rifle models from their website, and inventory nationwide of the Lyman rifles has all but stalled for dealers and shoppers looking for a quality rifle.

Now if you are like me and you’ve heard about the quality of the Lyman line for years, don’t fret. There are no doubt a great number of Lyman rifles on the used market, and many dealers with new old stock in stock.

We still don’t have an official press release or written statement from Lyman at the time of recording, but when you call the Lyman Customer service line, which I’ve done, and ask about muzzleloading rifles, you get a boilerplate statement from the representative about Lyman no longer carrying any kind of muzzleloading rifle, kit or otherwise.

There is no indication that Lyman is getting out of making black powder casting molds, this news is specifically associated with the Lyman line of muzzleloading rifles. I’d still like to see an official document release of somekind to call the Lyman muzzleloader line officially dead, but with the numbers we are seeing and these statements from company reps, this might be all we get.

How does this affect the traditional muzzleloading market? Have we lost a manufacturer?

Not really, and here’s why

Lyman has worked with other companies to produce their rifles for some time now. I don’t have concrete documentation here, but general knowledge is Lyman partnered with InvestArms and Pedersoli over the years to manufacture and produce the Lyman line of muzzleloading rifles. Both InvestArms and Pedersoli are continuing to produce muzzleloading rifles, and the amount of similarities between the Investarms rifles and the Lyman Great Plains rifles are uncanny.

It’s easy and understandable to lament the exit of Lyman from muzzleloading rifles, they really made some great ones, and the Lyman Great Plains rifles will go on the wall alongside the Thompson Center Hawken as legendary names for contemporary muzzleloading, but the actual Lyman suppliers are still going, so things are still pretty balanced in my opinion.

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