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    The Black Powder Cartridge News Winter 2025

    The Black Powder Cartridge News Winter 2025

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    From the Editor

    Count on a Gun Crank

    column By: Steve Garbe | December, 25

    I was in conversation with another black-powder rifle enthusiast a short time ago and the topic of 22BPCR came up. More specifically, the discussion centered around 22BPCR’s amazing growth. My friend hadn’t participated in any 22BPCR matches (yet) and while interested in them, he mentioned something that hadn’t really occurred to me. He said that while he saw the attraction for 22BPCR, especially amongst new shooters who viewed regular BPCR competitions as being very work intensive, he was worried that 22BPCR would eclipse the black-powder cartridge venues because people simply did not want to bother learning how to cast bullets and load accurate black-powder cartridges. He stated that there was so much to learn for the new shooter when it came to BPCR shooting, that the 22BPCR competitions would eventually totally supplant the black-powder cartridge game. I commented that I hadn’t really thought of it in those terms but that he might have a viable point. 

    Here at the BPC NEWS, we have noticed, of course, the popularity of 22BPCR and how many clubs around the country are holding regular competitions. The National Championships for 22BPCR have evolved into a huge affair, much bigger than the regular BPCR venues. There is no doubt that this is a good thing. Any time new competitors are attracted to the shooting sports, whether it is 22BPCR, BPCR Silhouette or the many other rifle, pistol or shotgun disciplines, it is good for the firearm community in general. However, I would have to say that if you are worried about 22BPCR taking over the black-powder cartridge world, then you would complain if your ice cream was cold as well.

    With that being said, I will be the first to admit that much of the attraction for the black-powder cartridge sports is the fact that “it ain’t easy”. Learning to cast match-grade bullets, prepare top-quality ammunition, efficiently manage the rifle during a match, as well as the whole psychological aspect of shooting competitively, is definitely for the dyed-in-the-wool rifleman. The variables are almost endless and I don’t think that I have ever left a match without some new idea being hatched in my head that might improve my shooting or my rifle’s performance. One learns something new at every match and for me this is the attraction of BPCR competition. Mastering the technical aspect of BPCR shooting is what makes turning in a good score so satisfying and represents a real accomplishment.

    In our world “rifle crank” means someone who enjoys being constantly challenged by the myriad of details connected to accurate shooting. I firmly believe, given the many rifle cranks I see at every BPCR match, we are in no danger of those matches dying out from lack of participation. There will always be those of us who get an enormous amount of satisfaction from dealing with the many challenges of successful BPCR shooting, and rather than dreading those challenges, we welcome them. As long as there are rifle cranks, there will be BPCR competitions. The best news is that 22BPCR and BPCR competitions benefit each other, encouraging participation in both venues and keeping our shooting sports healthy at the same time. In my book, this scenario is definitely a “win-win”. 

    – Gut Ziel

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