Muzzle Loaders Taking Over Fentress County Saturday

Hundreds of muzzle-loading enthusiasts will spend the week in the Upper Cumberland sharing stories, swapping tales, and celebrating history.

The 26th Annual Alvin C. York Memorial Shoot takes over the farm pasture deeded to Jamestown’s most famous citizen following his work in World War I.

“The whole intent of the thing is to honor Sgt. Alvin York,” Organizer Robin Warner said. “He was a very good shot and he participated in these in his younger days.”

And the annual trip to Jamestown stands as a gold standard for those who love muzzle-shooting.

“This is the Masters Golf Tournament or the Super Bowl of shotgun shooting,” Warner said.

The muzzle loading rifle came into play during the Revolutionary War and continued to be used all the way through the first World War.

“This is a choke gun shoot which is a black powder muzzle loading shoot,” Warner said. “The people lay in the prone position (face down) and they have a support for the front of the rifle. They’ll be shooting 60 yards at what we call a x-center target. You want your ball to hit out in the same place every time.”

Many of the enthusiasts at the event make their own muzzle loaders. But Warner said you can still order the guns.

“They’re not inexpensive, but then again they are not totally out of the realm of the average man,” Warner said.

York participated in over-the-log shoots like this one before and after World War I. To celebrate the history, Warner said many of the attendees will dress in period clothes.

The event began in 1993 with about 50-60 people in attendance. Warner said at least 150 will participate Saturday. And the enthusiasts come from all over including areas as far away as Arizona, New Hampshire and Canada.

“They range everywhere from very die-hard muzzle-loading shooters who have crafted their own guns and they’re somewhere almost every weekend shooting right down to the guy that got dad’s old muzzle loader that he hunted with and just wants to come down and join in the fun,” Warner said.

The event is open to the public Saturday at the Alvin York farm. Warner said it happens rain or shine.