Chapter 7: Advanced Hunting Techniques
Basic Muzzleloader Skills (continued)

Firing a Muzzleloader

When you're ready to fire the muzzleloader safely, place the percussion cap on the nipple. Be sure that your surroundings and your backstop are safe. Then aim and fire. After firing, place the hammer in the half-cock position and swab the barrel to remove sparks that might be inside.

When priming a flintlock, pull the hammer to a half-cock position, and open the priming pan cover. Check your flint, making sure the setting is tight and properly adjusted. Insert a vent pick or fine wire into the barrel's touchhole to make sure the opening is clear. With your priming horn, fill the pan about ¾ full of FFFFg powder. Close the frizzen and pull the hammer to full cock when you're ready to fire the shot safely.

ALERT: Hang Fire Situations

Sometimes a muzzleloader will not fire immediately when the trigger is pulled. This is known as "hang fire" and requires great caution because the gun might fire some time after the cap or flint created the initial sparks.

• Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, preferably downrange.
• Don't take it anywhere it could injure someone or damage property if it fires.
• If a muzzleloader doesn't fire properly, get help from an experienced shooter to unload it using a ball discharger.