Video: Modern In-Line Muzzleloading Safety

This is a muzzleloader.

It’s a gun kind of like the ones used in the Revolutionary War. You load the bullet and the gunpowder into the muzzle instead of into the chamber.

And for an experienced hunter, it’s a great way to test your skill and add some excitement into the hunt. But there are some safety issues that you have to be aware of when you’re loading and unloading a muzzleloader. So come on, I’ll show you.

Every muzzleloader is different. But the basic components are all the same. Powder is what creates the explosion. The projectile or bullet is what is rocketed out of the gun by the powder. The primer is what will ignite the powder and cause it to explode.

Step one, prepping the gun. OK. So the first step in handling any firearm is to make sure that it’s unloaded. Now, for a muzzleloader like this one, that means we first check to make sure there is no primer in the breech. Then, we check that the gun is unloaded using a ramrod and making sure that the barrel is clear.

You see this mark? If it goes down this far, then it means it’s unloaded. There’s no projectile in the gun. And we check that the breech is clear of dirt or powder residue by snapping a primer. After we do that, we open the breech, remove the spent primer, and let it breathe. All right. So once that’s all set, we’re ready to prep the explosion.

All right. So if you’re new to this muzzleloading thing, you want to make sure you read through and follow the instructions because every one of these guns is just a little bit different. Now, when you use a muzzleloader, you’re basically mixing all the appropriate parts to create an explosion. And it’s pretty important that you control that explosion. The first ingredient to consider is the powder. The powder is what will explode and project the bullet out of the gun.

Basically, you’ve got two powder choices for most muzzleloaders: old-fashioned black powder or one of the substitutes that come in pill form. OK. So pay attention to this, though. This is important. If there’s one thing to know that could potentially save your life, it’s to never, ever use modern smokeless gunpowder. It’s not made for these guns, and it could potentially be a deadly mistake. But if you are going to use loose powder like this, you need to double and triple check the container to make sure that it’s not modern, smokeless gunpowder. If it’s black powder, make sure you measure the proper amount using a powder measure. If you’re using the safer, premeasured powder pills, only use the recommended total number of grains. Just check to see if they’re legal in your state. And now for the bullet. Use only the caliber and style recommended by the gun manufacturer for your gun. Load the bullet with the pointed end up, then seat it firmly using the starter, then the ramrod. It should stop at the loaded mark on your ramrod. That shows it’s all the way in. And only load one bullet into your barrel. And I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes it’s easy to lose track of what step you’re on, so pay attention. OK. This one’s loaded.

All right. This one’s loaded.

This one’s loaded.

So, the final step before you fire is that you’re going to put a primer into the breech. Now, let’s stop at this point and consider the three main things that could be potentially dangerous. Is the powder the right kind, and is it measured properly? Does the caliber of the bullet match the caliber of your gun? Is there only one bullet in the gun? Use your ramrod as a safety check. OK, now, you’re ready to insert the primer like this. Check the safety, and keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you’re ready to fire. There are two ways to unload a muzzleloader.

The not-so-easy way.

For this in-line gun, after you remove the primer, you disassemble the gun. Then, ram the powder pills and bullet out the breech end.

And the fun way.

But remember, the powder can sometimes be slow to ignite. If the gun does not fire, keep it pointed in a safe direction for at least 30 seconds. Then, try another primer or disassemble and unload. And before you load again, swab out the barrel. Powder residue can gum it up.

We think you’ll agree that shooting a muzzleloader can be a blast, whether for target practice or hunting.

Just make sure your blast happens safely by following what you learned here today.

All right. You ready?

You see that?