Black Powder Manual TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FIREARM SAFETY 1. Always kee your !

un o"n#ed "n a sa$e d"rec#"on% #rea# e&ery !un as "$ "# were loaded '. (ee your $"n!er o$$ o$ #)e #r"!!er un#"l you are ready #o $"re *. Always kee your !un unloaded un#"l ready #o use +. ,ear eye and ear ro#ec#"on as a ro r"a#e -. (now your #ar!e# and w)a# "s .eyond /. Only use #)e correc# a00un"#"on $or your !un 1. Ne&er s)oo# under #)e "n$luence o$ alco)ol or any o#)er "n#o2"ca#"n! su.s#ance 3. S#ore !uns and a00un"#"on locked u se ara#ely% ou# o$ #)e reac) o$ unau#)or"4ed ersons es ec"ally c)"ldren 5. (now your !un% "$ you are un$a0"l"ar w"#) )ow #o o era#e "# ro erly% do no# use "# un#"l you $"nd ou# 16. Be sure your !un "s "n sa$e o era#"n! cond"#"on and !ood re a"r

B7AC( PO,DER SAFETY R87ES 1. Do no# s0oke w)en )andl"n! .lack owder% Pyrode2% or any o#)er ro ellan#. '. Do no# use 0odern s0okeless owder "n a .lack owder $"rear0 des"!ned $or .lack owder *. Ne&er load d"rec#ly $ro0 a owder con#a"ner or )orn% always use a owder 0easure +. Be sure any ro9ec#"le "s ro erly sea#ed a!a"ns# #)e owder c)ar!e% #o $"re w"#) an a"r !a .e#ween #)e owder and .all could cause #)e !un #o .urs# -. In #)e e&en# o$ a 0"s$"re% kee #)e 0u44le o"n#ed downran!e $or a# leas# one $ull 0"nu#e .e$ore re r"0"n!

/. 8se #)e ro er s"4ed owder $or your !un: +$ "s $or r"0"n! o$ $l"n#locks only% *$ "s $or s0all.ore r"$les and "s#ols% '$ "s $or 0uske#s and r"$les .-6 cal".er and u . 8s"n! +$ $or #)e 0a"n c)ar!e o$ a 0uske# could cause dan!erously )"!) ressures and cause a .arrel #o .urs# 1. Don;# lean o&er #)e 0u44le w)"le load"n!% kee your )ands ou# $ro0 "n $ron# o$ #)e 0u44le 3. Do no# allow yoursel$ #o .e d"s#rac#ed .y cur"ous onlookers. T)e s#e s "n load"n! and $"r"n! a .lack owder !un 0us# .e $ollowed correc#ly and "n order.

7OADIN< and FIRIN< INSTR8CTIONS 1. (ee #)e 0u44le o"n#ed "n a sa$e d"rec#"on% $"n!er o$$ #)e #r"!!er and a# no #"0e lace any .ody ar# "n $ron# o$ #)e 0u44le. '. Be sure #)e !un "s e0 #y .y lac"n! #)e ra0rod "n #)e .arrel. I$ "# ro#rudes $ro0 #)e .arrel #)e !un 0ay )a&e .een u# away loaded or #)ere 0ay .e so0e o#)er o.s#ruc#"on. Do no# con#"nue #)e load"n! rocess un#"l #)e source o$ #)e o.s#ruc#"on "s de#er0"ned and el"0"na#ed. *. Be!"n w"#) #)e lock "n #)e rela2ed os"#"on% #)e )a00er s)ould .e all #)e way $orward w"#) #)e $r"44en also "n "#;s $orward os"#"on. ="sually c)eck #o see #)a# #)e #ouc))ole "s clean and dry. O"l "n #)e #ouc))ole "s a co00on cause o$ 0"s$"res. +. Be sure #)a# #)ere "s a $l"n# securely cla0 ed "n #)e 9aws o$ #)e )a00er. T)e $l"n# s)ould .e added w"#) e"#)er a "ece o$ lea#)er or a "ece o$ s)ee# lead. Ad9us# #)e $l"n# so #)a# "# nearly #ouc)es #)e $ace o$ #)e $r"44en "n #)e >)al$ cock; os"#"on. -. 8s"n! a dry a#c)% w" e #)e .ore clean o$ any o"l or !rease. /. Pour a 0easured c)ar!e o$ .lack owder down #)e .arrel. Ne&er load owder d"rec#ly $ro0 a )orn or con#a"ner% always use a se ara#e owder 0easure. 1. Place a lu.r"ca#ed a#c) across #)e 0u44le as cen#ered as oss".le. 3. Place a ure lead round .all on #)e cen#er o$ #)e a#c) and !en#ly s#ar# "# "n#o #)e .arrel. 5. 8s"n! #)e $la# end o$ #)e ra00er% us) #)e .all down #)e .arrel w"#) a s#eady ressure. Be sure #)e .all "s sea#ed $"r0ly a!a"ns# #)e owder c)ar!e .u# do no# ra0 so )ard as #o crus) #)e owder !ranules.

16. Re lace #)e ra00er "n "#s #)"0.les% 0ak"n! sure "# does no# ro#rude .eyond #)e 0u44le. 11. Br"n! #)e lock #o >)al$ cock; .y ull"n! #)e )a00er .ack un#"l "# cl"cks once. 1'. Pour a s0all a0oun# o$ r"0"n! owder "n #)e an. So0e eo le use FFFF! owder $or r"0"n! as "# .urns $as#er% .u# you 0ay use #)e sa0e owder as you 0a"n c)ar!e "$ you l"ke. 1*. Close #)e $r"44en. 1+. T)e !un "s now loaded. 1-. Pull #)e )a00er .ack #o #)e >$ull cock; os"#"on. You s)ould )ear an aud".le cl"ck as #)e sear en!a!es #)e #u0.ler. 1/. Take a"0. 11. F"re? S0oo#)ly ull #)e #r"!!er rearwards% #)e )a00er w"#) $l"n# s)ould $all $orward #o s#r"ke #)e $r"44en and us) "# $orward resul#"n! "n a s ark .e"n! #)rown "n#o #)e "le o$ r"0"n! owder "n #)e an. T)e resul#"n! $lare@u s)ould "!n"#e #)e 0a"n owder c)ar!e "n #)e .arrel. T)e .urn"n! owder roduces ra "dly e2 and"n! !asses w)"c) esca e #)e con$"ne0en#s o$ #)e .arrel .y us)"n! #)e .all ou#. I$ e&ery#)"n! was done ro erly and cond"#"ons are r"!)#% "!n"#"on s)ould .e "ns#an#aneous% "$ "# "s )u0"d ou# or #)ere was #oo 0uc) r"0"n! "# w"ll sound l"ke #)"sA (la#c)% $$$#% BOOM. 13. I$ #)e !un does no# $"re% kee #)e 0u44le o"n#ed downran!e $or a# leas# a 0"nu#e as cer#a"n cond"#"ons can resul# "n delayed "!n"#"on or >)an!$"re;. 15. T)e !un "s now e0 #y% and #)e load"n! and $"r"n! rocess can s#ar# a!a"n. CA8SES FOR A MISFIRE D877 F7INT @ T)e lead"n! ed!e o$ #)e $l"n# s)ould .e s)ar . To crea#e a s ark #)e s)ar ed!e o$ #)e $l"n# d"!s "n#o #)e $ace o$ #)e case@)ardened $r"44en% sl"c"n! o$$ a #"ny $ra!0en# o$ s#eel w)"c) "s w)"#e )o# due #o $r"c#"on. Fl"n#s can .e s)ar ened or >kna ed; .y s#r"k"n! #)e lead"n! ed!e "n a downward 0o#"on w"#) a unc)% s0all )a00er% or #)e .ack o$ a kn"$e. NE=ER (NAP TBE F7INT IN A 7OADED <8N??? T)e resul#"n! s arks could "!n"#e #)e owder c)ar!e. I# "s .es# #o kee a $ew s are $l"n#s )andy. ,ET F7INTCFRIDDEN @ O"l on #)e $l"n# andCor $r"44en w"ll kee a lock $ro0 s ark"n! ro erly. So w"ll 0o"s#ure o$ any k"nd. Black owder $oul"n! "s )ydrosco "c% #)a# "s% "# a##rac#s 0o"s#ure. On a )u0"d day you 0ay need #o w" e #)e so!!y owder res"due o$$ o$ #)e lock co0 onen#s e&ery $ew s)o#s. (ee a s0all ra! "n your s)oo#"n! ouc) #o do so% and .e care$ul w)en w" "n! #)e $l"n# as "# "s s)ar ?

PRIMIN< ISS8ES @ Pr"0"n! ro erly #ake a ."# o$ rac#"ce. Too 0uc) r"0"n! owder w"ll #ake #"0e #o .urn down #o #)e le&el o$ #)e &en# )ole% #oo l"##le 0ay no# >ca#c); #)e s ark and "!n"#e. Ideally% you s)ould r"0e only #o #)e .o##o0 o$ #)e &en# )ole. I$ #)ere "s #oo 0uc) $oul"n! accu0ula#ed on #)e an or $r"44en% "# could kee #)e $r"44en $ro0 clos"n! al #)e way and your r"0"n! could s "ll ou# .e$ore you #ake a"0. P78<<ED =ENT @ O"l "n #)e &en# )ole w"ll kee #)e s ark $ro0 en#er"n! #)e .arrel #o "!n"#e #)e 0a"n c)ar!e% so w"ll e2cess owder $oul"n!. (ee a s0all "ece o$ w"re )andy #o clear #)e #ouc))ole w)en "# $ouls. Dur"n! colon"al #"0es sold"ers ke # one on a s0all c)a"n sus ended $ro0 #)e"r car#r"d!e .o2. Brass w"re "s .es# as "# w"ll no# crea#e a s ark. I$ your r"0"n! c)ar!e !oes o$$ and your 0a"n c)ar!e does no#% "# "s 0os# l"kely .ecause o$ a $ouled &en# )ole. I# 0ay also .e a )an!$"re so kee #)e 0u44le o"n#ed downran!e. ,IND @ On a w"ndy day% #)e s arks $ro0 #)e $l"n# )"##"n! #)e $r"44en could .e .lown away $ro0 #)e an. NO MAIN CBAR<E @ I$ you are d"s#rac#ed w)"le load"n!% "# "s oss".le #o load #)e ro9ec#"le w)"le $or!e##"n! #o u# "n #)e owder $"rs#. T)"s "s known as a >dry.all; and "s Eu"#e e0.arrass"n!. 8nless you )a&e a load"n! rod w"#) a .all screw a##ac)0en#% you are done $or #)e day. ,)en us"n! a .all uller% $lood #)e .arrel w"#) wa#er $"rs# #o k"ll any owder #)a# 0ay .e "n #)ere% and kee .ody ar#s away $ro0 "n $ron# o$ #)e .arrel. T)ere are also CO' owdered .all e2#rac#ors a&a"la.le% w)"le no# &ery au#)en#"c% #)ey are s"0 le and sa$e #o use #o e2 el a .all under 0os# c"rcu0s#ances. (ee #)e 0u44le o"n#ed "n a sa$e d"rec#"on w)"le us"n! one as #)e .all e2"#s #)e .arrel a# )"!) &eloc"#y. Follow #)e 0anu$ac#urer;s "ns#ruc#"ons. RECOMMENDED 7OADIN< DATA Eac) 0u44leloader "s d"$$eren#. To !e# o #"0u0 er$or0ance $ro0 your new !un you 0us# do a l"##le e2 er"0en#"n! w"#) w)a# owderC.all co0."na#"on #o use. Measure #)e .ore or )a&e "# 0easured. A .all needs #o .e a $ew #)ousands o$ an "nc) under #)e .ore d"a0e#er #o allow roo0 $or a a#c). For "ns#ance% "n a .1-6 cal".er .arrel% "# "s cus#o0ary #o use a .11- round .all w"#) a #)"ck a#c) or a .1*- .all w"#) a #)"n a#c). T)e #"!)#er #)e .all and a#c) $"#s #)e .ore% #)e )"!)er ressures w"ll .e resul#"n! "n !rea#er accuracy. For #ar!e# s)oo#"n!% less owder 0eans less reco"l and #)us !rea#er accuracy. Muske#s and r"$les o&er .-6 cal".er s)ould always .e loaded w"#) FF! owder. S0aller !ranula#"ons suc) as FFF! w"ll cause dan!erously )"!) ressures as #)e"r .urn ra#e "s $as#er. FFFF! s)ould only .e used $or r"0"n!. S0aller cal".er "s#ols can .e loaded w"#) FFF!. S#ar# w"#) #)e reco00ended load% #)en ad9us# u or down as needed. w"#)"n '-F. Muske#s ./5@.1- cal".er @ /-@1- !r. FF! P"s#ols .-'@.-+ cal".er @ '-@*- !r. FFF!

P"s#ols .-5@./- cal".er @ '-@*- !r. FF! F"rs# $"re se&eral s)o#s $ro0 a res# #o es#a.l"s) cons"s#ency% #)en #ry a"0"n! )"!)er or lower% le$# or r"!)# #o $"nd ou# w)ere #)e s"!)#"n! o"n#s on your new !un are. You 0ay .e $rus#ra#ed a# $"rs# w)en you #ry #o a"0 a !un #)a# )as no rear s"!)#% and "n so0e "ns#ances no $ron# s"!)#% .u# you 0ay .e sur r"sed a# #)e accuracy you can o.#a"n once you are $a0"l"ar w"#) #)e "ece. T)ese !uns were s#a#e o$ #)e ar# "n #)e colon"al era. M"l"#ary !uns were des"!ned #o .e o"n#ed 0ore so #)an a"0ed% .u# 0ec)an"cally #)ey are #)e sa0e as a c"&"l"an !un and #)e sa0e le&el o$ accuracy can .e o.#a"ned. C7EANIN< AND STORIN< YO8R NE, M8DD7E7OADER Be sure #)e !un "s unloaded. Re0o&e #)e ra00er $ro0 "#s #)"0.les. 8s"n! a ro erly $"##"n! screwdr"&er% re0o&e #)e .ol#s secur"n! #)e lock. Gus"n! #)e wron! screwdr"&er can da0a!e #)e slo# o$ #)e screwsH Re0o&e #)e lock asse0.ly. Plu! #)e &en# )ole w"#) a #oo#) "ck% a sl"&er o$ wood or #)e Eu"ll o$ a $ea#)er. F"ll #)e .arrel w"#) )o# soa y wa#er and allow "# #o soak $or a $ew 0"nu#es #o loosen any dr"ed $oul"n!. Clean #)e lock "n )o# soa y wa#er and w" e dry w"#) a ra!. An old #oo#).rus) "s )el $ul "n clean"n! #)e lock. Se# "# as"de #o dry. Du0 #)e wa#er ou# o$ #)e .arrel and re0o&e #)e #oo#) "ck or o#)er lu! $ro0 #)e &en# )ole. 8s"n! a clean"n! rod% w" e #)e .ore w"#) a ser"es o$ da0 clean. ," e #)e .ore w"#) dry a#c)es un#"l #)ey co0e ou# dry. ," e #)e ou#s"de o$ #)e .arrel and s#ock #o re0o&e any wa#er or $oul"n! #)a# "s le$# .e)"nd. Any s o#s le$# .e)"nd w"ll cause a rus# s o# or a s#a"n. ,)en all co0 onen#s are co0 le#ely dry% l"!)#ly o"l all 0e#al ar#s. E&ery s)oo#er )as #)e"r own $a&or"#e roduc# or 0"2#ure #o use $or #)"s% #)ere are 0any co00erc"ally a&a"la.le !un o"ls s ec"$"cally $or 0u44leloaders. a#c)es un#"l #)ey co0e ou#

Run an o"led a#c) down #)e .arrel% don;# 0"ss any s o#s or a rus#y .ore w"ll resul#. 8se a $urn"#ure wa2 on #)e s#ock "$ you w"s). Re lace #)e lock and screws% "$ #)ere "s one screw w"#) a no#c) $"led "n#o "#% .e sure "# $aces #)e r"!)# way w)en re"ns#alled as #)e no#c) "s #)ere #o clear #)e ra00er w)en "ns#alled. Re lace #)e ra00er "n "#s #)"0.les. S#ore "n suc) a way #)a# #)e o"l w"ll no# leak ou# o$ #)e .arrel. Do no# s#ore "n a lea#)er case% as "# 0ay )old "n 0o"s#ure and cause rus#. Mu44leloaders are )ard #o res"s#% .e sure #o kee #)e0 ou# o$ reac) o$ eo le w)o s)ould no# .e )andl"n! #)e0% ESPECIA77Y CBI7DREN. A locked ca."ne# "s .es#.