Sources for this help include: 1. We provide print and Internet hunting safety courses for more than 45 states. YOUR SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES CONT’D • ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT COMBINATION OF LOAD COMPONENTS (POWDER, PRIMER ANDPROJECTILE) FOR YOUR PARTICULAR MUZZLELOADING FIREARM as detailed in this manual. ALWAYS control the direction of the firearm. . hunting, not bow hunting. ... Safety must be the prime consideration of any one who owns or handles firearms. . Loading a Muzzleloader. 5) Assemble the muzzleloading barrel to the shotgun action as described in the shotgun’s Owner’s Manual. If your muzzleloader is to be used for hunting, give careful consideration to the caliber, weight, sights, and handling. Do not load with multi-pellet bird shot. In addition to this booklet, it is recommended that the you obtain further information and instruction before firing a muzzleloader. Accidents are the result of b) Treestands are only permitted for firearms. Besides, by mistake, the safety may be “off” when you think it is “on.” The safety serves as a supplement to proper gun handling but cannot possibly serve as a substitute for common sense. We work with state agencies to produce a hunter safety education course that’s accurate, interesting, and easy to understand. . • BE CERTAIN THE BARREL IS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE SHOOTING. Mud, water, snow or other objects may inadvertently lodge … The “safety” on any gun is a mechanical device which, like any such device, can become inoperable at the worst possible time. What is an important consideration when hunting from a treestand? When a muzzleloader is unloaded, place your ramrod or loading rod in the barrel before leaning the firearm against a good rest—this will prevent debris from falling down the barrel and blocking the touchhole. 7) The rifled muzzleloading accessory barrel is designed for round balls or conical single projectiles. This subject has been completely addressed in the article “Cleaning a Muzzle Loader” and need not be repeated here. d) Safety harnesses are very uncomfortable Loading a muzzle loader, black powder pistol or black powder rifle is a relatively simple process. National Rifle Association 3. . Putting more powder often produces more recoil but not additional velocity. SAFETY RULES FOR ANY T/C MUZZLELOADER . Loading beyond the maximum charge/bullet allowed by the manufacturer is not only risky, but also can be counterproductive, considering the law of diminishing returns. The first step is to gather the necessary components, and these will vary depending on style of gun and projectile type. Hunter Ed is committed to hunter education safety. a) Hunters should avoid wearing blaze orange. Other considerations vary with the preference of each shooter, but generally a muzzleloader selected for hunting has Cleaning a muzzle loading shotgun or smoothbore is not much different than cleaning a black powder rifle or pistol. Modern In-Line Muzzleloader: Remove the breech plug. National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association 2. important rules and precautions for safe handling and shooting of this type of firearm. . A hunter once prepared a huge overload in a muzzleloading shotgun, taking up a full third of the bore. 6) Put on shatterproof safety glasses, hearing protection and a heavy, long-sleeved shirt. c) Treestands should be regularly inspected, and not used if they show any sign of. Then simply push the projectile and powder out the rear of the barrel. damage. A muzzleloader is a kind of firearm into which the projectile and propellant charge are loaded from the forward part of the firearm's barrel called muzzle and because of this, it was named muzzleloader. Important This is an extremely important safety issue which cannot be over stated. A The safety is a mechanical device and consequently subject to failure B The safety is not designed to stop the firing pin from striking the primer C Having the safety engaged increases the chance of an accidental fire D There is no need to control the direction of the muzzle if the safety is engaged. Knowing About Muzzleloader. clothing when in a treestand. Most states have specific regulations cover-ing the caliber required to hunt big game species. .10-12 ... ticularly important when loading, unloading, or field stripping the gun.