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Muzzleloader season is one of my favorite times of the year. Modern muzzleloaders, such as this CVA Acura, are very accurate and relatively easy to use, but safely loading and firing them requires some attention to detail. I will give you a step-by-step breakdown of how to properly load and fire an inline muzzleloader.
Step 1 – Check Barrel
Firstly, it's important to note that you and only you are responsible for firearm safety. As a gun owner, make sure that the muzzle of your gun is always pointed in a safe direction. Do not attempt to load or fire your rifle before reading the manual of your particular firearm in its entirety. Before loading, you must make sure that the barrel is unloaded and free of obstructions. The easiest way to do this is to remove the breach plug and look down the bore of the rifle. If you do not see daylight through the muzzle, the gun is either loaded or the barrel is obstructed. Loads and or obstructions may be removed by pushing them out the barrel with a range or a cleaning rod.
Step 2 – Eye and Ear Protection
Always wear eye and ear protection. Flying debris from the breach area and muzzle are common with any firearm.
Step 3 – Fire Primer Through Unloaded Barrel
If your rifle has not been shot since the last cleaning, it is recommended that you fire at least two primers through the barrel without a load. Aim into the ground and point at a leaf. Keep an eye on the leaf and watch for movement. If you can clearly see the leaf move, this assures that the breach is clear and dry and you're ready to safely load and shoot.
Primer
The number 209 shotshell primer has become the most common ignition source for inline muzzleloaders. This popularity has prompted several manufacturers to develop 209 primers, specifically for the muzzleloading market. Choosing one of these specialty primers can result in better accuracy and less fouling of the barrel. Blackhorn 209 is a high-performance, clean-burning black powder substitute. Due to consistent performance and high velocities attained with Blackhorn 209, many shooters have found that it is well worth the time to use black powder measures to carefully measure preloaded tubes of powder. The maximum charge for my 45 caliber Acura is 110 grains by volume. Refer to the manual of your particular firearm to ensure you are using the correct amount. For my Acura, the Blackhorn breach plug is necessary when using Blackhorn 209.
Step 4 – Pour Recommended Amount of Powder into Barrel
If you're using loose powder like I am here, carefully pour the powder into a powder measure that is set for the amount of powder you wish to use. Pour the powder from the measure into the barrel. Never pour powder directly from a can or flask into the barrel. Hot ember or sparks in the barrel can cause a flash that, in turn, may cause a container to explode. If you're using pelletized powder, drop the desired number into the barrel. Only use the recommended loading data published specifically for your muzzleloader. Other models of muzzleloaders may have different powder charge and/or bullet requirements and limitations.
Step 5 – Load and Seat Bullet
Next, load and seat the bullet. Insert the loading ramrod into the barrel and push the bullet down the barrel until firmly seated on the powder charge. It is recommended that you place a mark on the rod that is even with the muzzle when the gun is loaded. This can be used as a reference point whenever this load is used to ensure the bullet is fully seated in the barrel. The firing of a short start or improperly seated bullet may cause the barrel to burst.
Step 6 – Place Primer into Breech Plug
After loading the powder and the bullet, pull the trigger guard to the rear to open the action. Place a number 209 shotshell primer into the breach plug and close the action with a firm snap. You are now ready to shoot. All powder storage containers and primers or caps should be kept away from the shooting area. Sparks from shooting could cause accidental ignition of these materials.
Step 7 – Pull the Hammer Back
With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, pull the hammer back until it stops.
Step 8 – Aim and Shoot
Carefully aim the rifle at the intended target and pull the trigger.
Maintenance Recommendations
If using pelletized propellants, it's recommended to swab the bore between shots with a slightly damp patch, giving several passes to the breach area to remove the residue ring that commonly forms. This will remove the bulk of the fouling from the last shot, making your loading more consistent and improving accuracy. With Blackhorn 209, between-shot cleaning is not necessary from an accuracy or ease of loading standpoint, but following this procedure with any propellant will help to ensure that there is no remaining ember or a hotspot that may ignite the next powder charge prematurely. Due to the corrosive nature of all muzzleloading propellants, you must make cleaning a top priority as soon after shooting as possible. Following these steps, you can load and shoot a muzzleloader safely and effectively.
--Outdoors Allie
