Basic Muzzleloader Safety Rules

knightrifles
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Basic Muzzleloader Safety Rules

Post by knightrifles » July 26th, 2018, 5:23 pm

Many of the safety rules for muzzleloaders are the same as those for firearms. The best way to learn about firearm safety is a course taught by an NRA-approved or other qualified instructor. Check with your local gun clubs and firearm dealers. Here are a few of the most important general firearm safety rules:

Handling, Loading, and Unloading

∙ Always handle all firearms and muzzleloaders as if they were loaded. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Never point your firearm or muzzleloader at anything you do not intend to shoot.
∙ Keep your safeties on safe while handling and loading.
∙ Unload when not in use and never store a loaded firearm or muzzleloaders . Remember to unload before cleaning too.
∙ Never intentionally drop a firearm or muzzleloader when loaded.
∙ Never climb with your firearm or muzzleloader. Use a rope or strap to lift and lower your unloaded firearm or unprimed muzzleloader.

∙ Always handle all firearms and muzzleloaders as if they were loaded. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Never point your firearm or muzzleloader at anything you do not intend to shoot.
∙ Keep your safeties on safe while handling and loading.
∙ Unload when not in use and never store a loaded firearm or muzzleloader. Remember to unload before cleaning too.
∙ Never intentionally drop a firearm or muzzleloader when loaded.
∙ Never climb with your firearm or muzzleloader. Use a rope or strap to lift and lower your unloaded firearm or unprimed muzzleloader.

∙ Always wear adequate eye and ear protection when shooting.
∙ Never fire a firearm or muzzleloader with worn, broken, or modified parts.
∙ Never drink alcoholic beverages or take any type of drugs before or during shooting.
∙ Be sure of your backstop, what lies beyond, and the safety of bysanders, before you shoot.

∙ Never hunt from a tree stand without a full body harness
∙ Be aware of and follow the local hunting safety regulations

Even if you are proficient with other firearms, rifles, or other similar muzzleloaders, be sure to read the special muzzleloader safety rules below, as there may be features or functions of this product that you are not familiar with.

A muzzleloader can seriously or fatally injure you or bystanders due to accidental firing when it is primed with a priming device (either a 209 shotgun primer or percussion cap) but not loaded, when it is loaded with a powder and a projectile but not primed, or when it is both primed and loaded.

∙ Know your safety systems. Some models have two safety systems, while others have only one. Use all of the safety systems on your muzzleloader whenever you are not ready to fire.
∙ Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction if your muzzleloader fails to fire. It could fire after a delay.
∙ Remove the priming device before crossing a fence, climbing a tree, jumping a ditch, or negotiating other obstacles. A primed muzzleloader can fire if dropped or impacted.
∙ Never rest the firing pin or striker against the priming device. An impact in this condition could cause the muzzleloader to fire, even with safeties engaged.
∙ Always swab the barrel with a moistened patch between shots to remove potential hot residue that could ignite powder and to improve shot to shot accuracy.