Traditions REX - Manual (Page 10)

12
III. MUZZLELOADING ‘MUSTS’
FOR MUZZLELOADING SUCCESS
You must:
1. Read completely, fully understand and follow all instructions
and warranty limitations in this booklet before attempting to
shoot your new Traditions muzzleloader.
2. Always treat any firearm as if it is loaded and keep the
muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
3. Always wear proper eye and ear protection when loading or
firing any firearm.
4. Don’t shoot until you are absolutely sure of your target and
what is beyond it. Do not point your firearms at anything
you do not intend to shoot. Be sure that all bystanders are
safely positioned behind you and that they are aware that
you are about to shoot. All bystanders must also wear eye
and hearing protection when in the vicinity of anyone using
a firearm.
5. Use only the proper grade of black powder or black powder
substitutes such as Pyrodex
® powder, Pyrodex ® Pellets or
Triple 7 ® powder & Triple 7 ® pellets in properly measured
amounts. Be sure to reference the chart in this booklet for
recommended loads. Reduce charges of Triple 7 powder by
15%. For example, if you were using 150 grains of
Pyrodex
® powder and began to use Triple 7 ® powder, you
would only use 130 grains of Triple 7 ® . Always consult the
directions from the powder manufacturer before handling
and loading any type of powder.
6. Never use any amount of smokeless gun powder in your
muzzleloader. Although also black in color, smokeless
powder is a very different chemical composition and it will
produce dangerous pressures resulting in serious injury or
death to yourself, bystanders and it will destroy your
firearm.
12 13
7. Never smoke or permit others to smoke in the presence of
black powder, Pyrodex
® ‚ Triple 7 ® or any other black powder
substitute. Take care to guard against all potential ignition
sources.
8. Never take drugs and/or drink alcoholic beverages before
and during shooting.
9. Be certain that the powder, patches and projectiles are
properly sized and measured and are loaded in the proper
sequence and that the projectile is firmly seated on top of
the propellant.
See Section XI & X for proper loading
instructions.
10. Use only cotton or linen shooting patches when loading
round lead balls. Do not use any type of plastic patches.
11. Never load powder into a gun directly from a can, powder
horn or flask. Always use a separate calibrated powder
measuring device. A remaining spark or ember in the barrel
may cause an ignition of the powder and cause injury or
death to you, bystanders and destroy your firearm.
12. A firearm’s safety is a mechanical device which can fail.
Always be mindful of where the safety lever is set and
routinely verify its setting. Never solely rely on any rifle’s
safety. Always treat every gun as if it were loaded and ready
to fire. Only cap or prime your muzzleloader when you are
ready to fire. Uncap or unprime your muzzleloader when
you are done shooting or hunting.
13. Always disable your muzzleloader by carefully removing the
percussion cap, musket cap or 209 primer and unloading
the barrel when immediate shooting is not planned.
14. Never cap your firearm until you are ready to fire. Never
install a percussion cap, musket cap or primer on the nipple
before the gun is loaded. When loaded, a bump or
unintentional pressure could result in the discharge of the
firearms resulting in a serious accident.
15. Always store the powder, gun and percussion caps, musket
caps or primers in separate locked places. Always keep all
firearms and ammunition components secured and separate
away from children. Never store a loaded gun.
13
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 12