Traditions Buckstalker - Manual (Page 3)

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II. BREAK ACTION RIFLE OVERVIEW
Break-Action design firearms are so described due to the fact that the barrel and
receiver are joined by a pivoting hinge. When the action release is depressed in a
rearward motion, the receiver and barrel open in a breaking motion. A variety of
finishes & stock configurations are available.
III. THE SPORT OF MUZZLELOADING
More and more sportsmen have discovered the challenges and enjoyment of
muzzleloading in the past years. For both hunting and target shooting, muzzle-
loading guns have helped a modern generation recapture and enjoy an important
aspect of our nation’s sporting past. Traditions Muzzleloaders are firearms that
represent the latest developments in this unique part of the shooting sports.
They are manufactured to modern standards for safe and enjoyable shooting.
This booklet is intended as a basic guide for the proper maintenance, loading and
shooting of Traditions muzzleloaders, and it offers important rules and precautions
for safe handling and shooting of this type of firearm. In addition to this booklet, it
is recommended that the novice obtain further information and instruction before
firing a muzzleloader.
Sources for this help include:
1. national Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
2. national Rifle Association
3. Your town clerk, local sporting goods dealer, state
DeP or conservation department
4. Contact your local muzzleloader or hunting club.
IV. 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
break open 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.
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 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 primer your muzzleloader when you are ready to fire. uncap
or un-prime 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 compo-
nents secured and separate away from children. never store a loaded gun.
16. In the event of a misfire, assume the gun could fire at any moment. keep gun
pointed down range with the action closed. Wait at least one minute before
recapping, re-priming or removing the load from the barrel.
17. never load a muzzleloading firearm indoors. Only load your firearm in a
location where it is safe to shoot.
18. Be certain that anyone firing this muzzleloader understands and is willing to
follow the instructions and precautions in this manual and the fundamentals of
safe firearm handling.
19. Always make certain that the safety is in the “on” position and the hammer is
in the “at rest” position when installing the primer.
20. A great way to understand more about all types of firearms is to take a
Hunter’s Safety course
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