Proper Muzzleloader Loading

In part 3 of our Welcome to Knight series we will discuss Proper Muzzleloader Loading. Your Knight Rifle will always serve you well but as with knowing how to keep it clean and functioning, you need to understand exactly how to properly load and fire it.

Proper Muzzleloader Loading

WARNING: After your rifle has been cleaned and oiled, you must clear the breech plug firing hole of any oil and debris prior to use.

This is done as follows:

1.) Confirm that all safeties are functioning properly and are in the safe position.
2.) Check that there is no primer, either live or spent, installed.
3.) Place the rifle butt on the ground, remove the ramrod, and place it in the bore. If the ramrod tip is near flush with the muzzle, the rifle is unloaded and the bore free from obstruction. Remove the ramrod from the barrel.

After your rifle has been cleaned and oiled, you must clear the breech plug firing hole of any oil and debris prior to use. This is done as follows:

1.) Install a primer. Point the muzzle at the ground and hold 4 to 6 inches from dirt or grass. Place safeties in the fire position and fire a primer. Observe the dirt or grass move when the primer is fired. This will indicate that the breech plug flash channel is clear. If the flash channel is not clear, remove the debris before proceeding. Repeat this step one more time. Always remove the spent primer after each ignition.

2.) Return the safeties to the safe position.

3.) Leave the action open during swabbing and loading. (Except break open actions which should remain closed.)
4.) Place the butt of the rifle on the ground. Screw the cleaning jag into the end of the ramrod. Moisten a cleaning patch with Knight® Easy Clean™ and wring any excess liquid out with your fingers. Using short, quick strokes of you ramrod and cleaning jag, swab the entire bore several passes with the wet patch until it contacts the breech plug. Place a dry patch on the jag and swab the entire barrel again, making sure to contact the breech plug.

This process will help prevent misfires and hangfires. It will also improve first shot accuracy by removing grease and oils left in the bore during cleaning.

Proper Muzzleloader Loading

Proper Muzzleloader Loading Instructions

1.) Make sure that all safety systems are engaged before loading and that there is no primer, live or spent, installed.
2.) Place the butt of the rifle on the ground so that the muzzle is facing up and away from the body.
3.) If using loose propellant, set your powder measurer to the desired amount and fill the powder measure. Pour powder into the muzzle.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of an explosion, do not pour directly from the propellant container, do not exceed recommended loads (see load chart on page 14), and only load your Knight® Rifle with recommended black powder or black powder substitute. Never use smokeless powder for Proper Muzzleloader Loading!

4.) If using pelletized powder, place the recommended number of pellets into the muzzle in order to do a Proper Muzzleloader Loading.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of an explosion, do not exceed recommended loads (see load chart on page 16)
5.) If using sabots, place the bullet firmly in the proper sabot so that the bullet’s base is squarely seated.
6.) Insert the projectile and start it down the bore using a Knight® Bullet Starter™.
7.) Using a hand over hand motion, drive the bullet down onto the powder charge using the concave end of the ramrod or cleaning jag. Do not pound or bounce the ramrod on the bullet. This will deform or displace the projectile, causing loss of accuracy and bullet performance. If using pelletized powder, this can also crack or crush the pellets, resulting in loss of accuracy and performance.

WARNING: If the bullet is not seated firmly on the powder charge, the rifle may explode when fired.

8.) Remove your ramrod from the bore.
9.) Double check your trigger and secondary safeties and be sure that both are on safe. Be sure the rifle is pointed in a safe direction. Depending on your model, pull the hammer locks into firing position, open the bolt on a DISC™ Rifle, or release the drop or break-open action.
10.) Insert a priming device or 209 primed DISC Full Plastic Jacket™. Close the bolt and drop or break-open action.

11.) (ACCURACY) Upon firing your cleaned and oiled rifle or shotgun and after performing 1(a) or 1(b) on page 7 and if you notice any first shot accuracy or patterning issues, we recommend that you do the following each time before you load and fire your clean and oiled rifle and shotgun.

WARNING: Your rifle is now armed. Do not point your rifle at anything that you do not want to shoot.

Loading Instructions for the TK2000™ Muzzleloading Shotgun

1.) Make sure that all safety systems are engaged before loading and that there is no primer, live or spent, installed.
2.) Place the butt of the shotgun on the ground so that the muzzle is facing up and away from the body.
3.) Measure out either FFg black powder, or equivalent and pour into the barrel (120 grains maximum). Suggested 100 grain max when using T7.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of an explosion, do not pour directly from the propellant container, do not exceed recommended loads (see load chart on page 15), and only load your Knight™ Rifle with a recommended black powder or black powder substitute. Never use smokeless powder! Do not use pelletized powder, it does not fit the 12 gauge bore properly and can cause an explosion, delayed ignition, or no ignition.

4.) Push an empty shot wad down the bore with the smaller end of the ramrod, seating the wad firmly on the powder charge. Fill a spare shot wad (of the same size) full with your choice of shot size, and carefully pour shot from the spare wad down the bore. Maximum of 2 1/2 oz. of shot.
5.) Push an over-shot wad down the bore with the jag end of the ramrod. Do not be concerned if the over-shot wad starts in sideways, as it will straighten itself out on the way down. Make sure the wad is firmly seated on the shot.
6.) With both safeties on and the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, prime the gun.

WARNING: Your shotgun is now armed. Do not point your shotgun at anything that you do not want to shoot.

Firing

1.) With your action locked into the firing position and all safeties on, bring the muzzleloader to your shoulder and put the desired target in your sights.
2.) When you are ready to shoot, screw the secondary safety in a counter-clockwise motion until it rests against the face of the hammer screw.
3.) Sight in on the target, move the trigger safety to fire.
4.) The muzzleloader can now be fired with the squeeze of the trigger. Be confident of your target and squeeze to fire.

Reloading

1.) Return all safeties to the safe position.
2.) Remove live or spent percussion caps and primers from your firearm.
3.) Leave the action open during swabbing and loading. (Except break open actions which should remain closed.)
4.) Place the butt of the rifle on the ground.
5.) Screw the cleaning jag into the ramrod.
6.) Moisten the cleaning patch with Knight® Easy Clean™ and wring any excess out with your fingers.
7.) Using short, quick strokes with your ramrod and cleaning jag, swab the entire bore several passes with the wet patch until it makes contact with the breech plug. Remove and discard the soiled patch.
8.) Place a dry patch on the jag and swab the entire barrel again, making sure to contact the breech plug.
This process will ensure better shot to shot accuracy.

WARNING: Failure to swab the barrel as instructed before reloading could leave hot residue in the barrel which could result in accidental discharge during reloading.

WARNING: There are many black powder substitutes available. Read and follow all instructions and warnings provided by the manufacturer of the propellant you choose.

Blackhorn 209 Powder

Bolt Action: DO NOT exceed 120 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
Bighorn: DO NOT exceed 100 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
Littlehorn: DO NOT exceed 80 volumetric units of Blackhorn 209
TK2000: DO NOT use
* Blackhorn 209 NOT for use with flintlock, #11 percussion or musket caps.

Thanks for reading Welcome to Knight – Proper Muzzleloader Loading. Next week we will discuss Recommended Loads and Load Charts.

Happy hunting!

Have Questions?

If you have questions about Proper Muzzleloader Loading, please email us at sales@knightrifles.com.

Knight Rifles, America’s Muzzleloader!