Adobe .PDF - Thompson Center Arms

Never fire a muzzleloader unless you are sure the projectile is firmly seatedon the powder charge and the ramrod has been removed from the bore.Shooters should bear in mind that the muzzleloading projectile is notcrimped into position as is the fixed cartridge projectile. If a patchedround ball or bullet does not fit tightly then jarring or movement of thefirearm can cause it to move forward. If the rifle is fired when a projectileis forward or off the powder charge,or the ramrod is still in the bore, thenthe projectile or ramrod may act as a bore obstruction. This can cause aruptured or burst barrel. A RUPTURED OR BURST BARREL MAYCAUSE INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BYSTAND-ERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. If, due to fouling, a bullet or ballbecomes lodged part way down the barrel, the rifle must be disassembledand the charge removed. See section on “Cleaning”. Also see section on“Pulling a Charge”.Priming Your Charged Muzzleloading Rifle. If you have followed thepreceding instructions your muzzleloading rifle will now be charged with BlackPowder or an approved Black Powder substitute, such as Pyrodex® and around ball, Maxi-Ball® or Maxi-Hunter® will be firmly seated against the powdercharge. Your ramrod will be marked to the exact seating depth allowingyou to ensure that each future projectile is seated in the same carefulmanner. The hammer of your rifle will be in half cock position,and, if it isa flint lock model, the frizzen will be open.Do not prime the rifle until you are actually ready to fire and you havedouble checked to ensure that the ramrod has been removed from thebore. Thompson/Center does not recommend priming the rifle until theinstant before actual firing. Carrying a charged, primed rifle and relyingupon the half-cock notch to act as a safety can be dangerous. ACCIDEN-TAL DISCHARGE IS A CONSTANT HAZARD WHICH, IF IT OC-CURS, CAN CAUSE INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTEROR BYSTANDERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. The only safe wayto guard against an accidental discharge is to carry a cap lock rifleunprimed with the hammer on half cock, and a flint lock rifle with thefrizzen open, unprimed, and with the hammer at half cock. Keep the muzzlepointed downrange away from yourself, bystanders or property.34