Adobe .PDF - Thompson Center Arms

and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property. Seesection on “Bullet Molds” in this booklet.15 Wear protective gear when firing your muzzleloading firearm. Alwayswear shooting glasses to protect your eyesight from airborne particles and earprotectors to guard against hearing loss due to loud noise when firing yourmuzzleloader. Protect your arms from flying particles of percussion caps orpriming powder by wearing a heavy shirt or jacket with long sleeves. WARN-ING: When firing, stand well forward of all bystanders to ensure that theyare not struck by particles of powder or caps. Failure to follow this rulemay cause serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders anddamage to property. Those wearing long hair or beards should use extra cautionwhen firing a flint lock. A flint lock can torch hair.16 Do not load or prime your muzzleloading firearm directly from a can,horn or flask. A spark from a previous firing may ignite the stream of powderbeing poured into the gun and cause the container to explode. WARNING:The explosion of powder can, horn or flask may cause serious injuryand/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property. Use aseparate pre-calibrated measuring device containing small quantities ofpowder to load and prime your gun and keep your face, hands and bodywell away from the muzzle when loading and the pan when priming.17 Do not smoke while using your muzzleloader. The spark from a lightedcigarette, cigar, or pipe can ignite Black Powder, a Black Powder substituteor Percussion Caps. WARNING: Smoking around a charged and/or primedmuzzleloader, percussion caps, priming powder or supply of powder maycause premature firing of the gun or an explosion of the powder can, hornor flask causing serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystandersand damage to property.18 Keep powder and percussion caps well away from a firing position orshooting bench. A powder horn, flask, can of powder or box of percussioncaps can ignite with deadly force if exposed to sparks or intense heat. Followthe manufacturer’s instructions for safe handling and storage of powder orcaps. WARNING: Keep unused caps and powder well away from firearmsthat are being discharged. Sparks from the discharge of a muzzleloadingfirearm may cause an unused supply of powder or caps to ignite causingserious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage toproperty.19 Give the firearm your complete concentration. Never cross a fence,jump a ditch or engage in any activity which distracts your attention whileholding or carrying a charged and primed muzzleloading firearm.20 Know the condition of your muzzleloading firearm before charging,priming or firing. Function the lock of your gun to be sure that the half-cockand full-cock notches are working properly before loading a charge. Be sure5