TacomaNWTF.org

Do not make the mistake of thinking you are handling anything less than a deadly firearm when you pick up a muzzleloading shotgun.  Here are a few reminders and safety considerations.

After firing one barrel of a double-barrel, be sure to uncap the loaded barrel before reloading.  You don't want to be standing there ramming a new load down one barrel with the other fully-loaded and ready-to-fire barrel inches from your face.

After firing one barrel, and if time permits, use your ramrod to make sure the charge in the loaded barrel remains in place, especially if you've fired the right barrel several times without firing the left barrel.  The wads and load components can be jarred loose by recoil.

Do not pour powder directly into the barrel from a powder horn, flask or other bulk container.  A hot spark in the barrel could set off a horrible chain of events.  Always pour from a powder measure or speedloader.

Use only wads and overcards specifically made for shotgunning.  You can make your own at home, just use proper materials.  Do not use paper, rags, tissue or other materials for wadding.

Use only black powder, Pyrodex, Clean Shot or other approved propellant.  Do not use any powders not specifically designed for muzzleloaders.  No modern shotshell powders!

Load by volume - the same volume of powder to the same volume of shot.  Do not load by weight.  This is especially important if you use steel shot, which doesn't weigh as much as lead.  That could lead to overcharging.

-Joe Arterburn