Traditions Side Lock Percussion - Flintlock User Manual

Page 19

powder horn, fill a calibrated powder measure to desired amount.
Do not exceed Recommended Loads. It is not safe and will decrease
your accuracy.

Pour the powder from the powder measure into the barrel, and

with the palm of your hand, slap the sides of the barrel to ensure
that all the powder falls to the bottom of the barrel and some has
entered the bolster or touch hole area for optimum ignition.

CAUTION: NEVER LOAD POWDER DIRECTLY from any container, flask or pow-
der horn into the barrel. A spark from a previous firing could ignite thepowder
entering the barrel and cause the container in your hand to explode.

Note: Preformed Pyrodex

Pellets generally work best in in-line rifles and were

not designed for guns with side-lock ignition. Traditions™ Thunder Magnum™ rifle
is an exception to this in that its ignition channel directs the spark to the rear of
the

propellant load so that the shooter can utilize pellets.

H. Loading the projectile

(See Recommended Loads.):

For Patched Round Balls: Lubricate one side of a shooting patch with

Traditions™ WonderLube or use the convenient pre-lubed
Traditions™ WonderLube Shooting Patches. Center the patch on top
of the muzzle, lubed side down. Place the ball in the center of the
patch. If the ball has a dimple “sprue,” face it upward.

Using a ball starter, place the short shaft on top of the ball and

apply pressure to drive the ball downward into the muzzle.
With a sharp knife cut away any of the patch remaining out-
side the barrel. (This is unnecessary if round precut patches are
used.) With the longer shaft of the ball starter, drive the ball
deeper into the barrel.

Place the ramrod on top of the ball and grasp it no more than 8

inches above the muzzle. (Any greater distance could result in
breaking the ramrod and injury to your hand.) Apply moderate
pressure and push the ball down into the barrel in 8 inch incre-
ments. Be sure to firmly seat the ball on top of the powder

WARNING: Any air gap between powder and ball is a potentially dangerous situ-
ation that could cause a burst barrel with death or bodily injury resulting.

For Conical lead bullets: Lubricate the sides of the projectile with

Traditions™ WonderLube. Place the projectile into the barrel and
use the ball starter and ramrod procedure as described earlier in
Section H1 to install and seat the projectile. Do not use patches with
these bullets. Patches are for round balls only.

Sabots can be used in side-lock guns. They will perform differently

than patched round balls or conical bullets. It will be necessary to
experiment with them to become familiar with their performance.