- First, make sure the rifle is not already loaded. Drop the ramrod into the barrel and listen for the metallic “click” of the brass hitting the breach face. Or mark the ramrod at the muzzle, withdraw it from the barrel and place it along the outside of the barrel. With the mark aligned to the muzzle, the end of the rod should be even with the breach.
- Dry the bore with a cleaning jag and a few clean dry patches. A patch saturated with rubbing alcohol will remove any traces of oil. Run another dry patch down the barrel.
- Clean the frizzen, pan, and flint with a clean dry cloth. Be careful, the edge of the flint is sharp. Be sure the flash hole is clear of obstruction by inserting a vent pick or paper clip. Open the pan and put the cock down for safety.
- For a percussion rifle, check that the nipple fit is tight. A lose nipple can shoot out when the gun is fired. Use a nipple pick or paper clip to check that the nipple is clear of obstruction. Pointing the muzzle in a safe direction at the dust or a blade of grass, snap two or three caps. If the dust or grass blade moves your nipple is clear of oil and other obstructions. Place the hammer in the down position.
- Never use smokeless powder in a muzzle loader. Modern black powder substitutes are safe to use and may give acceptable performance in percussion guns. However, substitute powders will not function satisfactorily in a flintlock. Flintlocks can not generate the higher heat necessary to give reliable ignition with substitute powders. For the best results in all muzzle loaders use only traditional or "real" black powder.
- Pour the powder from the horn or flask into a powder measure. For safety, never pour powder directly into the rifle from a horn or flask. Keep the horn or powder container closed when not loading.
- Pour the measured powder charge down the barrel. Slap the side of the rifle opposite the lock to settle the powder into the vent or nipple channel.
- Center a lubricated patch over the bore and place a lead ball onto the patch. If the ball has a sprue, position it up and centered.
- With the short end of a short starter, seat the patched ball into the bore. Use the palm of your hand. Cut off the patching flush with the muzzle if you are not using precut patches.
- Push the ball deeper into the barrel with the long end of the short starter.
- With the ramrod seat the ball firmly against the powder charge. Grasp the ramrod 6 to 8 inches above the muzzle and use several short strokes to do this. Grasping the ramrod too high will bend and possibly break the ramrod causing injury to your hand. Never fire a muzzle loader if the ball is not firmly seated on the powder charge.
- Use a pencil to mark the ramrod at the muzzle when the rifle is loaded. This will serve as a reference mark for seeing if the rifle is correctly loaded.
- Remove the ramrod and place it back under the barrel.
- Do not prime or cap the rifle until you are on the shooting line with the muzzle pointing down range.
- For a percussion rifle, place the hammer at half cock and put a cap on the nipple. When ready to shoot, cock the hammer to full cock.
- For a flintlock, place the cock in the half cock position. Fill the pan about ¼ full of priming powder and close the frizzen. When ready to shoot, bring the cock to the full cocked position.
- Be certain of your target and what lies beyond, aim, and fire.
