Manual

What to do If Firearm
Fails To Fire
If the rifle fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, ALWAYS WAIT ONE FULL
MINUTE WITH THE RIFLE POINTED AT THE TARGET. It might be a
hangfire: a delayed ignition of the primer or slow burning of the powder,
with the rifle suddenly firing at any time during this minute. Hangfires
result from wet or deteriorated powder or primers contamination from
aerosol lubricants and other causes. If the rifle does not fire, try another
primer. If it still misfires wait ANOTHER full minute, then remove the
breech plug and unload the charge following the directions on Page 18.
Black Powder Fouling
The chemical compounds formed by Pyrodex residue, and certain
percussion caps and primers, are extremely corrosive; rusting will begin
within a few hours after firing, if the firearm is left uncleaned. Fouling
will also slow down or “bind up” moving parts, possibly resulting in
misfires (failures to fire), and “hangfires” (firing delayed up to one
minute). It is, therefore, important that your firearm be cleaned
thoroughly and without delay after each use.
Furthermore, black powder fouling promptly hardens with the passage of
time, making disassembly difficult, and this fouling is extremely corrosive
- even to stainless steel.
ALWAYS INSPECT THE BARREL AND BORE VISUALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE CHAMBER IS EMPTY.
Warning
The barrel can be bulged or burst if earth, snow, water or vegetation is
allowed to enter the muzzle and obstruct the bore. Whenever the muzzle
of your rifle comes into contact with the ground, or you have reason to
suspect that foreign matter may be in the barrel, unload the rifle and
look through the bore from the rear. It’s not enough to just look at the
muzzle; debris can fall some distance inside where it can’t easily be seen.
If anything is lodged inside, never attempt to shoot it out; if the barrel
bursts, it can result in accidental death or serious injury.
19
ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.