Manual

Charging And Priming The

Thompson/Center

System 1

™

If you have not read this manual in its entirety, do so before attempting

to load your firearm. IMPROPER LOADING AND USE OF YOUR

FIREARM CAN CAUSE INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER

OR BYSTANDERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

The photo on page 34 shows a shooter in the process of loading a

System 1

™

. Study this photo carefully and read all the captions before you

proceed to charge your System 1

™

Before charging, insert the ramrod into the barrel and tap it up and

down several times. You will hear the ramrod “clink” as it contacts the steel

face of the breech plug. Note exactly how far the ramrod goes into the bar-

rel and how much of the rod extends beyond the muzzle when the barrel is

uncharged. Commit this exercise to memory and practice it every time that

you handle a muzzleloading firearm. Before you attempt to load it - before

you store it away - before you hand it to a friend or leave it unattended,

always check to ensure that the firearm is unprimed and uncharged.

The next precharging exercise is to wipe the bore free of all oil.

Be me-

ticulous with your cleaning for the presence of any amount of oil in the

barrel or chamber can dampen the powder charge and cause the rifle to

misfire or hangfire (see section on “Cleaning”)

. Point the muzzle in a safe

direction and snap several caps on the nipple before charging. This will en-

sure ignition and clear away any oil that may have accumulated in the nip-

ple port.

Adjust the powder measure to the desired charge and fill it with Black

Powder (or Pyrodex). To achieve accuracy, consistency in the powder charge

is required. Fill the measure exactly the same each time. Set the rifle on its

butt and

hold the muzzle away from your face and body as pictured on

page 34

. Pour the measured charge down the barrel and strike the side of

the barrel several sharp raps with the heel of your hand. This will settle the

powder into the chamber area of the barrel.