Manual

74
Some of the most common conditions are as follows:
1. If the shot charge is not seated firmly against the powder charge -
stop immediately! Do not attempt to fire the shotgun. You must remove
the charge and clean the barrel.
2. If the shotgun is loaded in the proper manner - yet fails to fire after
repeated repriming and clearing of the ignition channel (as described in
the “Ignition” section).
3. If you are at a location that is unsuitable for discharging the
firearm before transporting it.
Never attempt to remove a charge from any muzzleloading firearm
until you are absolutely certain that the firearm is decap]ped (percus-
sion cap removed from the nipple). Do not attempt to remove a charge
from any muzzleloading gun until the powder charge has been rendered
inert (barrel removed and its breech area submerged in water for at
least one-half hour). AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE CAN CAUSE
INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO SHOOTER OR BYSTANDERS AND
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
Remove the charge as follows; Disassemble the shotgun as detailed on
page 42 and 43. Soak the breech area of the unprimed barrel in water for at
least one-half hour. Insert the ramrod from the muzzle and push the charge
out of the breech end of the barrel - your shotgun is now unloaded.
After the charge has been removed from the bore, clean the firearm as
explained in the “Cleaning” section of this manual and reassemble the firearm.
Cleaning the System 1 shotgun is essentially the same procedure as clean-
ing the System 1 rifle (see page 44) with th exception that a 12 gauge bore
brush and swab are used - in place of the rifle jag with appropriate patches.
Use the brush to loosen the fouling and the swab to push or pull the loosened
fouling out of the bore.