Manual

Black Powder Pressures

And Velocities

It is not the purpose of this manual to delve deeply into the complex sub-

ject of chamber pressure or how it relates to all firearms. There are, however,

some basic differences between a muzzleloader and a modern cartridge

firearm. The reader must understand and respect these differences if he or she

is to use their T/C muzzleloader in a safe manner.

Shooting muzzleloading firearms requires rethinking all that you have

learned about firearms. It requires discipline to cope with the require-

ments of being a reloader and rifleman at the same time. It requires strict

adherence to the instructions set forth in this booklet. FAILURE TO

FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE

FIREARM AND INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BY-

STANDERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

Odd as it sounds, your safe introduction to muzzleloading firearms re-

quires a good deal of reverse thought. Our forefathers, trained in the use of

muzzleloaders, had little difficulty using the products of their day or adapting

to improved concepts as each new idea presented itself in a normal progres-

sion. The transition from flint lock to cap lock to breech loader each represent-

ed a step forward toward a more technically sophisticated era. Users of

firearms had hundreds of years to adapt to these changes. In a single lifetime,

no one was exposed to drastic change.

The muzzleloading enthusiast of today, however, has been trained in the

use of cartridge firearms. To safely use a muzzleloader he must adjust his

thinking backward - bridging hundreds of years of product development - in

one giant step! Those reading this booklet must face the realization that the

design of a muzzleloading firearm is rooted in tradition. In other words, a

manufacturer of muzzleloading firearms, while he does have the benefit of

using modern steel, proper heat treating and other technical advances, does

not have the option of drastically altering a design which is centuries old. To

use a muzzleloader safely requires considerable mental adjustment on the part

of today’s shooter.

Modern cartridge firearms depend heavily upon the strength of a brass

cartridge case to seal the chamber and to safely confine expanding gas. Equal-

ly it is the cartridge case which holds the bullet in a fixed position, confines

the powder charge to a given volume and controls headspace. Modern car-

tridge firearms are designed to withstand high working pressures since these

same pressures make possible the high velocities, flat trajectories and

increased range of modern ammunition. Yet, the modern firearm is no stron-

ger than the cartridge case that is used in its chamber. If the case ruptures, the

primer punctur

es or if the headspace is alter

ed, hot powder gases under