Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 1 Muzzleloader Owner’s Manual IMPORTANT! Thoroughly read and understand all of the instructions and warnings in this manual BEFORE using your Traditions firearm. If you do not understand any aspect of this manual seek black powder firearm instruction from a qualified, professional instructor BEFORE you handle, load or use this firearm. Traditions Performance Firearms 1375 Boston Post Road P.O. Box 776 Old Saybrook, CT 06475 www.traditionsfirearms.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 3 If you sell, trade or give this rifle to another person, be sure to give the new owner a copy of this manual. Copies of this manual are available free of charge from Traditions Performance Fire a rms. Call 1-800-526-9556, or fax 860-388-4657 or email us at info@traditionsfirearms.com FOR YOUR RECORDS Important: Please re c o rd information here and keep for your record. Model No. ____________________________________________ Serial No.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS TRADITIONS’ WARRANTY PROTECTION INCLUDED WITH YOUR NEW GUN Thank you for purchasing the Traditions muzzleloader. Quality, pride and old world craftsmanship has gone into your new Traditions muzzleloader. We work hard to provide the best value and performance possible, we back it up with a limited lifetime warranty.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 7 LIMITED LIFETIME MECHANICAL WARRANTY Traditions will provide a warranty for this muzzleloading firearm (or parts in a kit to be built) to be free of mechanical defects in materials or craftsmanship for the life of the firearm, while in the possession of the original owner with the exception of wooden stocks.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 2 II. GENERAL SAFETY RULES WARNING! This muzzleloader, like other firearms, is potentially a lethal weapon that can cause serious injury, death or damage to property if handled improperly. Firearms safety is YOUR responsibility! There is no such thing as a “safe” or “foolproof” firearm. Handling your Traditions firearm safely depends on YOU! Handled safely, your firearm will give years of shooting enjoyment.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 4 4. Be sure of your target, and what is around and beyond it. The bullet fired from your rifle can travel over one mile, and has the potential to kill or seriously injure someone at that distance! Once you pull the trigger, you cannot call the bullet back, so you must positively identify your target before you fire.
Express Double Manual.qxd 9. 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 6 Before firing any firearm, be sure it is in good working order and that the barrel is clear of dirt, grease, water, excess oil, rust, corrosion or any other obstruction. 10. Always wear high-quality ear and eye protection when shooting or observing, and be sure that others who are present do the same.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 8 IV. SAFETY RULES AND PRECAUTIONS FOR FIRING AND USE OF YOUR TRADITIONS FIREARM WARNING! Keep the safety engaged in the “Safe” position until you are aimed at a proper target and have decided to fire. Failure to do so could cause serious injury or death. WARNING! If dropped or struck, whether the safety is “on” or “off’, the rifle may fire, causing serious injury or death.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 10 Never climb a fence, ladder, tree or other object, jump across a brook or ditch, crawl under a fence or other obstacle, walk across an icy surface, steep slope or other area with poor footing, or cross other slippery or precarious terrain or obstacles with a loaded firearm. Instead, un-prime your firearm first.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 12 III. MUZZLELOADING ‘MUSTS’ 7. Never smoke or permit others to smoke in the presence of black powder, Pyrodex®‚ Triple 7® or any other black powder substitute. Take care to guard against all potential ignition sources. 8. Never take drugs and/or drink alcoholic beverages before and during shooting. 9.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 14 16. In the event of a misfire, assume the gun could fire at any moment. Keep gun pointed down range with the action closed. Wait at least one minute before recapping, repriming or removing the load from the barrel. VI. WARNINGS SPECIFIC TO THE EXPRESS DOUBLE MUZZLELOADER 1. Safety – The safety is located on the top of the receiver just behind the top tang lever.
Express Double Manual.qxd 7. 8. 9. 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 16 Make sure you remove the ramrod from the thimble & forend before removing the forend. If you try to remove the forend with the ramrod in place you may crack the forend. This will not be covered under the Warranty and you will have to purchase a new one. The R a m ro d provided is much smaller than a typical .50 caliber ramrod so that you will be able to remove the rod from the forend quickly & easily.
Express Double Manual.qxd 5. 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 18 Dry all of the parts completely. Make sure you can see daylight through each breech plug by holding them up to a light. Use a few dry, cleaning patches to dry the inside of the bore. 6. Apply a light coat of Tradition’s Wonderlube 1000 Plus® (use #A1362 - Tradition’s pre-lubricated patches) and run one patch up & down the bore to “season” the lands & grooves of the rifling before loading.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 20 5. Close the barrels until the top lever snaps back into place. (Require photo) 6. Install the forend back into place starting with the bottom then bring the top to the barrels and push the forend into place until the release lever snaps closed. NOTE – Do not force the forend into place, this part will fit easily. If it is not installing easily then you do not have it aligned properly and should remove and start over. 7.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 22 NOTE – The front trigger fires the BOTTOM barrel and the rear trigger fires the TOP barrel. 1. 2. Load ONLY the bottom barrel and use the sights provided on the top barrel to sight in the bottom barrel first. Until the bottom barrel is sighted in DO NOT use the top barrel or adjust any of the SET SCREWS in the barrel jack. Start out by sighting in the bottom barrel at 25 to 50 yards maximum.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM #1 Set Screw Page 24 #3 Set Screw #4 Set Screw #2 Set Screw NOTE – If shot group is still not where you need it to be, repeat Steps above in the direction the bullets needs to move in VERY SMALL INCREMENTS. Repeat until the bullets is hitting where you want it to hit. Example #2: Top Barrel is shooting LOW & LEFT. Group 1: Show rifle target with 3 shot group here. Example #1: Top Barrel is shooting HIGH & RIGHT.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 26 XI. BLACK POWDER & BLACK POWDER SUBSTITUTES SECTION: DANGER: The use of SMOKELESS POWDER in any TRADITIONS muzzleloaders will result in excessively high pressures and will destroy the rifle and cause injury or death to the shooter and bystanders. If you have any questions regarding powder velocities and pressures please contact the manufacturer of the propellant. 1.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 28 XIII. LOADING THE POWDER FOR MUZZLELOADING RIFLES: WHEN LOADING LOOSE POWDER: a. Fill your Traditions flask with powder. WARNING: b. ONLY LOAD ONE BARREL AT A TIME. LOAD THE BOTTOM BARREL FIRST AND THEN THE TOP BARREL. Adjust your Traditions powder measure to the desired charge. c. Pour powder from your Traditions flask into the desired powder charge. Pour the powder from the powder measure down the BOTTOM barrel.
Express Double Manual.qxd b. 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 30 Now proceed to the section on “Loading the Projectile” to finish loading the BOTTOM barrel BEFORE you begin loading the TOP barrel. When you are finished loading the BOTTOM barrel you will need to use the SAME AMOUNT of powder in the TOP barrel as you have in the BOTTOM barrel. IMPORTANT: Do not break or crush the pellets when loading or seating the projectile on top of the pellets. This could cause inconsistent groupings. .
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 32 Do not pre-lube the plastic sabot or the bullet when using saboted bullets. 8. Keep the ramrod inside the “LOADED” barrel to make sure you do not DOUBLE LOAD the barrels. 1. 9. Now you can load the SAME style projectile into the TOP barrel if you are planning on firing both barrels. Follow the same procedure as the bottom barrel.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 34 XV. PRIMING YOUR MUZZLELOADER: 4. Your muzzleloader is now ready to fire. WARNING: 5. Pulling the front trigger fires the BOTTOM barrel. Pulling the rear trigger fires the TOP barrel. NEVER PRIME YOUR FIREARM UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE! The 209 shotgun primer is very popular because of its’ features and benefits for superior ignition. The 209 shotgun primer is exactly as it is named, a shotgun primer, the same primer used in a shotgun shell.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 36 3. Verify that the proper propellant is being used and that it is the proper granulation and is free from moisture, contamination and oils. 2. Slap the side of the barrels with your hand to direct the powder into the ignition channels of the breech plugs. If you are using pellets this process will not help. 4. Check the condition of the primers and propellant powder. For hunting situations, it is a wise practice to use fresh primers and powder.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 38 XIX. SIGHTING IN AND SCOPE MOUNTING METHOD 2 1. Open the gun and carefully remove the primer from each breech plug. 2. Using a range/bench ramrod, with a ball puller screw in one end, insert the screw end into the muzzle until the screw makes contact with the projectile. 3. Apply pressure to the end of the ramrod while at the same time turning it, allowing the ball puller screw to bite into the projectile. 4.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 40 To sight in your scope, please follow the scope manufacturer’s directions. WARNING: ONLY SIGHT IN THE BOTTOM BARREL WITH THE SCOPE JUST LIKE IF YOU WERE USING THE SIGHTS. THE TOP BARREL NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED WITH THE BARREL JACK. XX. CLEANING & MAINTENANCE: A systematic routine of cleaning while shooting is strongly advised to aid in avoiding problems while loading and to optimize accuracy. 1.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 42 XXI. CLEANING AFTER SHOOTING CAUTION: Before cleaning, make absolutely certain the gun is unprimed and unloaded. Use the ramrod measuring method as described earlier in this manual. Run dry cleaning patches up and down both bores to dry inside. Wipe outside of barrels with dry cloth. 9. Clean receiver area with EZ Clean™ spray and a soft bristle brush to remove any fouling or debris. Wipe receiver dry with cloth.
Express Double Manual.qxd 8. 8/24/06 4:35 PM Page 44 Make sure safeties and all functions of the muzzleloader work properly. PREFERRED CUSTOMER WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD NOTE – Store your rifle in a cool, dry, secured area. Storage in a gun case should be avoided as it may hasten condensation and corrosion. During long periods of storage, periodically check for signs of pitting or rusting on the surface and in the barrel bore.
