I need instructions on how to load a black powder gun?

Answer 1

You either need to read the owners manual that came with your gun, or contact the manufacturer to have a manual sent out to you. While the procedure is fairly simple, there are a lot of variables involved and doing something wrong could cause you (or others around you) severe injury or death. Please do yourself and your loved ones a favor and read the owners manual.

Answer 2

FIRST, you need to refer to the owner's manual for the recommended powder charge for your gun. There are many different calibers and each requires a different amount of powder. You also need to know which granulation is best for your gun. In general, anything from .45 caliber on doen will use fffG (three f) powder. From .45 on up, you will need ffG (two f) powder. this is not a hard and fast rule but a good rule of thumb. Many old timers said that the way to determine the correct amount of powder for your gun was to place a ball of the correct caliber in your cupped palm and pour enough powder into your hand to cover the ball. I have tried this for several of my guns and found that the amount of powder that you get with this method is often more than what will give you the best accuracy. Another thing to consider in addition to the powder, is the best size of ball for your rifle. Each caliber will have several different size balls difffering in only a few thousands from each other but this small size can make a siginificant difference in accuracy. A third thing to consider is patch thickness. Patches can range from less than 10 thousandths of an inch thick to over 30 thousandths in thickness.

Once these things have been resolved, you are left with how do you load the selected components. First, wipe out the bore with a dry patch or two. If you have a percussion rifle, fire one or two caps through an uncharged barrel to be sure that the nipple is clear and that there are no obstructions in the barrel. To do this, place a cap on the nipple, point the muzzle in a safe direction and down at the ground toward a leaf of grass. When you fire the cap, if the bore is unobstructed, the leaf of grass will move. Having done this and you are sure that the bore is unobstructed, pour the measured charge of powder down the bore. With the heel of your hand, give the barrel a few raps to settle the powder. Place a patch on the muzzle so that it is carefully centered on the muzzle. Place a ball on the center of the patch. Use a short starter to start the ball and patch down the bore. Remmove the short starter from the bore and replace it with the ramrod. Use constant pressure to press the ball and patch down on the powder. Do not bang on the end of the rod or use up and down banging motions to ram the ball down. Be sure that the ball is seated firmly on the powder. If it is not, you could blow up the barrel. Replace the ramrod under the barrel and step up to the firing line. DO NOT cap your nipple until you are on the firing line with the muzzle pointed down range. At that time, put the hammer on half cock and place a cap on the nipple. Shoulder your rifle and point the muzzle at the intended target. Place the hammer on full cock and you are ready to fire. These directions will work for a traditional caplock as well as an inline rifle. If you are shooting sabbotted bullets, you will not be using a patch so you can skip the patch step.

If you have a flintlock, there is a difference in the loading procedure. Instead of firing a cap on the nipple, you will place a small charge of ffffG (four f) powder in the frizzen pan, close the frizzen, point the muzzle at a blade of grass and fire the pan of powder. Proceed with the loading procedure the same as with a caplock until you come to the charging of the pan. DO NOT charge the pan until you are on the firing line with the muzzle pointed down range. Place the cock on half cock, open the frizzen pan and pour in a small charge of ffffG powder into the pan. Close the firzzen, shoulder the rifle and point at the intended target. Pull the cock to full cock and you are ready to fire.

These instructions are very abbreviated and intended only to give you an idea of what the loading process is. You need to get someone with experience to show you how to do it and you need to get a good blackpowder handbook. With the owners manual, a good blackpowder handbook and a good experineced instructor to get you going you will soon be on your way to a world of fun with your muzzleloader.

Answer 3

CIH was very complete, and baring getting face to face help did the best so far.
The one thing he omitted was: when reloading, never let any part of your body, (or anyone elses), be in front of the muzzle. An ember from the previous shot can ignite the new charge as it falls into the barrel causing a flash that can injure you.
Others have said it but I repeat get face to face instruction from an experienced shooter first.
Most will be glad to do it.

Answer 4

A manual for your gun will be best. Most call for different powder charges or granulations of powder. My thompson center black diamond needs FFg or pyrodex, it is also .50. Lesser calibers usually use FFFg.
Most manufactures will send you a free manual, so definitely write whoever makes the gun.

Answer 5

generally if you are loading percussion rifle(hawkin,Trapper,ect.) you load around 60 grains of powder, down the barrel, ram a ball over a patch bown the barrel, and insert a cap over the firing nipple. thus you are loaded and ready to fire.you can buy a powder despenser with a pre measured flange. pre soak patches in light oil so that your ball and patch ram easyly down the barrel. percussion pistols very much the same way weather it is a single shot or cap and ball revolver.flint lock pretty much the same except for the flint piece is inserted between the two piece lock mecognism, instead of cap over nipple, wheel house are diferent. i realy do not know much about these types of guns.

Answer 6

Could you be a little more vague? What type of blackpowder gun is it? percussion? Flintlock? In-Line? Is it a rifle or a shotgun, or even a wheelgun? What caliber? Is it designed for roundball? Will it take belted sabot? Is it new production or an antique?

Answer 7

the gun should have a users manuel. look in there

Answer 8

Simply put.... find someone that knows what they are doing to help!