MUZZLELOADER BREAK OPEN - TraditionsFirearms.com · · 2013-03-07PURSUIT Manual.qxd 6/3/04 4:09...

P.O. Box 776Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

PlacePostage Here.Or for additionalsecurity enclosein a envelope.

IMP

OR

TAN

T!

Thoroughly read and understandall of the instructions and

warnings in this m

anual before using your Traditions firearm

.

If you do not understand any aspect of this m

anual seek black powder firearm

instruction from a qualified, professional

instructor BEFORE you handle, load or use this firearm

.

Break-O

pen Muzzleloader O

wner’s M

anual

Traditions Performance Firearm

s1375 Boston Post Road

P.O. Box 776Old Saybrook, CT 06475

ww

w.traditionsfirearm

s.comem

ail:info@traditionsfirearm

s.com

BR

EA

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PURSUIT Manual.qxd 6/3/04 4:09 PM

YOUR MUZZLELOADING RIFLE

Congratulations on your purchase of the new TraditionsBreak-Open

Muzzleloader. You have selected a m

uzzleloading firearm designed and

engineered to give today’s shooters the highest performance and optim

umaccuracy. W

hen given the respect and care that any firearm dem

ands, youcan expect m

any years of reliable service and enjoyable hunting from your

new Traditions muzzleloader.

The new TraditionsBreak-Open M

uzzleloaderis easy to load, shootand clean. The action release button is on the front of the trigger guard forease in opening. The extended ham

mer has an am

bidextrous spur for left orright hand shooting. You sim

ply need to unscrew the spur and switch it tothe appropriate side of the ham

mer. The solid alum

inum ram

rod has anextended jag that can be reversed and attached to m

ake the ramrod full

length for easy loading and cleaning.

IMP

OR

TA

NT!

A person using any firearm has elected to take on an enorm

ousresponsibility. This m

anual contains instructions, cautions and dangersfor the safe enjoyable use of your Traditions m

uzzleloader. Shooting afirearm

is a serious endeavor. These instructions and precautionsshould always be followed during each shooting session.

CA

UTIO

N:

If you sell, trade or give this rifle to another person, be sure to give the new owner a copy of this m

anual. Copies of this manual are

available free of charge from Traditions

Performance Firearm

s.Call 1-800-526-9556, or fax 860-388-4657 or em

ail us at info@traditionsfirearm

s.com

FO

R Y

OU

R R

EC

OR

DS

Important: Please record inform

ation here and keep for your record.

Model No.

____________________________________________Serial No.

____________________________________________

Model Nam

e__________________________________________

Caliber______________________________________________

Date Purchased________________________________________From

________________________________________________

Registration Card mailed on

______________________________

CA

UTIO

N: P

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ASE

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Please call

Traditions Custom

er Service

Department

at 1-800-526-9556 w

ith any questions or concerns.

PURSUIT Manual.qxd 6/3/04 4:09 PM Page 3

TAB

LE

OF

CO

NT

EN

TS

I.THE SPORT OF M

UZZLELOADING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II.GENERAL SAFETY RULES

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

III.M

UZZLELOADING MUSTS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

IV.W

ARRANTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

V.M

AKING SURE YOUR MUZZLELOADER

IS UNLOADED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

VI.SAFETIES INCLUDED W

ITH YOUR M

UZZLELOADER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

VII.DISASSEM

BLY & ASSEM

BLY OF M

UZZLELOADER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

VIII.IGNITION AND BREECH PLUGS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

IX.PREPARING TO LOAD AND LOADING A M

UZZLELOADING SHOTGUN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

X.PREPARING TO LOAD AND LOADING A M

UZZLELOADING RIFLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

XI.PRIM

ING YOUR MUZZLELOADER

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

XII.DECAPPING AFTER FIRING

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

XIII.HANGFIRES &

MISFIRES

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

XIV.REM

OVING THE PROJECTILE (SHOT) AND POW

DER CHARGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

XV.SIGHTING IN AND SCOPE M

OUNTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

XVI.RECOM

MENDED LOADS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

XVII.CLEANING AND M

AINTENANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

XVIII.HELPFUL M

UZZLELOADING ACCESSORIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

XIX.W

ARRANTY CARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

TRADITIONS’ WARRANTY PROTECTION

INCLUDED WITH YOUR NEW

GUNThank you for purchasing the Traditions

muzzleloader. Quality, pride and

old world craftsmanship has gone into your new Traditions

muzzleloader. W

ework hard to provide the best value and perform

ance possible, we back it up with a lim

ited lifetime warranty. Should you ever experience m

echanical difficultywith your new Traditions

firearm, be assured that we are staffed and equipped

to correct it quickly. Your satisfaction with your firearm is very im

portant toTraditions.PLEASE

HELPUS

SERVEYOU

BETTERIn the unlikely event you need warranty service on your new firearm

, we needyour help to get the work done right and without delay. It’s as easy as dropping usa note or picking up the telephone. Traditions

conveniently engraves the caliber, serial number and m

odel name on

each barrel. Take note of this information, record it on the warranty page in this

manual and be prepared to state it when contacting the Traditions

Customer

Service Department with your questions.

Contact Traditionsat 1-800-526-9556, tell us what problem

you areexperiencing and we’ll get busy to rem

edy your situation.

Help is just a phone call away should you experience a problem. Sim

ply followthese four sim

ple steps and we’ll get your firearm back in perfect working order in

the shortest possible time.

1. Do not return your firearm to the dealer. You can save tim

e by following thesteps outlined below.

2. Do call us and describe the problem. Chances are we can either guide you to a

solution right over the phone or when possible send you the parts you need tocorrect the problem

.3.Should your gun need factory service, we will give you instructions about

where to ship it and issue you a Return Merchandise Authorization num

ber.4.W

e will inspect your firearm and m

ake necessary repairs that are covered under warranty.

Often we can help you by phone, call before you return yourTraditions

firearm for service. Good Shooting!

1-800-526-9556Im

portant: All firearms m

ust have a factory issued Return M

erchandise Authorizationnum

ber (RMA#)

before returning toTraditions

for warranty service.


DE

SCR

IPT

ION

Break-O

pen Rifle - A

W C

omposite

PR

O M

OD

EL

A Rear Stock (AW

Composite) (Finished)

FCS71001-2

B Fore Stock (AW


FCS71001-1

C Ram

rod Retaining Spring Screw400024

D Ram

rod Retaining Spring400030

E Barrel Assem

bly (Finished) (Length 28”)

.50 cal. perc. Blued (twist 1-28”)

FB730034

F Plug Screw

(4)26029

G Rear Sight

60193

H Front Sight

70220

I Breech Plug (inox)

7000099

J Ram

rod Thimble (2)

400032-P

K Ram

rod Thimble Screw

(4)400031

L Sling Sw

ivel Stud – Front nut60122

M

Sling Swivel Stud – Front

37122

N Barrel Tenon

700023

O Forend Stock Screw

710035

P Fram

e (Blued)71004

Q Fram

e Pivot Pin710024

R Tang Screw

71016

S Tang Screw

Washer

71019

T Buttpad

71026

U Buttpad M

ounting Screw (2)

20634

V Ham

mer

71002

W

Hamm

er Spring71018

X Transfer Bar

71006

YHam

mer Handle

710004

Z Ham

mer Pin

710031

AA Firing Pin

71007

BB Firing Pin Spring

71011

CC Firing Pin Retaining Screw

710021

DD Trigger

71003

FF Barrel Catch

71005

GG Barrel Catch Spring

71017

HH Barrel Catch Pin

710023

II Trigger Guard

710027

JJ Trigger Guard Spring

71015

KK Ball

71000

LL Safety Pin

710029

MM

Safety

710032

NN Trigger Guard and Trigger Pin (3)

710025

OO Sling Sw

ivel Stud-Rear37013

PP Pistol Grip Cap

50104

QQ Pistol grip Cap Screw

50105

RR Ram

rod (Aluminum

)720030

SS Ram

rod Tip .50 Ca710028

TT Ram

rod Assembly

720011

VV W

rench Handle400033

WW

W

rench700029

XX Rear and Front Sights Screw

(3)73620

YY Trigger Spring

71010

ZZ Rear and Front Sight Assembly

70288

Break-O

pen Rifle - A

W C

omposite

STA

ND

AR

D M

OD

EL

DE

SCR

IPT

ION

A Rear Stock (AW

Composite)(Finished)

FCS71001-2

B Fore Stock (AW


FCS71001-1

C Ram


D Ram


E Barrel Assem



FB710034

F Plug Screw

(4)26029

G Fiber Optic Rear Sight

50610-FO

H Fiber Optic Front Sight

M50611-FO

IFront Sight M

ounting Screw (2)

50620

J Breech Plug (inox)

7000099

K Ram

rod Thimble

400032-P

L Ram

rod Thimble Screw

(2)400031

M

Sling Swivel Stud – Front nut

60122

N Sling Sw

ivel Stud – Front37122

O Barrel Tenon

700023

P Forend Stock Screw

710035

Q Fram

e (Blued)71004

R Fram

e Pivot Pin710024

S Tang Screw

71016

T Tang Screw

Washer

71019

U Buttpad

71026

V Buttpad M

ounting Screw (2)

20634

W

Hamm

er71002

X Ham

mer Spring

71018

Y Transfer Bar

71006

Z Ham

mer Handle

710004

AA Ham

mer Pin

710031

BB Firing Pin

71007

CC Firing Pin Spring

71011

DD Firing Pin Retaining Screw

710021

EE Trigger

71003

GG Barrel Catch

71005

HH Barrel Catch Spring

71017

II Barrel Catch Pin

710023

JJ Trigger Guard

710027

KK Trigger Guard Spring

71015

LL Ball

71000

MM

Safety Pin

710029

NN Safety

710032

OO Trigger Guard and Trigger Pin (3)

710025

PP Sling Sw

ivel Stud-Rear37013

QQ Pistol Grip Cap

50104

RR Pistol grip Cap Screw

50105

SS Ram

rod (Aluminum

)710030

TT Ram

rod Tip .50 Cal710028

UU Ram

rod Assembly

710011

WW

W

rench Handle400033

XX W

rench700029

ZZ Trigger Spring

71010


DE

SCR

IPT

ION

Break-O

pen Shotgun - AW

Com

posite P

RO

MO

DE

L

A Rear Stock (AW


FCS71001-2

B Fore Stock (AW


FCS71001-1

C Ram


D Ram


E Barrel Assem


.12 gauge perc. Matte Blued

FB730144

F Choke Tube

51022

G Intervening Ram

rod Thimble

510203

H Sling Sw

ivel Stud-Front Nut60122

I Sling Sw

ivel Stud-Front37122

J Intervening Barrel Tenon

730201

K Forend Stock Screw

710035

L Ram

rod (Aluminum

)720030

M

Ramrod Tip. 12 gauge

730028

N Ram

rod Assembly

760011

O Choke Tube W

rench51021

P Fram

e (Blued)71004

Q Fram

e Pivot Pin710024

R Tang Screw

71016

S Tang Screw

Washer

71019

T Buttpad

71026

U Buttpad M

ounting Screw (2)

20634

V Ham

mer

71002

W

Hamm

er Spring71018

X Tranfer Bar

71006

Y Ham

mer Handle

710004

Z Ham

mer Pin

710031

AA Firing Pin

71007

BB Firing Pin Spring

71011

CC Firing Pin Retaining Screw

710021

DD Trigger

71003

FF Barrel Catch

71005

GG Barrel Catch Spring

71017

HH Barrel Catch Pin

710023

II Trigger Guard

710027

JJ Trigger Guard Spring

71015

KK Ball

71000

LL Safety Pin

710029

MM

Safety

710032

NN Trigger Guard and Trigger Pin (3)

710025

OO Sling Sw

ivel Stud-Rear37013

PP Pistol Grip Cap

50104

QQ Pistol Grip Cap Screw

50105

RR Front Sight

73011

VV W

rench Handle400033

WW

W

rench700029

YY Trigger Spring

71010

DE

SCR

IPT

ION

Break-O

pen Rifle - A

W C

omposite

AL

LO

Y M

OD

EL

ARear Stock (AW

Composite)(Finished)

FCS71001-2 Z

Hamm

er Handle710004

BFore Stock (AW


FCS71001-1 AA

Hamm

er Pin710031

CRam


BB Firing Pin

71007

DRam


CC Firing Pin Spring

71011

EBarrel Assem

bly (Finished) (Length 26”) DD

Firing Pin Retaining Screw710021


FB710034DD EE

Trigger71003

F Plug Screw

(4)26029

GG Barrel Catch

71005

G Fiber Optic Rear Sight

50610-FO HH

Barrel Catch Spring71017

H Fiber Optic Front Sight

M50611-FO

II Barrel Catch Pin

710023

I Front Sight M

ounting Screw (2)

50620JJ

Trigger Guard710027

JBreech Plug (inox)

7000099KK

Trigger Guard Spring71015

KRam

rod Thimble

400032-P LL

Ball71000

LRam

rod Thimble Screw

(2)400031

MM

Safety Pin710029

MSling Sw

ivel Stud – Front nut60122

NN Safety

710032

N Sling Sw

ivel Stud – Front37122

OO Trigger Guard and Trigger Pin (3)

710025

O Barrel Tenon

700023PP

Sling Swivel Stud-Rear

37013

P Forend Stock Screw

710035QQ

Pistol Grip Cap50104

Q Fram

e (Alloy/Blued)74004

RR Pistol grip Cap Screw

50105

R Fram

e Pivot Pin710024

SS Ram

rod (Aluminum

)710030

S Tang Screw

71016TT

Ramrod Tip .50 Cal (Alum

inum740028

T Tang Screw

Washer

71019UU

Ramrod Assem

bly740011

U Buttpad

71026W

WW

rench Handle400033

V Buttpad M

ounting Screw (2)

20634XX

Wrench

700029

X Ham

mer Spring

71018ZZ

Trigger Spring71010


NO

TE

S

1

I. THE SPORT OF MUZZLELOADING

More and m

ore sportsmen have discovered the challenges and

enjoyment of m

uzzleloading in the past years. For both huntingand target shooting, m

uzzleloading guns have helped a modern

generation recapture and enjoy an important aspect of our

nation’s sporting past.

Traditions Muzzleloaders are firearm

s that represent the latest developm

ents in this unique part of the shooting sports.They are m

anufactured to modern standards for safe and

enjoyable shooting.

This booklet is intended as a basic guide for the properm

aintenance, loading and shooting of Traditions muzzleloaders,

and it offers important rules and precautions for safe handling

and shooting of this type of firearm. In addition to this booklet,

it is recomm

ended that the novice obtain further information

and instruction before firing a muzzleloader.

Sources for this help include:1.

National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association

2.National Rifle Association

3.Your tow

n clerk, local sporting goods dealer, state DEP or conservation departm

ent

4.Contact your local m

uzzleloader or hunting club.


2

II. GENERAL SAFETY RULES

WA

RN

ING

!This m

uzzleloader, 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

, as firearms, by their very

nature, are inherently dangerous. Handling your Traditions firearm

safelydepends on YOU!

Handled safely, yourfirearm

will give years of shooting enjoym

ent.Handle it carelessly, and YOU w

ill put yourselfand everyone around you in danger of serious

injury or death. Safety must be the first,

foremost and constant consideration of

everyone who handles a firearm

. When

handling a firearm, you cannot guess, you

cannot forget, you cannot allow yourself even

a mom

entary lapse of attention or goodjudgm

ent, or irreversible tragedy may result.

3

RULES OF FIREARMS SAFETY

1.Treat all firearm

s as if they were loaded, at all tim

es.M

any accidents occur with firearm

s that are handledcarelessly, because they are believed to be“unloaded”. These accidents can be avoided byhandling all firearm

s the same w

ay you would handle

a loaded firearm, at all tim

es. Even after you verifythat a gun is unloaded, you should continue handlingit as you w

ould a loaded gun, and make sure that

others around you do the same.

2.Point the m

uzzle in a safe direction at all times. A

“safe direction” is one in which, if the firearm

were to

discharge, there would be no injury to anyone. Never

point a gun (whether you think it is loaded or

unloaded - see Rule #1 above) directly at anotherperson or at yourself. Consider that a bullet canricochet (glance off) pavem

ent, floors, walls, rocks,

the ground, water, ice or alm

ost any other object itstrikes. Also, bullets can penetrate w

alls, ceilings,floors, doors, w

indows, and m

any other materials to

kill or injure someone on the opposite side.

3.Keep your finger off the trigger and outside thetrigger guard until you are aim

ed at a proper targetand have decided to fire. If your finger is inside thetrigger guard, you could fire your gun w

ithoutintending to - for instance, if you w

ere startled, or ifyou slipped or lost your balance. By keeping yourfinger outside the trigger guard until you are ontarget and intend to fire, you ensure that you w

illnever hit anything you do not intend to.


4

4. Be sure of your target, and w

hat is around andbeyond it. The bullet fired from

your rifle cantravel over one m

ile, and has the potential to killor seriously injure som

eone at that distance!Once you pull the trigger, you cannot call thebullet back, so you m

ust positively identify yourtarget before you fire. Never fire (for instance, at anoise, a m

ovement, a rustling bush, or a shape in

the dark) until you have positively identified yourtarget as som

ething you intend to shoot. Fire onlyw

ith a safe backstop behind your target -som

ething that will stop and contain the bullets

you fire, even if you miss the target or your bullet

passes through it.

5.W

henever you handle a firearm that, even

mom

entarily, has been out of your direct control,start by checking its condition to determ

inew

hether or not it is loaded. A firearm in your

hands is a lethal weapon w

hich is YOURresponsibility, so YOU m

ust check it yourself,NOW

, not later. Do not rely on someone else to

check it. Do not take someone else’s w

ord for the firearm

’s condition. Do not rely on yourm

emory of having checked the firearm

previously,or on your belief that you left it unloaded the lasttim

e you used or handled it. Check it againyourself now

.

6.Never give a firearm

to anyone, or take a firearmfrom

anyone, unless it is unloaded and the actionis open. If som

eone tries to hand you a firearmw

ith the action closed, politely ask them to open it

before you take it from them

. If you need to openthe action of a firearm

with w

hich you are not

5

familiar, don’t experim

ent, lest you make a fatal

mistake! Instead, ask som

eone who know

s howto handle the firearm

to open the action and allowyou to verify that it is unloaded. If you can’t findsom

eone who know

s how to handle the firearm

,leave it alone!

7.Firearm

s should be unloaded when not actually

in use. Load your firearm only w

hen you are onthe target range or in the field and ready to beginusing it. Unload your gun as soon as you arefinished shooting. Unload your gun before youbring it back into your car, cam

p or home.

Never leave a loaded gun unattended, even for a m

oment.

8. Thoroughly read and understand the ow

ner’sm

anual and other literature supplied with your

firearm. Never use any firearm

unless youcom

pletely understand how it operates and how

its safety features work. Contact Traditions if you

have any questions or concerns, or if you are notcertain you have all the literature supplied w

iththe firearm

at the time it w

as first sold. Even ifyou understand everything in this m

anual, nom

anual can provide you with the benefits of

hands-on firearms instruction. If you are not

already an experienced firearms user, you should

obtain training in the safe and proper use offirearm

s by attending one of the many firearm

ssafety and shooting courses offered in all parts ofthe country by the National Rifle Association(telephone 703-267-1000), gun clubs and ranges,gun shops, shooting schools and other qualifiedsources of instruction.5


6

9.Before firing any firearm

, be sure it is in goodw

orking order and that the barrel is clear of dirt,grease, w

ater, excess oil, rust, corrosion or anyother obstruction.

10.Alw

ays wear high-quality ear and eye protection

when shooting or observing, and be sure that

others who are present do the sam

e. Exposure togunfire noise w

ill cause permanent hearing loss

(deafness) if good ear protection (eithercom

mercially m

anufactured ear plugs, earmuff-

type hearing protectors, or both) is not worn.

Close-fitting, impact-resistant shooting glasses or

safety glasses of wraparound or side-panel design

help to guard against potentially blinding eyeinjuries caused by granules of pow

der, splashbackof fragm

ents from the target or backstop, m

etalfragm

ents which can result from

a burst primer,

etc. Never shoot a firearm, or allow

yourself orothers to be present w

here shooting is inprogress, w

ithout both eye and ear protection inplace. Eye protection can also provide im

portantprotection w

hile you are disassembling and

cleaning your firearms, both from

flying firearms

parts, and from aerosols and other solvents and

cleaning fluids that can spray or splash into youreyes, causing serious eye injury.

11.Firearm

s, drugs and alcohol don’t mix! Never

handle firearms w

hile under the influence ofalcohol or drugs (including prescriptionm

edications) that can impair your norm

al senses,abilities, alertness, reflexes, perception orjudgm

ent. Make sure everyone in your presence

follows the sam

e rule. Also, avoid handling

67

firearms w

hen you are ill, exhausted, upset orpreoccupied w

ith other concerns - safe firearms

handling requires your full attention, and all ofyour abilities, unim

paired by other factors.

12.Any firearm

which is not under your direct control

should be stored so it is inoperable orinaccessible to children and other unauthorizedusers. Children are attracted to, and can find, loadand operate firearm

s, causing serious injury ordeath to them

selves and others. Preventing childaccess and tragic, avoidable accidents is YOURresponsibility, as an adult gun ow

ner. The safestw

ay to store firearms is unloaded, locked in a gun

safe or vault.

7


8

SAFETY RULES AND PRECAUTIONS FOR FIRING AND USE OF YOUR

TRADITIONS FIREARM

WA

RN

ING

!Keep the safety engaged in the “Safe” position until you are aim

ed at a proper target and havedecided to fire. Failure to do so could cause seriousinjury or death.

WA

RN

ING

!Use the safety on this rifle, but don’t trust or rely on itas a substitute for safe gun handling practices. Thesafety is a m

echanical device which could fail. Or, by

mistake, you m

ay think the safety is on when it is not.

Or the safety may becom

e disengaged without your

knowledge. Or you could think your gun is unloaded

when it is loaded. Alw

ays follow the safe gun handling

rules and procedures in this manual, w

hether youthink the safety is on or off, and w

hether you think therifle is loaded or unloaded. Don’t pull the trigger w

henthe safety is engaged, or w

hen it is positioned partw

ay between Safe and Fire. Don’t use or rely on the

safety lever to try to “childproof’ your rifle or keep itsafe from

untrained persons - instead, your rifleshould be unloaded and securely locked up, out ofaccess of children and other unauthorized users.

89

WA

RN

ING

!Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the triggerguard until you are aim

ed at a proper target and havedecided to fire. Failure to do so could cause seriousinjury or death.

WA

RN

ING

! Keep hands, fingers and other body parts fromtouching the m

uzzle, barrel or chamber after firing, as

they could be burned by hot metal.

WA

RN

ING

!If dropped or struck, w

hether the safety is “on” or“off’, the rifle m

ay fire, causing serious injury or death.Keep the rifle unprim

ed (without a 209 prim

er in thebreech) unless actually firing! Keep the safety “on”unless actually firing! W

hen carrying or handling therifle, keep it pointed in a safe direction, and carry it insuch a w

ay that you can safely control the direction inw

hich the rifle points even if you should slip, stumble

or fall.

WA

RN

ING

!Children are attracted to, and can find, load andoperate firearm

s, causing serious injury or death tothem

selves and others. Prevent child access by always

keeping guns locked away and unloaded w

hen not inuse. If you leave a gun loaded or unloaded w

here achild obtains and im

properly uses it, you may be fined

or sent to prison or both.

Never transport or carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle

or otherwise. Alw

ays transport or carry your rifleunloaded, w

ith the safety engaged and the action

9


10

open. A suitable carrying case should be used totransport or carry your unloaded rifle to and from

therange or other safe shooting area. Check the law

s todeterm

ine and follow legal requirem

ents intransporting a firearm

in your jurisdiction. Close therifle’s action and load the rifle only w

hen you are at therange or other safe shooting area, ready to beginshooting.Never clim

b 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-prim

e your firearm first. W

hen carryingyour rifle in the field, keep the m

uzzle pointed in a safedirection and carry the rifle so you can safely controlthe direction in w

hich it points in the event youstum

ble, slip or fall.

Never shoot at a hard surface (rock, pavement, m

etal, ice,etc.) or at the surface of w

ater, as the bullet may ricochet

(glance off) the surface and travel in any direction,causing serious injury or death to som

eone you cannotsee. Shoot only w

here there is a safe backstop (one which

will safely stop and contain the fired bullets), free from

rocks, hard objects and obstructions that could causericochets or splash-back of bullets, fragm

ents, pebbles orrock particles. Check local and state law

s to be sureshooting is perm

itted at the place you intend to shoot.

When shooting, be alert to be sure no one com

es into the line of fire. Check the backstop and target areacarefully to be sure it is free of people each tim

e beforeyou begin to fire.

1011

When firing w

ith a group of people, put a responsibleperson in charge to m

aintain safety, discipline and controlto reduce the chance of accidents. On a firing range, bealert to the com

mands of the range officer, and follow

them precisely and im

mediately.

Do not handle a firearm w

hen anyone is forward of the

firing position. Before anyone moves dow

nrange to postor check targets or for any other purpose, all firearm

sshould be unloaded, w

ith safeties engaged and actionslocked open, and placed safely on the bench w

here theyshould not be touched or handled until everyone returnsfrom

downrange.

Do not handle firearms w

hen you are tired, cold orim

paired physically or mentally, in any w

ay.

Never fire your rifle near an animal, unless it is trained

to accept the noise of gunfire. An animal’s startled

reaction to the sound of gunfire could injure it or couldcause an accident.

Never continue to use your rifle if it is not functioningproperly. Never force a jam

med action, as the jam

med

cartridge may explode if the prim

er is crushed or pressedagainst any m

etal part of the rifle.

Use only appropriate accessories for your rifle. Be sure allaccessories, including slings, am

munition carriers, sights

and sight mounts, etc. are com

patible with the firearm

and do not interfere with its safe operation. If in doubt,

contact Traditions. Traditions is not responsible for anydam

age or injury caused by the use of improper

accessories, and mounting, attachm

ent or use ofim

proper accessories could void the warranty.

11


12

III. MUZZLELOADING ’M

USTS’FOR M

UZZLELOADING SUCCESSYou m

ust:1.

Read completely, fully understand and follow

all instructionsand w

arranty limitations in this booklet before attem

pting toshoot your new

Traditions break open muzzleloader.

2.Alw

ays treat any firearm as if it is loaded and keep the

muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

3.Alw

ays wear proper eye and ear protection w

hen loading orfiring any firearm

.

4.Don’t shoot until you are absolutely sure of your target andw

hat is beyond it. Do not point your firearms at anything

you do not intend to shoot. Be sure that all bystanders aresafely positioned behind you and that they are aw

are thatyou are about to shoot. All bystanders m

ust also wear eye

and hearing protection when in the vicinity of anyone using

a firearm.

5.Use only the proper grade of black pow

der or black powder

substitutes such as Pyrodex®

powder, Pyrodex

®Pellets or

Triple 7®

powder &

Triple 7®

pellets in properly measured

amounts. Be sure to reference the chart in this booklet for

recomm

ended loads. Reduce charges of Triple 7®

powder

by 15%. For exam

ple, if you were using 150 grains of

Pyrodex®

powder and began to use Triple 7

®pow

der, youw

ould only use 130 grains of Triple 7®. Alw

ays consult thedirections from

the powder m

anufacturer before handlingand loading any type of pow

der.

6.Never use any am

ount of smokeless gun pow

der in yourm

uzzleloader. Although also black in color, smokeless pow

deris a very different chem

ical composition and it w

ill producedangerous pressures resulting in serious injury or death toyourself, bystanders and it w

ill destroy your firearm.

7.Never sm

oke or permit others to sm

oke in the presence of black pow

der, Pyrodex®, Triple 7

®or any other black

powder substitute. Take care to guard against all potential

ignition sources.

1213

8. Never take drugs and/or drink alcoholic beverages beforeand during shooting.

9. Be certain that the pow

der, patches and projectiles areproperly sized and m

easured and are loaded in the proper sequence and that the projectile is firm

ly seated ontop of the propellant. See Section XI &

X for proper loading instructions.

10. Use only cotton or linen shooting patches w

hen loadinground lead balls. Do not use any type of plastic patches.

11. Never load pow

der into a gun directly from a can, pow

derhorn or flask. Alw

ays use a separate calibrated powder

measuring device. A rem

aining spark or ember in the barrel

may cause an ignition of the pow

der and cause injury ordeath to you, bystanders and destroy your firearm

.

12. A firearm

’s safety is a mechanical device w

hich can fail.Alw

ays be mindful of w

here the safety lever is set androutinely verify its setting. Never solely rely on any rifle’ssafety. Alw

ays treat every gun as if it were loaded and ready

to fire. Only cap or primer your m

uzzleloader when you are

ready to fire. Uncap or unprime your m

uzzleloader when

you are done shooting or hunting.

13. Alw

ays disable your muzzleloader by carefully rem

oving thepercussion cap, m

usket cap or 209 primer and unloading

the barrel when im

mediate shooting is not planned.

14. Never cap your firearm

until you are ready to fire. Neverinstall a percussion cap, m

usket cap or primer on the nipple

before the gun is loaded. When loaded, a bum

p orunintentional pressure could result in the discharge of thefirearm

s resulting in a serious accident.

15. Alw

ays store the powder, gun and percussion caps, m

usketcaps or prim

ers in separate locked places. Always keep all

firearms and am

munition com

ponents secured and separateaw

ay from children. Never store a loaded gun.

16. In the event of a m

isfire, assume the gun could fire at any

mom

ent. Keep gun pointed down range w

ith the actionclosed. W

ait at least one minute before recapping,

repriming or rem

oving the load from the barrel.

13

PURSUIT Manual.qxd 6/3/04 4:09 PM

14

17. Never load a m

uzzleloading firearm indoors. Only load your

firearm in a location w

here it is safe to shoot.

18. Be certain that anyone firing this m

uzzleloader understandsand is w

illing to follow the instructions and precautions in

this manual and the fundam

entals of safe firearm handling.

19. Alw

ays make certain that the safety is in the “on” position

and the hamm

er is in the “at rest” position when installing

the primer.

20. A great w

ay to understand more about all types of firearm

sis to take a Hunter’s Safety course.

Take time now

to acquaint yourself with

your new Traditions M

uzzleloader. If you have any questions

regarding your muzzleloader

after reviewing this inform

ation, please contact the

Traditions Customer Service Departm

ent for assistance at 1-800-526-9556.

1415

IV. LIMITED LIFETIM

EM

ECHANICALW

ARRANTY

Traditionswill warrant this m

uzzleloading firearm (or parts in a kit to

be built) to be free of mechanical defects in m

aterials or craftmanship for the

life of the firearm, while in the possession of the original owner except

wooden stocks. Traditionswill repair or replace, at its own option, product or

parts which are returned at owner’s expense to the TraditionsCustom

er ServiceDepartm

ent. A full explanation of the specific problem m

ust accompany the

returned item. Call 1-800-526-9556 to obtain a factory issued Return M

erchandiseAuthorization num

ber.

Firearms packaged and shipped im

properly are not covered under warranty if dam

age occurs.This warranty shall rem

ain in force unless any of the following are determined by

the TraditionsCustom

er Service Department:

1. Use of any propellant other than black powder, Pyrodex®or Triple 7

®.

2. Use of any powder charge in excess of those recomm

ended in this booklet.

3. Use of any plastic patching material with round balls.

4. Modification of internal parts as they were shipped from

the factory.

5. A lack of proper maintenance and thorough cleaning is evident such as rust.

6. Customer abuse.

Shipping Address:Traditions Perform

ance Firearms

1375 Boston Post Rd. • P.O. Box 776Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776Tel. 800-526-9556Fax. 860-388-4657W

ebsite: www.traditionsfirearms.com

E-mail: info@

traditionsfirearms.com

Business hours: M-Th. 7:30-4:30 EST

Fri.-7:30-12:30 EST

If you are unsure how to package your firearm for return, ask your service

representative when obtaining your RMA#

15


16

V. MAKE SURE THAT THE M

UZZLELOADER IS UNLOADED BEFORE PROCEEDING.

To check if the muzzleloader is unloaded, rem

ove the ramrod,

unscrew the jag and re-attach at the opposite end of the jag. Place the

ramrod dow

n the barrel. The ramrod should sit 3/4" below

them

uzzle. You should also be able to hear a metallic sound of the brass

jag hitting the face of the breech plug. If your ramrod extends

beyond the muzzle or you do not hear a m

etallic sound you will need

to disassemble the m

uzzleloader and remove the obstruction before

proceeding. Refer to the Section VII & VIII.

BEFORE YOU USE YOUR MUZZLELOADER,

CLEAN & LUBRICATE IT!

These are brief instructions on what to do before you use your

muzzleloader for the first tim

e. Please review the Disassem

blyinstructions inside for the com

plete set of instructions. When you first

remove the new

muzzleloader from

the box there will be som

em

anufacturing oils and grease for shipping purposes. These residuesneed to be rem

oved so that the muzzleloader w

ill function properly.

WA

RN

ING

:M

ake sure the firearm is unloaded w

ith the safety in the “on” position.Refer to Section VI for safety operation. 1.

Remove ram

rod from the thim

bles.

2. W

ith action closed, unscrew the forend

and remove.

3. Rem

ove the barrel from the receiver by

pushing the action release button in.W

hen the barrel starts to open lift thebarrel out of the receiver. Unscrew

andrem

ove breech plug by using the breechplug w

rench supplied with the

muzzleloader and clean all item

s with

hot, soapy water or m

uzzleloader boresolvent. This w

ill remove any

manufacturing residue that m

ay be onthe inside or outside of the barrel.

4. Dry all of the parts com

pletely.

1617

5. Apply a light coat of Traditions EZ Clean

™solvent to a dry

patch (or use Traditions pre-soaked patches) and run up &dow

n the bore, then use Traditions Wonderlube pre-lubed

patches to “season” the lands & grooves of the rifling

before loading. This will allow

for easier loading andcleaning throughout your shooting sessions.

6. Generously lubricate the threads of thebreech plug w

ith Traditions Breech plug grease.

7. Now

reassemble your firearm

.

VI. SAFETIES INCLUED WITH YOUR M

UZZLELOADERThe Traditions Break Open m

uzzleloader uses two (2) types of

safety mechanism

s.

The first one is a hamm

er block which is built into the sear of the

trigger. This blocking system prevents the ham

mer from

traveling forward and m

aking contact with the firing pin, unless

the trigger has been pulled and held fully rearward.

The second block is a mechanical safety in the

trigger that blocks the trigger from being

pulled back and allowing the sear to becom

edisengaged. The ham

mer can only be

cocked when the trigger safety is in the

“Fire” position.

WA

RN

ING

:Check and inspect both safeties for proper function before eachuse and after each cleaning. If the ham

mer does not return to

the “at rest” position, the gun must be returned to the factory for

inspection and repair. Failure to follow this rule can result in an

accidental discharge which m

ay cause injury and/or death to theshooter or bystanders and dam

age to property.

17

Sh

ow

n in

the

“FIR

E”

po

sition


18

CA

UTIO

N:

With the safety set in the “Fire”

(F) position and with the

hamm

er pulled back to the fully cocked position, the gun isnow

ready to fire. Never rely totally on the firearm

sm

echanical “safety”device. The w

ord “Safety”describes a

firearms trigger block m

echanism. This m

echanical device is designed to place your firearm

in a safer status. N

o Guarantee can be m

ade that the firearm absolutely w

illnot fire even if the safety is set on the “Safe”

(S) position.Like any m

echanical device, a “Safety”can som

etimes fail.

It can be jarred or inadvertently manipulated into an unsafe

condition. Never test the safety w

hile your firearm is loaded

or at any time w

hile it is pointed in an unsafe direction.

A Note About Maintenance Procedures:

Proper maintenance and cleaning of your new

muzzleloader w

illrequire you to rem

ove the barrel from the receiver. You m

ustclean the m

uzzleloader each time it is used. Please see the

Disassembly and Cleaning sections for m

ore information. Take

time before such cleaning to study the Disassem

bly/Assembly

procedures and the accompanying photographs to thoroughly

acquaint yourself with your rifle’s subassem

blies.

VII. DISASSEMBLY:

Before proceeding with disassem

bly andm

aintenance of your rifle, make certain the

gun is unloaded and that the cap or primer

has been removed.

1. Rem

ove the ramrod and m

ake sure thegun is unloaded. See Section V.

2. W

ith gun closed, unscrew forend

and remove.

3. Open the action and lift barrel from

the receiver.

4. To re-assem

ble, pull action releasebutton and low

er the barrel back into the receiver.

181919

WA

RN

ING

:DO NOT ATTEM

PT TO DISSASSEMBLE THE RECEIVER. THIS

INCLUDES ANY PINS HOLDING THE RECEIVER TOGETHER.CLEAN AS A COM

PLETE UNIT. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO

DISSASEMBLE ANY PART OF THE RECEIVER IT W

ILLAUTOM

ATICALLY VOID ANY WARRANTY ON THIS FIREARM

AND CAN MAKE THE FIREARM

UNSAFE FOR USE AND MAY

CAUSE MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH.

VIII. IGNITION & BREECH PLUGS

Your muzzleloader is equipped to use a standard 209 shotgun

primer for the ignition. The 209 prim

er area is built directly intothe breech plug. M

ake sure that you remove the 209 breech

plug and clean the threads of both the breechplug and inside of the barrel before everfiring your m

uzzleloader. You must lubricate

the thread of the breech plug with Traditions

breech plug grease before you install it backinto the barrel. This w

ill help prevent thebreech plug from

getting stuck inside thebarrel after shooting.

Note:Breech plugs w

ill wear out over tim

e and should bereplaced periodically. W

e recomm

end that you purchase atleast one extra breech plug for em

ergencies in the field or atthe range. W

e recomm

end that you replace your breech plugsafter every year and nipples after every hunting season.

Removal of the Breech Plug:

1. Open the action and position the large end of the breechplug w

rench over the breech plug, taking care to fully seatthe w

rench over the breech plug.

2. Insert the rod handle into the hole in the w

rench.

3. Turn the w

rench counter-clockwise,

unscrew the breech plug and rem

ovefrom

barrel. It may require som

e extraforce to free up the breech plug after shooting.


2020

TIPS FOR STUCK BREECH PLUGS:

IMP

OR

TA

NT:

Always m

ake sure to lubricate the breech plug threads liberally w

ith Traditions breech plug grease before using your m

uzzleloader.

a. W

ith the breech plug wrench fitted over the breech plug,

actually try to tighten the plug and then rock it back and forthto loosen up the fouling.

b. Rem

ove the barrel from the receiver. Pour som

e hot water into

the barrel and let it soak for about 1/2 hour. Secure the barrel ina padded vise. Position the w

rench onto the breech plug andrem

ove. Be careful not to scald yourself with the hot w

ater.

c. If you still cannot rem

ove plug, contact Traditions Customer

Service Department.

Installation of the Breech Plug:

1. Spray the breech plug inside and out w

ith Traditions EasyClean

™solvent or use the EZ Clean

™bath system

to loosen theresidue and fouling on the plug. Use a stiff brush to clean theoutside threads and inner area of the breech plug. A pipecleaner can be used to get the sm

aller areas clean and dry.

2. W

ipe with a clean cotton cloth. Repeat until all residue is off.

3. Liberally apply Traditions breech pluggrease onto the threads of the breech plug.

4. Place the breech plug in the barrel.

5. Slide the w

rench onto the plug and screwit in clockw

ise.

6. Snugly tighten the breech plug into the breech area. Do not over-tighten.

21

IX. PREPARING TO LOAD & LOADING

MUZZLELOADING SHOTGUN

For reasons of safety and proper performance, these loading

instructions for your Traditions muzzleloader m

ust be followed

closely. While som

e of the procedures may seem

cumbersom

e,w

ith practice they will soon becom

e second nature and will m

akefor safe, dependable and accurate shooting. (It is very helpful tohave an experienced black pow

der shooter with you the first few

times you load and shoot your m

uzzleloader.) If, after readingthese instructions you still have questions concerning the safeuse of your m

uzzleloader, contact Traditions Customer Service

Department. 1-800-526-9556

If you have a Break-open muzzleloader w

ith a 12 gauge shotgunbarrel you need to follow

the instructions below. Som

e of theinstructions for loading w

ill be different than that of them

uzzleloading rifles. A choke tube is also used in the barrel ofthe shotguns that are not used on the rifles. Read and follow

allof the directions and cautions in this m

anual.

PROPELLANT RECOMM

ENDATIONS FOR

12 gauge black powder shotguns:

2f/ffg (course granulation) black powder, Pyrodex

®RS,

Pyrodex®

Select or Triple 7®

is recomm

ended for use in Traditions m

uzzleloading shotguns. Pyrodex®

or Triple 7®

pelletsare not recom

mended.

WAD SELECTION:

Two w

ads are needed to load and fire your shotgun.1.

The over powder w

ad is a cushion wad or W

onder Wad

®

measuring approxim

ately a 1/2" is placed over the powder

to cushion the shot.

2. An over shot w

ad is approximately .030" card w

ad. It isplaced on top of the shot charge, to prevent the shot fromrolling out of the barrel.


22

Or1. An alternative to the W

onder Wads

®is a m

oderncom

mercial one-piece plastic w

ad/shot cup, such as theW

inchester®

AA shot cup. Traditions highly recomm

endsthis approach for faster, easier loading and betterpatterning.

SHOT SELECTION:

Use LEAD SHOT ONLY in your muzzleloading shotgun! Firing

steel shot will dam

age the shotgun and void your warranty.

Traditions recomm

ends using #4, #5 or #6 lead shot.Copperplated lead shot m

ay be used.

RECOMM

ENDED LOADS:

When using Hodgdon’s

®Triple 7

®loose pow

der, reduce all loadsby 15%

.

If you would like to use a LIGHT field load,

use this measurem

ent-Shot- 1 oz.Pow

der- 1 oz. of 2F or Pyrodex®

loose powder - If you are using

Triple 7®

loose powder the m

easurement w

ill need to be reducedby 15%

.

If you would like to use a STANDARD field load,

use this measurem

ent -Shot- 1 1/8 oz. Pow

der- 1 1/8 oz. of 2F or Pyrodex®

loose powder - If you are

using Triple 7®

loose powder the m

easurement w

ill need to bereduced by 15%

.

If you would like to use a HEAVY load,

use this measurem

ent -Shot- 1 1/4 oz. Pow

der - 1 1/4 oz. of 2F or Pyrodex®

loose powder - If you are

using Triple 7®

loose powder the m

easurement w

ill need to bereduced by 15%

.

23

These loads use the volume-for-volum

e loading method. The

one exception Traditions recomm

ends to this rule is the follow

ing load:

WA

RN

ING

: M

aximum

powder charge, not to be exceeded, is 1 1/4 oz.

measured w

ith a VOLUMETRIC shotgun pow

der measure. If

using a granular powder m

easure, maxim

um charge is 110

grains of Pyrodex®

or ffg or 93 grains of Triple 7®

loosepow

der. Traditions recomm

ends using a volumetric pow

derm

easure specifically designed for muzzleloader shotguns.

These loads use the volume-for-volum

e loading method. The one

exception Traditions recomm

ends to this rule is the following

turkey load:

TURKEY LOAD

Shot - 1 1/4 oz. #4, #5 or #6 Pow

der- 1 oz. of 2F or Pyrodex®

loose powder - If you are using

Triple 7®

loose powder the m

easurement w

ill need to be reducedby 15%

.

SCREW-IN CHOKE TUBES:

Your muzzleloading shotgun is equipped w

ith a screw-in choke

tube to control the spread of the shot coming out of the barrel.

The threads of the choke tube will interchange w

ith chokesdesigned for m

odern Winchester(tm

) 1300 and Mossberg(tm

)500 shotguns.This is so you can purchase an after-m

arket extrafull turkey choke tube. To care for the choke tube, please followthese sim

ple steps:1.

Ensure the shotgun is not loaded or capped or primed.

2. Using the provided choke tube w

rench, carefully unscrew the

choke tube counter-clockwise and rem

ove from the barrel.

3. Using a cleaning brush, com

pletely clean the threads of thechoke tube, the barrel threads and the inside of the choke. Itis very im

portant to clean all powder fouling from

thethreads for easy re-insertion.

23


24

4. Lubricate the threads of the choke tube w

ith Traditionsbreech plug/choke tube grease. Do not use a thin gun oil, asit w

ill provide insufficient lubricity. Lubricate the inside andoutside of the choke tube to keep choke from

rusting.Alw

ays lubricate after cleaning.

5. Replace the choke tube into the barrel by screw

ingclockw

ise until completely seated. Do not force or over-

tighten the choke tube.

WA

RN

ING

: DO NOT FIRE THE SHOTGUN W

ITHOUT A CHOKE TUBE INPLACE. DOING SO W

ILL DAMAGE THE BARREL THREADS.

LOADING your Muzzleloading Shotgun:

1. M

ake sure you wear eye and ear protection w

hen loading.

2. If you are using a choke tighter than m

odified, remove the

choke tube before loading. When loading w

ith a full orextra-full choke installed w

ill damage the w

ads when

loading into the barrel.

3. Fill a pow

der flask with the appropriate pow

der. Then,using a volum

etric shotgun powder m

easure, fill them

easure to the desired powder charge w

ith 2F (ffg) blackpow

der, Pyrodex®, or Triple 7

®loose pow

der (reducingcharges of Triple 7

®by 15%

). Do not exceed therecom

mended charges printed in this m

anual.

WA

RN

ING

: Never load pow

der into a gun directly from a can, pow

der horn orflask. Alw

ays use a separate calibrated powder m

easuring device.A rem

aining spark or ember in the barrel m

ay cause an ignitionof the pow

der and cause injury or death to you, bystanders anddestroy the firearm

.4.

Pour the powder from

the powder m

easureinto the m

uzzle.

5. Insert the one-pieceplastic w

ad orW

onder Wad dow

n the muzzle.

2425

6. Using the ram

rod, push the over powder w

ad down the

barrel until it is seated firmly atop the pow

der charge.

7. Using the sam

e powder m

easure, with the sam

e settingused for the pow

der charge, measure the shot charge.

Use lead shot only.

8. Pour the shot charge into the barrel.

9. Select a .030" over shot w

ad and place it into the muzzle.

Using the ramrod, firm

ly seat the over shot wad atop the

shot charge. Do not pound on, or use excessive force on,the ram

rod.

CA

UTIO

N:

YOUR SHOTGUN IS NOW LOADED. NEVER PRIM

E YOURM

UZZLELOADER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.

10. Using care not to let any part of your body cover the m

uzzlere-install the choke tube, if it w

as removed prior to loading.

11. Prim

e your muzzleloader only w

hen you are sure of yourtarget and ready to fire.

X. PREPARING TO LOAD AND LOADING A M

UZZLELOADING RIFLE:

DA

NG

ER

: The use of SM

OKELESS POWDER in any

TRADITIONS muzzleloaders w

ill result in excessively highpressures and w

ill destroy the rifle and cause injury or death to the shooter and bystanders.

25

POWDER

OVER POWDER

SHOTOVERSHOT

WAD

WAD


26

If you have any questions regarding powder velocities and

pressures please contact the manufacturer of the propellant.

1. Black pow

der, Pyrodex®, Pyrodex

®pellets or Triple 7

®

powder &

pellets are the only safe propellants to use in thism

uzzleloading rifle. Maxim

um charges of Triple 7

®should

be reduced by 15%. This m

eans that the maxim

um am

ountof Triple 7

®pow

der that can be used is 130 grains.

2. The term

“black powder” does not refer to any pow

derblack in color, since m

odern smokeless pow

ders are alsoblack in color.

3. Be certain that the propellant you select is comm

erciallym

anufactured black powder, Pyrodex

®or Triple 7

®are for use

in muzzleloaders.

CA

UTIO

N:

NEVER SMOKE W

HILE LOADING, SHOOTING OR HANDLING PROPELLANTS. ALW

AYS FOLLOW

THE MANUFACTURER’S SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

AS LISTED ON THE PROPELLANT CONTAINER.

PREPARING TO LOAD THE PROPELLANT:1.

Wear eye protection.

2. M

ake certain the gun is unloaded.

a.Push safety button to “safe”.

b.Insert the ram

rod into the barrel. When it is touching

the top of the breech plug itshould sit approximately

3/4" below the m

uzzle.

Note: You should hear a metallic sound as the brass jag m

akescontact w

ith the breech plug.

If the ramrod is not 3/4" below

the muzzle and you do not hear

the metallic sound then the barrel m

ay be either obstructed orloaded. To rem

ove the obstruction, remove the breech plug. Do

not attempt to clear the barrel by firing. Before loading anything

into the barrel, clean all oil and grease from inside the barrel. W

erecom

mend using Traditions cleaning products to enhance your

accuracy and ease shooting & cleaning.

2627

To clear the ignition channel follow these steps.

Point the rifle down tow

ards a safe area on the ground and load aprim

er into nipple area of the breech plug. Fire one or two

primers to blow

out any oil or residue from the fire channel.

Point the muzzle at a leaf or blade of grass to see if it m

oves. If itm

oves, you have a clear channel. If not, fire additional primers or

check the breech plug for obstructions.

Another way to see if you have a clear fire

channel is to screw a loading/cleaning jag on

your ramrod and place a dry patch on the

muzzle of your rifle. Push the patch dow

n tothe breech plug face and leave ram

rod & patch

in bore. Point rifle in a safe direction, placeprim

er in nipple area of the breech plug andfire tw

o primers. Rem

ove ramrod from

the bore and inspectpatch. Patch should have a com

plete circular burn in middle. This

tells you that you have a clear fire channel.

Stand the butt of the rifle on the ground so that the muzzle is

pointed up and away from

you and others. Never work w

ith yourface or any part of your body over the m

uzzle, even when the gun

is unloaded.

Be sure that the firearm is unprim

ed and the safeties areengaged. Your rifle is now

ready to be loaded.

LOADING THE POWDER FOR M

UZZLELOADING RIFLES:

Use only Black Powder, Pyrodex

®loose or pelletized pow

der orTriple 7

®loose or pelletized pow

der. Followthe Pow

der Manufacturer’s Instructions w

henhandling any type of pow

der. Make sure to

reduce your charge by 15% w

hen using Triple7

®loose pow

der.

When loading loose pow

der:a.

Fill your Traditions flask with pow

der.

b. Adjust your Traditions pow

der measure to the

desired charge. See Section XVI.

c. Pour pow

der from your Traditions flask into the

desired powder charge. Pour pow

der from the

powder m

easure down the barrel.


28

WA

RN

ING

: Never load pow

der into a gun directly from a

can, powder horn or flask. Alw

ays use aseparate calibrated pow

der measuring

device. A remaining spark or em

ber in thebarrel m

ay cause injury or death to you,bystanders and destroy the firearm

.d.

Tap the side of the barrel to settle the powder into the

breech area.

When loading pelletized pow

der (Pellets):a.

Drop the desired amount of pellets into

the barrel with the igniter side dow

n.Using a pipe cleaner to handle the pelletsm

akes it easier to load and keeps oil from your hands off

the pellet.

IMP

OR

TA

NT:

Do not break or crush the pellets when loading or

seating the projectile on top of the pellets. This could cause inconsistent groups.

LOADING THE PROJECTILE:

Note: Your muzzleloader is equipped w

ith the ProjectileAlignm

ent System (PAS), w

hich helps ensure correct placement

of the bullet in the muzzle.

Saboted Bullets: The plastic material used in

our Traditions sabots is self-lubricating,therefore you need not pre-lube your bullets orsabots.1.

Insert the base of the bullet into thesabot, m

aking certain the bullet is firmly

& fully seated against the bottom

of the sabot.

2. Place the assem

bled projectile into the m

uzzle.

3. Start the projectile w

ith your thumb.

29

4. Using a ball starter, place the short shafton top of the bullet and push it dow

nward

until the starter hits the top of the muzzle.

5. Push the projectile deeper into the boreusing the longer shaft of the ball starteruntil it hits the m

uzzle.

6.W

ith the loading jag on yourram

rod, position the ramrod on top

of the bullet inside the bore. Holdingthe ram

rod no further than 6" overthe bore apply firm

pressuredow

nward until the bullet is on top

of the powder. (Holding the ram

rodany higher w

ill increase yourchances of breaking your ram

rod.)

Note: If you are using pelletized powder no not crush them

w

hen loading the bullet. Testing has shown that crushed

or broken pellets will cause bullet-grouping problem

s.

7. After the bullet is seated fullyagainst the pow

der charge, mark the

ramrod at the m

uzzle. This will

show you that each projectile is

seated at the same depth each tim

e.If you change the desired pow

dercharge or projectile, you w

ill need tochange the m

ark and make a new

one for the new charge.

8. M

ake sure you remove the ram

rod out of the barrel beforeprim

ing and shooting the muzzleloader.

IMP

OR

TA

NT:

ALWAYS SEAT THE BULLET FIRM

LY ON TOP OF THE POWDER

CHARGE. FAILURE TO DO THIS MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR

DEATH TO YOU &/OR BYSTANDERS.


30

Note: When using conical bullets or patched round ball,

it is recomm

ended to use loose powder only.

CONICAL BULLETS:

1.Lubricate the projectile w

ith Wonderlube 1000 Plus.

2.Place the projectile into the barrel, using the ball starter andram

rod. Follow the sam

e procedures as shown w

ith thesaboted bullet loading.

Note: Patches are not to be used with conical bullets,

these bullets are made to full bore size.

It is critical that the conical bullet is the correct size to your bore.It m

ust fit fairly tight and require moderate pressure to seat on

top of the powder. A loose fit could cause the projectile to

separate from the pow

der, particularly if the gun is subjected tojarring or sharp m

ovement before ignition.

XI. PRIMING YOUR M

UZZLELOADER

WA

RN

ING

:

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 prim

er, the same prim

er used ina shotgun shell. The 209 prim

er has three main benefits over the

#11 cap and the musket cap. First, the 209 prim

er is water-

resistant which keeps w

ater and moisture out for a sure-fire

ignition when conditions are dam

p or rainy. Second, the 209prim

er is larger than the caps and can be handled easier with

gloves when in hunting situations. Thirdly, they are 10 tim

eshotter than a #11 percussion cap w

hich gives a more reliable

ignition. Your new break-open rifle uses a 209 prim

er.

31

When capping your m

uzzleloader please follow these

instructions: Only cap or prime your m

uzzleloader after you haveloaded the rifle and you are ready to shoot.

1. M

ake sure that the manual safety

on your muzzleloader is in the

“safe” position.

2. Point the m

uzzleloader in a safe direction.

3. Keeping the m

uzzle pointed in a safedirection, open the action to expose thebreech area. Using a 209 capper or yourfingers, press the prim

er into the nippleopening in the breech plug. Close thegun. M

ake sure that the action iscom

pletely closed. When you are

ready to fire the muzzleloader, place

the safety in the “fire” position and cock the ham

mer.

4. Your m

uzzleloader is now ready to fire.

XII. DECAPPING YOUR MUZZLELOADER

AFTER FIRING:1. Press action release button and open barrel to expose prim

er.

2. Using a de-priming tool or finger, rem

ove the spent primer.

IF YOUR MUZZLELOADER FAILS TO FIRE:

Anyone involved with m

uzzleloading firearms m

ay experience ahangfire or m

isfire. The following are a few

simple procedures

that will help you to effectively m

anage such occurrences.


32

XIII. HANGFIRES & M

ISFIRESHangfire

A hangfire is a delayed ignition. The primer fires w

hen thetrigger is pulled and the m

ain charge fires a brief mom

ent later.There are m

any reasons that hangfires occur. If you areexperiencing hangfires, there are possible causes that you needto evaluate. Verify the follow

ing:

1. Verify that the prim

er is the correct size and properly fittedonto the nipple.

2. Inspect that the ignition channel is clear of obstructions.

3. Verify that the proper propellant is being used and that it isthe proper granulation and is free from

moisture,

contamination and oils.

4. Check the condition of the prim

ers and propellant powder.

For hunting situations, it is a wise practice to use fresh

primers and pow

der. Use a fresh load for each day’s hunting.

Misfire

A misfire is a failure of either the prim

er or the main charge to

ignite. This could be a very hazardous situation. Extreme caution

should be exercised when dealing w

ith a misfire.

Rarely is a misfire the fault of the rifle. Generally, it can be

attributed to a problem w

ith the propellant or primer.

Should your gun fail to fire for any reason, keep the muzzle

pointed at your down-range target for at least one m

inute with

the action closed. By doing so, you make sure you are prepared

for the chance of a delayed ignition.

If the percussion cap/primer did not fire:

1. Check to m

ake certain that a primer w

as installed and is stillsecurely positioned on nipple.

2. Verify that the striker face is free of debris.

3. Try a new

primer.

33

If the primer fires but the m

ain charge does not:

1. Rem

ove the primer w

hile keeping the barrel pointed in asafe direction. Using a cleaning pick, verify that the hole inthe breech plug is clear of any obstruction.

2. Tap the butt pad of the rifle w

ith your hand to direct thepow

der into the ignition channel. If you are using pelletsthis process w

ill not help.

3. Verify that propellant w

as loaded under your projectile byrunning the ram

rod down the m

uzzle and observing them

easure marks on your ram

rod. Use extreme caution to

always keep the m

uzzle pointed in a safe direction.

4. Check for any m

echanical defects in the breech area. Ifyour gun has repeatedly failed to fire, you w

ill need tounload the rifle. See Section XIV. At this point a beginningshooter should seek assistance from

an experiencedshooter. Never leave an unfired charge in the barrel.

5. After verifying the above directions reprim

e them

uzzleloader and fire.

XIV. REMOVING THE PROJECTILE AND THE CHARGE:

Method 1

1. M

ake sure the muzzle of the barrel is pointed in a safe

direction at all times.

2. Open the action and carefully rem

ove the primer from

thebreech plug.

3. Using the Breech Plug/Nipple w

rench, supplied with the

rifle, remove the breech plug from

the rear of the barrel.

4. Insert a ram

rod into the muzzle and push the load out of the

rear of the barrel.

5. Clean and w

ipe all surfaces of loose fouling and debris.


34

NOTE:It is also possible to drive the projectile

out of the muzzle after the pow

der has been removed.

However, an extra long bench rod or a standard ram

rod w

ith an extension will be needed to accom

modate

the added length of the receiver.

Method 2

1. Open the gun and carefully rem

ove the primer from

the breech.

2. Using a range/bench ram

rod, with a ball puller screw

in oneend, insert the screw

end into the muzzle until the screw

makes contact w

ith the projectile.

3. Apply pressure to the end of the ram

rod while at the sam

etim

e turning it, allowing the ball puller screw

to bite into the projectile.

4. Continue turning the ram

rod until you can determine that

the ball puller screw is w

ell anchored into the projectile.

5. Firm

ly grasp the exposed end of the ramrod w

ith projectileattached, pull it through the barrel and out of the m

uzzle.One continuous non-stop pull is generally best.

NOTE:W

hen extracting saboted bullets the first few inches

of the pull will separate the projectile from

the plastic sabot. At this point the bullet w

ill be free from the sabot and

will com

e out easily. It will then be necessary to reinsert

the ball puller screw back dow

n the barrel and screw it

into the plastic sabot and also pull it out.

6. Rem

ove powder, if any.

7. Clean and dry the bore of the barrel m

aking sure the breecharea is dry before reloading fresh pow

der.

35

XV. SIGHTING IN AND SCOPE MOUNTING

SIGHTING IN:

Start your sighting in at approximately 25 yards w

ith a largetarget. You w

ant to achieve a grouping of shots no matter w

hereon the target first. After you are able to shoot at least 3 shots inthe sam

e 2" area, then adjust your sight to the center bull’s-eye.

To adjust: Move the rear sight in the direction you w

ant the bulletto go.Note: Traditions recom

mends w

hile sighting in yourm

uzzleloader that you clean the bore between each

of your shots. By doing this you are starting out with a fresh,

seasoned bore that will help prevent som

e shooting errors such as pow

der build up that could cause poor inaccuracy.Different projectiles and recom

mended pow

der charges can vary in accuracy, so m

ake sure to sight in using the sam

e projectiles and powder charges first and then

change if needed. Make sure to use the recom

mended charges.

SCOPE MOUNTING:

Most Traditions In-Line &

Break Open muzzleloaders are drilled

and tapped for mounting a scope. To sight in your scope, please

follow the scope m

anufacturer’s directions.

XVI. RECOMM

ENDED RIFLE LOADS:

Traditions recomm

ends that you begin your shooting with a

charge between 80 grains of Black pow

der or Pyrodex®

loose orpelletized pow

der (use 56 grains of Triple 7®

loose powder) to

lessen the recoil & let yourself get acquainted w

ith yourm

uzzleloader. The bullet that you need is dependent upon thegam

e you are hunting. Traditions recomm

ends using a powder

charge of 80-150 grains depending on what you are hunting or

shooting with your m

uzzleloader.


36

The maxim

um pow

der load for the break-open muzzleloaders

when using Pyrodex

®pow

der is 150 grains.

The maxim

um pow

der load for the break-open muzzleloaders

when using Triple 7

®loose pow

der is 130 grains.

RECOMM

ENDED POWDER AND PROJECTILES

Every muzzleloader shoots differently. Finding the best load for

your muzzleloader requires som

e experimenting w

ith differentpow

der and projectile combinations. Use the guide below

tostart, if you find that som

e other load works better in your gun,

use it as long as it is within the recom

mended lim

its.

.45 Caliber T-Shock Bullets100 grains of Triple 7

®pellets

VelocityEnergy

180 grain bullet@

Muzzle

20621699

100 grains of Triple 7®

pelletsVelocity

Energy200 grain bullet

@ M

uzzle1592

1125


®pellets

V elocityEnergy

250 grain bullet@

Muzzle

18711943


pelletsV elocity


@ M

uzzle1764

1900


pelletsVelocity


@ M

uzzle1698

1921


®pellets

VelocityEnergy

300 grain bullet@

Muzzle

17992156

37

Traditions offers a wide variety of m

uzzleloading projectiles andsabots. Experim

entation, within the recom

mended loading data,

with different grain w

eight bullets and powder charges w

ill allowyou to m

aximize your accuracy w

ith your muzzleloader. W

e offerless expensive projectiles to start out w

ith so that you can get thefeel of your m

uzzleloader first and then purchase the betterperform

ing bullets.

XVII. CLEANING & M

AINTENANCE:

A systematic routine of cleaning w

hile shooting is stronglyadvised to aid in avoiding problem

s while loading and to optim

izeaccuracy.

1. W

hen cleaning the bore, use Traditions EZ Clean™

cleaningpatches rather than shooting patches. Shooting patches aretoo sm

all for cleaning and can be lost in the bore.

2. If a patch becom

es lost in the bore, use Traditions PatchPuller W

orm attached to a ram

rod for retrieval, or ifnecessary, rem

ove the breech plug and push the patch outthrough the breech area. Never load a charge over a lostpatch.

3. If unusual resistance is felt w

hile loading a projectile, placea EZ Clean

™cleaning patch on a cleaning jag affixed to the

end of a ramrod and run it the full length of the barrel

several times w

ith your objective being to remove as m

uchof the fouling build up as possible.


38

NOTE:It should never be necessary to hamm

er or excessivelyforce a projectile dow

n the bore. Projectiles should loadfirm

ly against the powder charge w

ith a series of short strokes.If the projectile is the proper size, unusual resistance usually

indicates the need to swab the bore w

ith a treated cleaning patch.Use EZ Clean

™solvent if barrel is heavily fouled. An occasional

cleaning of the bore with a brass Traditions Bore Brush is

advisable to remove excessive plastic and fouling build-up.

4. W

hen target shooting or sighting in, develop a habit ofconsistently w

iping the bore with Traditions W

onder Lube1000 patches after each shot. Depending upon the specificload, tem

perature, and humidity, a short series of shots w

ithblack pow

der, Pyrodex®

or Triple 7®

can be fired before itbecom

es necessary to wipe the bore w

ith Traditions EZClean

™patches or in order to rem

ove fouling build-up.

If for any reason the projectile will not go all the w

ay down to the

powder charge, it w

ill be necessary to extract the projectile fromthe barrel either w

ith a bullet puller on a ramrod or the breech

plug can be removed, the charge rem

oved and the projectileforced out the end of the barrel w

ith a long bench/range rod or anextended ram

rod.

NOTE:A dirty fouled barrel will directly affect your ability to

group shots. However, in a hunting situation, only a few

shotsw

ill likely be taken. If the barrel is prepped and lubed at theonset, it is not necessary to clean and lube the interior of the

barrel between shots w

hen hunting.

CLEANING AFTER SHOOTING

CA

UTIO

N:

Before cleaning, make absolutely certain the gun

is unprimed and unloaded. Use the ram

rod measuring

method as described earlier.

39

Clean your gun as soon as possible after your shooting session.To leave a gun uncleaned, even overnight, can result in seriousand dam

aging corrosion.

ADVICE:Take care when cleaning not to get w

ater or solvent into the trigger assem

bly.

NOTE:Regardless of the cleaning method, you m

ust remove

and thoroughly clean the the breech plug and area of the receiver during each cleaning. Be certain to lightly

lubricate the threads of the breech plug with

Traditions Breech plug grease before reinstalling.

Cleaning Method

A thorough cleaning requires the complete disassem

bly of thefirearm

every time you shoot your m

uzzleloader.

1. M

ake sure the firearm is unprim

ed and unloaded.

2. W

ith action closed unscrew forend and rem

ove.

3. Open action and lift barrel up and aw

ay from receiver.

4. Using a Breech Plug W

rench, remove the breech plug from

the barrel

5. Pour 8-10 inches of hot, soapy w

ater into a secured pail.

6. Im

merse the receiver end of the barrel into the cleaning

solution so that the water is above the breech opening.

7. Using a cleaning patch affixed to a jag or a cleaning brush,pum

p the soapy water repetitively through the barrel by

raising and lowering the ram

rod until bore is clean.

8.W

hen the bore is clean, remove barrel from

liquid. Run drycleaning patches up and dow

n bore to dry inside. Wipe

outside of barrel with dry cloth.

9.Clean receiver area w

ith EZ Clean™

spray and a soft bristlebrush to rem

ove any fouling or debris. Dry receiver andbreech area.


40

WA

RN

ING

: DO NOT ATTEM

PT TO DISSASSEMBLE RECEIVER.

THIS INCLUDES ANY PINS HOLDING THE RECEIVERTOGETHER. CLEAN AS A UNIT.

10. Lightly coat outside and inside of barrel and all other m

etalparts w

ith Wonderlube 1000 Plus. Apply Traditions breech

plug grease to the threads of the breech plug.

11. Clean all residue from

inside and outside of the stock.

12. Reassem

ble the muzzleloader.

NOTE: Store your rifle in a cool, dry, secured area. Storage in agun case should be avoided as it m

ay hasten condensation andcorrosion. During long periods of storage, periodically check forsigns of pitting or rusting on the surface and in the barrel bore.

NOTE: The myth that stainless steel &

nickel doesn’t have to becleaned as m

uch as blued steel is false. You need to clean andlubricate your stainless barrel just as you w

ould a blued steelbarrel. The stainless and nickel barrels are m

ore rust resistantthan blued steel, but over tim

e can rust.

XVIII. HELPFUL MUZZLELOADING ACCESSORIES

In order to participate fully in the sport, you will probably w

ant toconsider the purchase of the various Traditions accessoriesm

entioned in this manual. Your firearm

s retailer should stock acom

plete line of accessories from Traditions. If not, ask him

toorder them

for you. Visit him soon to discover all the w

ays tom

ake your muzzleloading experience even m

ore enjoyable and convenient.

Write to Traditions for a current catalog show

ing a complete line

of firearms, am

munition and accessories or view

it on our web

site ww

w.traditionsfirearm

s.com.

Your local retailer can special order any Traditions products you w

ant.

✃Cut Along Dotted Line

Pursuit – 04/04 Jb2

PR

EF

ER

RE

DC

UST

OM

ER

WA

RR

AN

TY

RE

GIST

RA

TIO

NC

AR

D

Referencing the label on the end of thecarton, please write in the last 5 digitslocated on the right half of the UPC codeinto the boxes below.

40

58

9U

PC #

Model #

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Serial # (from barrel)_____________________________________________________________________________

Name

______________________________________________________________________Age_______________

Street_________________________________________________________________________________________

City______________________________________________State ___________

Zip ________________________

Day Time Phone #

_____________________________Date of Purchase

___________________________________

Purchase Price____________________________Store Nam

e ___________________________________________

1.W

hat is your age?❑

1Under 18 ❑

218-24 ❑

325-34 ❑

435-44 ❑545-54 ❑

655-64 ❑7over 65

2.R

eason for your purchase❑

1Hunting ❑2Target Shooting ❑

3Personal use ❑4Gift

❑5Raffle Prize ❑

6Other

3.D

o you own? ❑

1Other muzzleloaders ❑

2Over/Under Shotgun ❑3Side by Side Shotgun

❑4Sem

i-Auto Shotgun ❑5Pum

p Shotgun ❑6Cartridge Rifle ❑

7Handgun ❑8Bow

4.W

here purchased? ❑1Gun Shop ❑

2General Sporting Goods Store ❑3Hardware Store

❑4Chain Store ❑

5Mail Order Catalog ❑

6Internet Store

5.Is this your first m

uzzleloader? ❑1Yes ❑

2No

6.W

hich factors influenced your purchase? ❑1Previously owned a Traditions

product❑

2Magazine Ad/Article ❑

3Internet/Website ❑

4TraditionsCatalog ❑

5Recomm

endation of Salesperson❑

6Recomm

endation of a Friend ❑7Price ❑

8Features ❑9Other

7.W

hat type of game do you hunt? ❑

1Whitetail Deer ❑

2Mule Deer ❑

3Elk ❑4Bear

❑5Antelope ❑

6Turkey ❑7Sm

all Game ❑

8Other

8.W

hat do you think is the best way to get inform

ation about Hunting &

Hunting products?

❑1M

agazine Ads ❑2Internet/W

ebsite ❑3Television Program

s ❑4Radio

9a.W

hich magazine do you read?

________________________________________________________________

b.W

hich TV

hunting show do you w

atch?________________________________________________________

❑Check here to receive a free Traditions

catalog showing muzzleloadings’ largest selection of firearm

s and accessories or visit our website at www.traditionsfirearm

s.com

❑To receive a Traditions

Firearms Logo cap and catalog, send $11.95 along

with your warranty registration card.

NO

TE

:Return this card w

ithin 15 days of purchase in order to validate your lim

ited lifetime w

arranty.

P.O. Box 776 • Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776w

ww

.traditionsfirearms.com

Please complete all inform

ation above and mail to:


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