How Do You Load A Black Powder Pistol?
Loading a black powder pistol can be dangerous: Sparks or hot powder remaining in a chamber can “touch off a load” as you load the pistol, causing serious injury. Nonetheless, shooting black powder pistols is a sport with historic overtones. Undertaken with careful attention to basic pistol safety and the special conditions of black powder shooting, you can recreate the shooting conditions from an earlier era. Inspect the pistol to ensure there are no percussion caps on the nipples of the cylinder. Ensure the weapon is unloaded. Pull the hammer of the weapon to the half-cock position. Place percussion caps on all cylinders. Point the weapon downrange. Fire all six percussion caps downrange to clear any powder or wadding residue from the nipples. Brace the pistol upright between your knees, but do not hold your face or any body part over the muzzle. Pour in the amount of power recommended by your pistol’s manufacturer, using a calibrated powder measure. Press a piece of felt wadding int
