Avoid These Muzzleloader Mistakes That Cost Hunters Their Shot

Muzzleloader season rewards patience, but it has a way of punishing the small stuff you forgot to check. American Hunter rounds up three mistakes that quietly ruin hunts, from fouled actions to doubled-up charges, and they're worth a read before you head back to the stand.

Key points

• Fouling kills accuracy and ignition: American Hunter notes that a barrel left dirty past five or six shots loses accuracy, and a fouled firing pin can flat-out fail to strike a primer, as the author learned firsthand after missing four shots at a buck standing still.
• Caked breech plugs cause failures too: The article describes a break-action rifle that wouldn't close after a damp hunt because of fouling buildup, costing the author a shot at a second deer that same morning.
• Double loads are a real risk: Hunters who leave a charge in the rifle between seasons can forget and load a second charge on top the following fall; the piece recommends marking your ramrod to show a single proper load.
• Don't flinch off the follow-through: American Hunter warns against pulling your face off the stock right after the shot to see around the smoke, which leads to missed shots since muzzleloader bullets are comparatively slow.

Quick take

None of this is complicated, it's just easy to skip when you're tired after processing a deer or rushing to get back in the stand. American Hunter's advice amounts to basic discipline: clean your rifle, check your load before you assume it's empty, and stay on the gun after the shot.

Read the full story: americanhunter.org