Capping off - Flashing off
Like modern breech loading guns, muzzle loading shotguns are best stored in the gun cabinet barrel down. This ensures that any excess oil is kept from entering the wood by way of leakage through the nipple on a percussion gun or touch hole on a flint gun.
 
Before loading it is advisable to check that the nipples are clear of oil by firing a couple of percussion caps off just to clear the nipple. Many flintlock shooters likewise flash some priming powder off in the pan.

Loading
When shooting clay pigeons, loading is best done using a table. Stand the gun upright with the muzzle always pointed away from your face. Ensure that the gun is at half cock and for flint guns a ‘pricker' is pushed through the touch hole and the frizzen closed.
 
Either using a powder flask or pre-measured phial, pour the measured quantity of black powder into the gun muzzle. Then place an over powder card in the gun muzzle, followed by a fibre wad followed by an over wad card. Ram the wad smartly down the barrel so that the wad column is firmly seated over the powder.
 
A measured amount of shot is then poured down the barrel from a shot flask, measuring scoop or pre measured phial. An over shot card is then placed in the muzzle of the gun. Gently push the over shot card down on top of the shot using the ramrod.
 
Remember the old adage -: "Ram the powder, not the shot – hit a lot!"
 
A useful safety tip to guard against misloading is that with the gun correctly loaded as above, mark the ramrod depth in line with the end of the muzzle when the ramrod is resting on the shot column. The ramrod may subsequently be used as a depth gauge to verify that the gun has not been double loaded with either powder / shot or indeed if any components have been omitted.
 
The gun is now fully loaded and it is essential to keep the muzzle pointing upwards for obvious safety reasons. Remember muzzle loading guns cannot be broken to demonstrate good safety practice like breech loading guns.

Taking the Shot
The muzzle loading shotgun should only be capped or primed when in the shooting cage or stand. If leaving a stand with a loaded gun it must be uncapped or the priming powder blown out of the pan and the gun placed at half cock with the muzzle upright.
 
When in the stand, place a cap on the nipple of the percussion gun whilst still at half cock. Fully cock the gun and the gun is ready to fire. The shot is then taken and the gun placed at half cock. The remnants of the percussion cap may then be removed. Keeping the muzzle upright return to the loading table.
 
When shooting a flintlock, open the frizzen when in the shooting stand, remove the touch hole pricker and dispense a small amount of priming powder from the priming flask into the pan and close the fizzen.
 
Experienced flint shooters often pile the priming powder in the centre of the pan as it is believed a faster ignition may be obtained by the flash of the flame as opposed to over filling the pan with powder which causes a slightly slower ignition.
 
The gun is then fully cocked and is ready to fire. After taking the shot, open the frizzen, place the pricker in the touch hole and close the frizzen. Keeping the muzzle upright, return to the loading table where the frizzen is opened and the pricker removed. Clean the burnt powder residue from the frizzen and pan using a rag. Check the condition of the flint and if necessary knap the flint by tapping the front striking edge gently with a piece of brass round bar. This will produce a new edge to the flint. Replace the flint when required. Insert the pricker and close the frizzen and repeat the loading sequence.
 

Misfires
If a gun fails to fire when shooting from the stand take the following actions:
 
Percussion
• Keep the gun pointing down the range for approximately 30 seconds.
• Re-cap the gun and attempt to discharge down the range.
• If this fails, ensure there is no cap on the nipple and place at half cock.
• Keeping the muzzle upright draw the charge with the drawing rod.
 
Flint
• Keep the gun pointing down the range for approximately 30 seconds.
• Re-prime the gun and attempt to discharge down the range.
• If this fails, open the frizzen and blow the priming powder from the pan.
• Keeping the muzzle upright draw the charge with the drawing rod.

Remember - Safe shooting is no accident, keep it safe.