Traditions Buckstalker User Manual

Owner’s Manual

FIT 43

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Traditions Performance Firearms

1375 Boston Post Road P.O. Box 776 Old Saybrook, CT 06475

www.traditionsfirearms.com Email: [e-mail]

Traditions Corporate Office 860-388-4656

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I. TRADITIONS’ WARRANTY PROTECTION INCLUDED WITH YOUR NEW GUN

Thank you for purchasing the Traditions muzzleloader. Quality, pride and old world craftsmanship has gone into your new Traditions muzzleloader. We work hard

to provide the best value and performance possible, we back it up with a limited lifetime warranty. Should you ever experience mechanical difficulty with your new Traditions firearm, be assured that we are staffed and equipped to correct it quickly. Your satisfaction with your firearm is very important to Traditions.

PLEASE HELP US SERVE YOU BETTER

In the event you should have questions pertaining to the function or performance of your new Traditions firearm please visit our website to get answers to the most commonly asked questions. Log on to www.traditionsfirearms.com where you will find the FAQ’s page. This page will get you fast access to trouble shooting solutions. If you do not find an answer to your specific question on the FAQ page of our website please feel free to email through the website at [e-mail] and a qualified member of our team will respond to your individual question as quickly as possible. If in the event you still need assistance please do not hesitate to contact Traditions and a member of our Customer Service Department will be happy to assist.

In the unlikely event you need warranty service on your new firearm; we need your help to get the work done right and without delay. It’s as easy as dropping us a note or picking up the telephone. For your convenience Traditions engraves the caliber, serial number and model name on each barrel or frame. 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 Traditions at 860-388-4656, tell us what problem you are experiencing and we’ll get busy to remedy your situation.

Help is just a phone call away should you experience a problem. Simply follow these four simple 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 time by following the steps 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 to correct 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 number.

4.We will inspect your firearm and make necessary repairs that are covered under warranty.

Often we can help you by phone, call before you return your Traditions firearm for service. Good Shooting!

[phone]

Important: All firearms must have a factory issued Return Merchandise Authorization number (RMA#) before returning to Traditions for warranty service.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Buckstalker Break Action Rifle

I.Warranty Protection . . . . . . . . . . . 2

II.Break Action overview . . . . . . . . . . 4

III.The Sport of Muzzleloading . . . . . . . . 4

IV. Muzzleloading “Musts” . . . . . . . . . . 4

V.Rules of Firearm Safety . . . . . . . . . . 6

VI. Schematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

VII. Out of the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

VIII. Safeties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

IX. Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

X.Ignition & Breech Plugs . . . . . . . . . 12

XI. Loading Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . 13

XII. Priming You Muzzleloader . . . . . . . . 17

XIII. De-capping Your Muzzleloader . . . . . . 18

XIV. Hang Fires & Misfires . . . . . . . . . . 19

XV. Removing the charge . . . . . . . . . . 20

XVI. Sighting In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

XVII. Scope Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

XVIII. Recommended Loads . . . . . . . . . . . 21

XIX. Cleaning & Maintenance . . . . . . . . . 22

XX.Helpful Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . 23

XXI. Limited Lifetime Warranty . . . . . . . . 24

XXII. Warranty Registration Card . . . . . . . 27

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II. BREAK ACTION RIFLE OVERVIEW

Break-Action design firearms are so described due to the fact that the barrel and receiver are joined by a pivoting hinge. When the action release is depressed in a rearward motion, the receiver and barrel open in a breaking motion. A variety of finishes & stock configurations are available.

III. THE SPORT OF MUZZLELOADING

More and more sportsmen have discovered the challenges and enjoyment of muzzleloading in the past years. For both hunting and target shooting, muzzleloading guns have helped a modern generation recapture and enjoy an important aspect of our nation’s sporting past. Traditions Muzzleloaders are firearms that represent the latest developments in this unique part of the shooting sports. They are manufactured to modern standards for safe and enjoyable shooting. This booklet is intended as a basic guide for the proper maintenance, 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 recommended 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 town clerk, local sporting goods dealer, state DEP or conservation department

4.Contact your local muzzleloader or hunting club.

IV. MUZZLELOADING ’MUSTS’ FOR

MUZZLELOADING SUCCESS

You must:

1.Read completely, fully understand and follow all instructions and warranty limitations in this booklet before attempting to shoot your new Traditions break open muzzleloader.

2.Always treat any firearm as if it is loaded and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

3.Always wear proper eye and ear protection when loading or firing any firearm.

4.Don’t shoot until you are absolutely sure of your target and what is beyond it. Do not point your firearms at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be sure that all bystanders are safely positioned behind you and that they are aware that you are about to shoot. All bystanders must also wear eye and hearing protection when in the vicinity of anyone using a firearm.

5.Use only the proper grade of black powder 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 recommended loads. Reduce charges of Triple 7® powder by 15%. For example, if you were using 150 grains of Pyrodex® powder and began to use Triple 7® powder, you would only use 130 grains of Triple 7®. Always consult the directions from the powder manufacturer before handling and loading any type of powder.

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6.Never use any amount of smokeless gun powder in your muzzleloader. Although also black in color, smokeless powder is a very different chemical composition and it will produce dangerous pressures resulting in serious injury or death to yourself, bystanders and it will destroy your firearm.

7.Never smoke or permit others to smoke in the presence of black powder, Pyrodex®, Triple 7® or any other black powder substitute. Take care to guard against all potential ignition sources.

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

9.Be certain that the powder, patches and projectiles are properly sized and measured and are loaded in the proper sequence and that the projectile is firmly seated on top of the propellant. See Section XI for proper loading instructions.

10.Use only cotton or linen shooting patches when loading round lead balls. Do not use any type of plastic patches.

11.Never load powder into a gun directly from a can, powder horn or flask. Always use a separate calibrated powder measuring device. A remaining spark or ember in the barrel may cause an ignition of the powder and cause injury or death to you, bystanders and destroy your firearm.

12.A firearm’s safety is a mechanical device which can fail. Always be mindful of where the safety lever is set and routinely verify its setting. Never solely rely on any rifle’s safety. Always treat every gun as if it were loaded and ready to fire. Only cap or primer your muzzleloader when you are ready to fire. Uncap or un-prime your muzzleloader when you are done shooting or hunting.

13.Always disable your muzzleloader by carefully removing the percussion cap, musket cap or 209 primer and unloading the barrel when immediate shooting is not planned.

14.Never cap your firearm until you are ready to fire. Never install a percussion cap, musket cap or primer on the nipple before the gun is loaded. When loaded, a bump or unintentional pressure could result in the discharge of the firearms resulting in a serious accident.

15.Always store the powder, gun and percussion caps, musket caps or primers in separate locked places. Always keep all firearms and ammunition components secured and separate away from children. Never store a loaded gun.

16.In the event of a misfire, assume the gun could fire at any moment. Keep gun pointed down range with the action closed. Wait at least one minute before recapping, re-priming or removing the load from the barrel.

17.Never load a muzzleloading firearm indoors. Only load your firearm in a location where it is safe to shoot.

18.Be certain that anyone firing this muzzleloader understands and is willing to follow the instructions and precautions in this manual and the fundamentals of safe firearm handling.

19.Always make certain that the safety is in the “on” position and the hammer is in the “at rest” position when installing the primer.

20.A great way to understand more about all types of firearms is to take a Hunter’s Safety course

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V. RULES OF FIREARMS SAFETY

1.Read completely, fully understand and be willing to follow all instructions and warranty limitations in this booklet before attempting to shoot your firearm.

2.Point the muzzle 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) directly at another person or at yourself. A bullet can penetrate walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, and many other materials and kill or injure someone on the opposite side.

3.Always check to make sure your firearm is in good working order before use. Test the hammer, trigger, and breeching lever carefully prior to loading. Check the barrel for any obstructions, as any obstruction can cause the barrel to burst causing severe injury or death. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are aimed at a proper target and have decided to fire. If your finger is inside the trigger guard, you could fire your gun without intending to, for instance, if you were startled, or if you slipped or lost your balance.

4.Always treat any firearm as if it is loaded.

5.Always wear proper eye and ear protection when loading or firing any firearm.

6.Be sure of your target, and what is around and beyond it. The projectile fired from your firearm can travel several hundred yards, and has the potential to kill or seriously injure someone at that distance! Once you pull the trigger, you cannot call the projectiles back, so you must positively identify your target before you fire. Fire only with a safe backstop behind your target - something that will stop and contain the projectiles you fire, even if you miss the target or your projectile passes through it.

7.Do not point your firearms at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be sure that all bystanders are safely positioned behind you and that they are aware that you are about to shoot. Be mindful that this firearm has a range in excess of a half a mile.

8.Whenever you handle a firearm that, even momentarily, has been out of your direct control, start by checking its condition to determine whether or not it is loaded. A firearm in your hands is a lethal weapon which is YOUR responsibility, so YOU must check it yourself, NOW, not later. Do not rely on someone else to check it.

9.Never take drugs and/or drink alcoholic beverages before and during shooting.

10.Never use any firearm unless you completely understand how it operates and how its safety features work. If you are not already an experienced firearms user, you should obtain training in the safe and proper use of firearms by attending one of the many firearms safety and shooting courses offered in all parts of the country by the National Rifle Association (telephone [phone]), gun clubs and ranges, gun shops, shooting schools and other qualified sources of instruction.

11.No projectiles other than those specifically recommended by Traditions may be used in your firearm.

12.Before firing any firearm, be sure it is in good working order and that the barrel is clear of dirt, grease, water, excess oil, rust, corrosion or any other obstruction.

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13.Always be mindful of where the safety is set and routinely verify its setting. Never solely rely on any rifle’s safety. It is prudent to always treat every gun as if it were loaded and ready to fire. A firearm’s safety is a mechanical device which can fail.

14.Never give a firearm to anyone, or take a firearm from anyone, unless it is unloaded and the action is open. If someone tries to hand you a firearm with the action closed, politely ask them to open it before you take it from them.

15.Always unload your firearm when immediate shooting is not planned.

16.Never leave a loaded firearm unattended.

17.Never climb, jump or move abruptly while carrying any loaded firearm.

18.Never transport a loaded firearm nor shoot one from within a vehicle.

19.Always store the ammunition and rifle in separate locked places. Always keep all firearms and ammunition components secured and separate away from children. Never store a loaded gun.

20.In the event of a misfire, assume the gun could fire at any moment. Keep gun pointed down range with the action closed. Wait at least one minute before unloading.

21.Never load a firearm indoors. Only load your firearm in a location where it is safe to shoot.

22.Be certain that anyone firing this firearm understands and is willing to follow the instructions and precautions in this manual and the fundamentals of safe firearm handling.

23.Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or the surface of water.

24.When shooting, be alert to be sure no one comes into the line of fire. Check the backstop and target area carefully to be sure it is free of people each time before you begin to fire. When firing with a group of people, put a responsible person in charge to maintain safety, discipline and control to reduce the chance of accidents. On a firing range, be alert to the commands of the range officer, and follow them precisely and immediately. Never fire your gun 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 could cause an accident.

25.If the firearm is dropped or struck a hard blow, open action and unload the firearm. Check the bore for obstructions. Verify that the hammer and trigger function properly and that there are no broken or damaged parts. Take the firearm to a qualified gunsmith for inspection and repair if any problems are found.

26.Refer to Section XIX for cleaning and maintenance instructions.

Take time now to acquaint yourself with your Traditions Firearm. If you have any questions regarding your firearm after reviewing this information, please contact the Traditions Customer Service Department for assistance.

MAKE SURE THAT THE FIREARM IS UNLOADED BEFORE PROCEEDING.

Make sure firearm is pointed in a safe direction at all times and your finger is outside the trigger guard.

Verify firearm is unloaded by using action release button in a rearward direction to open action and visually verify that there are no live or spent primers in the breech plug. If there are spent or live primers remove them immediately.

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VI. SCHEMATICS

	Description	Reference
A	Rear Sight Base (Round)	50613
B	Elevator Base	50614
C	Rear Blade With Fiber Optic	50615-FO
D	Windage Adjustment Locking Screw	50617
E	Hex Nut (2)	50618
F	Elevation Adjustment Locking Screw	50616
G	Rear Sight Mounting Screw (2)	50622

								Notes:
	Description	Reference			Description	Reference
A	Rear Stock (A/W Composite) (Finished)	FCS701070-2		Y	Transfer Bar	71006
B	Fore Stock (A/W Composite) (Finished)	FCS701070-1		Z	Hammer Handle	710004
C	Ramrod Retaining Spring Screw	21817		AA	Hammer Pin	M710031
D	Ramrod Retaining Spring	400030		BB	Firing Pin	71007
E	Barrel Assembly ( Kit) (Length 24”)			CC	Firing Pin Spring	M71011
	.50 cal. perc. (twist 1:28”)	C-720034-B		DD	Firing Pin Retaining Screw	M710021
	Barrel Assembly (Finished) (Length 24”)			EE	Trigger	71003
	.50 cal. perc. Blued (twist 1:28”)	FB720034		GG	Barrel Catch	71005
F	Plug Screw (4)	26069		HH	Barrel Catch Spring	M71017
G	Fiber Optic Rear Sight	50610-FO		II	Barrel Catch Pin	M710023
H	Fiber Optic Front Sight	M50611-FO		JJ	Trigger Guard	M710027
I	Front Sight Mounting Screw (2)	50620		KK	Trigger Guard Spring	M71015
J	Hexagonal Breech Plug (SS)	M7200099		LL	Ball	71000
K	Ramrod Thimble	440032-P		MM	Safety Pin	M710029
L	Ramrod Thimble Screw	400031		NN	Safety	710032
M	Sling Swivel Stud-Front Nut	60122		OO	Tring Guard and Trigger Pin (3)	710025
N	Sling Swivel Stud-Front	37122		PP	Sling Swivel Stud-Rear	37013
P	Forend Stock Screw	710035		QQ	Pistol Grip Cap	50104
Q	Frame (Alloy/Blued)	74004		RR	Pistol Grip Cap Screw	50105
R	Frame Pivot Pin	710024		SS	Ramrod 24”(Aluminum)	170030
S	Tang Screw	71016		TT	Ramrod Tip .50 Cal (Aluminum)	100028
T	Tang Screw Washer	71019		UU	Ramrod Assembly	170011
U	Buttpad	60126		VV	Wrench Handle	400033
V	Buttpad Mounting Screws	20634		XX	Hexagonal Wrench	720029
W	Hammer	71002		AB	Firing Pin Screw Washer	71020
X	Hammer Spring	M71018		AC	Hexagonal Breech Plug Wrench	72519
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