Safety & Instruction Manual
WARNING: Black Powder or an approved black powder substitute are the only propellant powders that are safe to use in a muzzleloading firearm.
Read the instructions and warnings in this manual CAREFULLY BEFORE using this Traditions™ firearm.
Traditions™ Performance Firearms 1375 Boston Post Road P.O. Box 776 Old Saybrook, CT 06475 (860) 388-4656
www.traditionsfirearms.com
Your Muzzleloading Rifle
Congratulations on your purchase of a Traditions™ muzzleloader. You have selected a muzzleloading firearm designed and engineered to give today’s shooters the highest performance and optimum accuracy. When given the respect and care that any firearm demands, you can expect many years of reliable service and enjoyable hunting from your new Traditions™ muzzleloader.
The Sport of Muzzleloading
More and more sportsmen have discovered the challenge and enjoyment of muzzleloading in recent 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 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
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WARNING!
YOU MUST READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CAREFULLY. BE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS BEFORE USING THIS OR ANY TRADITIONS™ FIREARM. FAILURE TO READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS PROPERLY MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU AND OTHERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
This SAFETY & INSTRUCTION MANUAL should always accompany this firearm and be transferred with it upon change of ownership or when the firearm is presented to another person.
Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction with your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot and always be sure of what is beyond your target.
If you don’t have a manual, a printed copy is available free upon request by contacting Traditions™ at the address below. A manual is also available via download at www.traditionsfirearms.com
• CUSTOMER SUPPORT •
Traditions Performance Firearms™
1375 Boston Post Road
P.O. Box 776
Old Saybrook, CT 06475 (860) 388-4656 www.traditionsfirearms.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.YOUR SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES…………….......5
2.SAFE STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION………......10
3.SAFETY RULES FOR YOUR TRADITIONS™ MUZZLELOADER………………………….....................12
4.LEARNING THE BASICS OF THE VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™………………………………………….15
5.FUNCTION TEST FOR THE VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™………………………………………….18
6.INTIAL CLEANING…………………………………….20
7.BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR SHOOTING THE VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™……………………………...22
8.SAFETY PREPARATION FOR FIRING……………..22
9.CHARGING YOUR TRADITIONS™ VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™….......................................................24
10.PRIMING THE TRADITIONS™ VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™………………………………………….30
11.FIRING THE TRADITIONS™ VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™………………………………………….31
12.DEPRIMING YOUR MUZZLELOADER AFTER FIRING……………………………………………………..32
13.MISFIRES & HANGFIRES…………………………..32
14.UNLOADING AND UNCHARGING YOUR RIFLE..34
15.CLEANING & MAINTENANCE……………………..35
16.SIGHTING IN & SCOPE MOUNTING……………..46
17.INFORMATION ON BLACK POWDER & BLACK POWDER SUBSTITUTES……………………………….47
18.SUGGESTED LOADS FOR VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™………………………………………….51
19.WARRANTY & SERVICE…………………………...54
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1.YOUR SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES SAFETY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY!!!!
No matter if you are at home, in the field, at the range, or anywhere; your primary concern as a firearm owner must always be safety. You must always apply the following safety rules in every situation with any kind of firearm regardless of setting. If you feel unsure about any aspect of your firearm or its operation, please contact Traditions™ before using it.
WARNING: YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL OF THESE SAFETY RULES TO ENSURE THE SAFE USE OF YOUR FIREARM. THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU OR OTHERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
When you become a firearm owner, you take on a serious and demanding responsibility. How seriously you take this responsibility can be the difference between life and death. There is no excuse for reckless or abusive handling of your firearm. At all times you must handle your firearm with an intense respect for its power and potential danger.
SAFE FIREARMS HANDLING IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ALWAYS. Firearms have the potential to be dangerous resulting in serious injury or death if they are misused or handled inappropriately. Safety must always be the primary concern of anyone who owns or handles firearms. Accidents are the result of violating the rules of safe firearm handling. Professional firearm safety training is available to supplement the safety instruction in this manual. Some examples organizations to contact are your local firearms dealer, state conservation department, hunter safety department, law enforcement agency, local sportsman’s club, the National Rifle Association (NRA) for availability of firearms training.
FIREARM SECURITY IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. ALWAYS SAFELY STORE AND SECURE YOUR FIREARM. You must ensure that your firearms are securely and safely stored so that children and/or unauthorized users may not obtain them. Your firearms should always be kept unloaded and locked when not in use or in your immediate control. Never assume that the use of a lock alone is sufficient to safely secure your firearm. You must continually evaluate your personal situation and employ security systems that prevent children and unauthorized users from gaining access to your firearm.
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YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND ALL YOUR FIREARMS AT ALL TIMES. In owning a firearm, you have a constant responsibility for your firearm’s safety and security. You must always protect yourself and all others against injury or death from misuse of the firearm 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This responsibility is not something you can ever be neglectful of maintaining.
ALWAYS TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT IS LOADED AND WILL FIRE. Never assume or take anyone’s word that the firearm is uncharged or unprimed – you must always physically check for yourself. Never pass a loaded firearm to another person. You must first open the action and then visually check that it is uncharged and unprimed before passing the firearm to another person. Keep your muzzleloading firearm uncharged, unprimed, and safely stored when not in use.
NEVER PLACE YOUR FINGER INSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD OR ON THE TRIGGER UNLESS YOU INTEND TO FIRE. Always keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are prepared to fire. Also make sure that other objects do not touch the trigger at anytime.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
Never point the muzzle of a firearm at anyone or anything you do not intend to shoot whether or not it is loaded. This is especially important when loading, unloading, or field stripping the gun. ALWAYS control the direction of the firearm.
ALWAYS BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT.
Always know where a bullet you fire will hit and shoot only where there is a safe back stop free of any obstructions. Bullets can bounce or ricochet off many surfaces like rocks or the surface of water and travel in unpredictable directions with considerable velocity creating dangerous situations. NEVER fire randomly into the sky.
NEVER CROSS ANY OBSTACLES SUCH AS FENCES OR STREAMS WITH A CHARGED OR PRIMED MUZZLELOADING FIREARM. Always make sure your muzzleloading firearm is unprimed or unloaded before crossing a fence, climbing a tree, jumping a ditch or negotiating any other obstacles.
WARNING! ALWAYS REMOVE THE PRIMER OR PERCUSSION/MUSKET CAP FROM THE BREECH PLUG OR NIPPLE BEFORE YOU CLIMB TO OR DESCEND FROM A TREE STAND. NEVER RAISE OR LOWER A PRIMED MUZZLELOADING FIREARM TO OR FROM A TREE STAND. Failure to follow this rule may cause serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
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NEVER LEAN A CHARGED AND PRIMED RIFLE AGAINST A TREE, A WALL OR ANY SURFACE WHERE IT MAY FALL OVER.
Once a rifle has been charged and primed it is your responsibility to protect against any situation that may result in an accidental discharge. Failure to follow this rule may cause serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
APPROPRIATE USE FOR YOUR FIREARM MEANS USING YOUR FIREARM FOR LEGAL PURPOSES. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances regarding the use of your firearm where you intend to use it.
NEVER SOLEY RELY ON MECHANICAL FEATURES SUCH AS A SAFETY. Mechanical features such as safeties can fail and should never be exclusively relied upon with disregard to proper safe firearms handling. Only by following the safe firearm-handling procedures in this manual will the safe use of your firearm be assured. You are responsible for always following these safe firearm handling rules.
NEVER KEEP AMMUNITION AND LOADING COMPONENTS IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE FIREARM. Store each in a separate and secure place to avoid children or unauthorized users from obtaining them.
ALWAYS WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION THAT ARE SPECIFIED FOR USE WITH FIREARMS every time you handle your firearm for loading, firing, cleaning, or maintenance. Make sure that all bystanders where you will be shooting are also wearing the proper eye and ear protection.
NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS BEFORE OR WHILE SHOOTING. In addition do not use your firearm if you are on any medication which impairs, even slightly, your mental or physical ability. You should also not use your firearm if you are excessively tired, distracted, or impaired in any way. You need to be alert and have your full attention devoted to the safe use of the firearm.
ALWAYS HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION WHEN DISCHARGING A FIREARM. Discharging a firearm in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition and loading components may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious physical injury. Review the warnings and labels for all ammunition, loading components, and cleaning products carefully. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.
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BEFORE HANDLING ANY FIREARM, UNDERSTAND ITS OPERATION. Not all firearms are the same and some have features and mechanical operation unique to that specific firearm. Before using a firearm you should learn the mechanical features of that specific firearm you intend to use. If you feel unsure about any operational aspects of this firearm, please contact Traditions™ before proceeding with its operation.
NEVER ALLOW THIS FIREARM TO BE USED BY ANYONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ITS SAFE OPERATION OR HAS NOT READ THIS MANUAL IN ITS ENTIRETY.
ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT COMBINATION OF MUZZLELOADING APPROVED LOAD COMPONENTS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR MUZZLELOADING FIREARM as detailed in this manual.
MAKE CERTAIN THE BARREL IS CLEAR OF ANY OBSTRUCTIONS BEFORE SHOOTING. Dirt, water, snow or other objects may inadvertently become lodged in the bore of the barrel. A small obstruction can cause a dangerous increase in pressure and may damage your firearm and cause injury to yourself and others. Refer to the field cleaning section of this manual if you discover any obstructions in the barrel for instructions on how to remove it.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS HOLSTERS, GRIPS, SLINGS, SCOPES AND ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE COMPATIBLE with the firearm and that they do not interfere with the safe operation of the firearm. It is your responsibility to understand and follow all of the instructions in this manual, as well as those which may be supplied with your ammunition and loading components and any accessory and how they all relate to each other.
NEVER DISASSEMBLE YOUR FIREARM beyond the instructions outlined in this manual. Improper disassembly or re-assembly of your firearm may create a dangerous situation which can lead to serious injury or death to you or others or also the destruction of property.
NEVER MANIPULATE, ADJUST OR ALTER ANY OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF YOUR FIREARM. Improper manipulation or alteration of any internal component may affect the safety and reliability of your firearm and create a situation where serious injury or death could occur. In addition do not add or replace any of the parts in your rifle unless they are genuine Traditions™ parts and you properly follow the instructions provided by Traditions™. The use of non-Traditions™ parts will void all warranties. Any alteration or replacement of parts in your Traditions™ firearm unless performed by a qualified gunsmith using genuine Traditions™ parts. If you do otherwise, improper functioning of your firearm may occur and serious injury or death and damage to property may result.
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USE TRADITIONS™ SCOPE MOUNTS ONLY. All current Traditions™ rifles come drilled and tapped for use with scopes. Traditions™ offers a wide variety of scopes, scope mounts, and rings in varying sizes and finishes to suit your needs. When mounting a scope use only Traditions™ mounts to ensure proper fit and function. Traditions™ mounts are specifically made to fit these predrilled existing holes in your firearm.
WARNING: DO NOT DRILL HOLES IN THE BARREL AS THIS COULD WEAKEN THE BARREL STRUCTURE LEADING TO A RUPTURE. A RUPTURED BARREL CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOT ER OR BYSTANDERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. DRILLING HOLES IN THE BARREL ALSO VOIDS ALL WARRANTIES.
WARNING: THE SAFE USE OF A FIREARM IS YOUR CONSTANT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW ALL OF THESE BASIC SAFETY RULES OUTLINED IN THIS MANUAL MAY RESULT IN SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU OR OTHERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. YOU ARE THE MOST CRUCIAL PART OF FIREARMS SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO THE USE OF YOUR FIREARM AND TRADITIONS™ WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT RESULTS FROM: (1) THE CRIMINAL OR NEGLIGENT USE OF THIS FIREARM; (2) A DISREGARD OF THESE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS; (3) IMPROPER OR CARELESS HANDLING OF THIS FIREARM; (4) THE USE OF NON-STANDARD, DEFECTIVE, IMPROPER LOAD COMPONENTS, OR (5) IMPROPER OR NEGLIGENT MODIFICATIONS OR REPAIRS TO THE FIREARM.
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2. SAFE STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION
WARNING: ALWAYS HAVE THE MUZZLE OF THE FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AT ALL TIMES.
WARNING: FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS IF THEY ARE USED AND/OR STORED IMPROPERLY. THEY POSE A RISK OF SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURIES. FIREARMS CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TO CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE STORED IN AN IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNSAFE MANNER. FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU KEEP YOUR FIREARM LOCKED AND UNLOADED IN A SECURE PLACE. THE AMMUNITION AND LOADING COMPONENTS SHOULD BE STORED IN A SEPARATE, SECURE LOCATION WHEN IT IS NOT IN USE. SAFE AND SECURE STORAGE OF YOUR FIREARM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RULES OF FIREARM SAFETY. YOUR FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU OR OTHERS.
ALWAYS SECURE YOUR FIREARM IN A MANNER THAT WILL PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS. Whenever you are not using your firearm it should be kept unloaded and locked. Your own safety and the safety of others demands that you always secure and store your firearm in a way that will prevent unauthorized access. Never leave a firearm unattended unless it is unloaded, locked, and secured.
WARNING: NEVER LOCK A LOADED FIREARM AND NEVER LOAD A LOCKED FIREARM!!
ALWAYS STORE YOUR FIREARM AND AMMUNITION AND LOADING COMPONENTS SEPARATELY so that they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons. Safe and secure storage of your firearm, ammunition, and loading components is your responsibility.
NEVER ASSUME THAT A “SECRET LOCATION” or “HIDING PLACE” IS A SECURE STORAGE METHOD. Without your knowledge others, such as children, may be aware of your storage location or they may find it by accident. It is your important personal responsibility to properly store your firearms, ammunition, and loading components and to always make sure they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons.
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NEVER TRANSPORT A CHARGED OR PRIMED MUZZLELOADING FIREARM. When transporting your firearm it must be uncharged, unprimed and securely locked. Safe and secure transportation of your firearm is another important aspect of your responsibility as a firearm owner.
NEVER STORE A CHARGED OR PRIMED MUZZLELOADING FIREARM. When storing your firearm it must be uncharged, unprimed and securely locked. Safe and secure storage of your firearm is one of your most important responsibilities as a firearm owner.
ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LAW! In many states and local municipalities there are laws and regulations that make it a crime to keep a firearm unlocked in an area that is accessible to children or others. Keeping a firearm locked and unloaded when not in use is not only a common sense safety practice... IT IS THE LAW. You must be familiar with all local, state, and federal laws regarding the safe storage and transportation of your firearm. Failure to know and follow the law may result in unauthorized access or use of your firearm by another for which you may be held accountable. Obey all laws relating to the storage and transportation of firearms. Your local police department or gun shop can provide you with the pertinent information for where you live on storing and/or transporting a firearm safely and legally.
YOUR FIREARM IS YOUR CONSTANT RESPONSIBILITY. You must always make sure to prevent your firearm from being stolen or from being used by untrained or unqualified individuals. To prevent this always keep it locked, uncharged, unprimed and secured when not in use by you.
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3. SAFETY RULES FOR YOUR TRADITIONS™ MUZZLELOADER
In addition to the general Firearm Safety Responsibilities covered so far in this manual, there are additional guidelines specific to black powder muzzleloading firearms that must be adhered to at all times to ensure the safety of the shooter and others.
NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE USE SMOKELESS POWDER OF ANY TYPE OR IN ANY QUANTITY IN A MUZZLELOADING FIREARM, AND NEVER MIX POWDERS. The use of any smokeless powder at all could result in a detonation or explosion which could cause injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
NEVER USE ANY POWDER THAT YOU CANNOT POSITIVELY IDENTIFY. The use of any mislabeled or unknown powder could result in injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
USE ONLY BLACK POWDER OR AN APPROVED BLACK POWDER SUBSTITUTE IN YOUR TRADITIONS™ MUZZLELOADING FIREARM. Never use even small amounts of smokeless powder, even if it may be black in color. The use of any propellant other than black powder or approved black powder substitute may cause injury or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
UNDERSTAND THE TERMINOLOGY REGARDING LOADING.
When speaking of a muzzleloading firearm “Charge” or “Charged” refers to the presence of a propellant powder charge and projectile in the bore of the firearm
“Uncharge” or “Uncharged” indicates that the powder charge and projectile have been either fired or removed and that the bore is completely clear.
“Prime” or “Primed” applies to the act of placing a primer, cap, or priming powder in or on a muzzleloader.
“Unprime” or “Unprimed” indicates that the primer, cap, or priming powder has been removed from the firearm or is not in place.
NEVER SMOKE OR ALLOW BYSTANDERS TO SMOKE WHILE USING YOUR MUZZLELOADER. The spark from a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe can ignite Black Powder or a Black Powder substitute, Percussion Caps, or Primers. Smoking around a charged and/or
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primed muzzleloader, percussion caps, primers, priming powder or supply of powder may cause premature firing of the firearm or an explosion of the powder can, horn, or flask causing serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
DO NOT LOAD A MUZZLELOADER WHICH IS HOT FROM PREVIOUS FIRING. ALWAYS ALLOWS THE BARREL TO COOL BEFORE YOU BEGIN RELAODING YOUR MUZZLELOADING FIREARM
BEFORE YOU BEGIN LOADING, MAKE SURE YOUR MUZZLELOADING FIREARM IS NOT ALREADY CHARGED. To make sure the firearm is uncharged, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and insert the ramrod provided with the firearm into the bore. If the ramrod sits approximately ¾”below the muzzle then the firearm is not charged, while if the end of the ramrod extends past the muzzle then it is charged and you will need to remove the charge.
WHEN LOADING, MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECTILE IS FIRMLY SEATED AGAINST THE POWDER CHARGE. Serious personal injury or death can result if the projectile is not seated properly against the powder charge. To create a simple way to check this when loading is after you have fully seated a projectile against a powder charge mark the ramrod as a point of reference for a properly seated projectile.
NEVER EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM BLACK POWDER OR BLACK POWDER SUBSTITUTE CHARGE LISTED IN THIS BOOK. If the recommended maximum charge is exceeded then injury or death to the shooter or bystanders can occur.
NEVER POUND ON THE RAMROD WHEN LOADING. Black powder and/or approved black powder substitutes are potentially sensitive to impact and could ignite from the impact of pounding on the ramrod. Always be sure to keep the muzzle pointed away from your face or body when loading. Place your fingers and hand around the ramrod, and not over the end of the ramrod when seating projectile for safety.
BLACK POWDER AND BLACK POWDER SUBSTITUTES ARE CORROSIVE BY NATURE AND LEAVE RESIDUES IN THE BORE AND ON THE FIREARM THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE CLEANING. A quick field cleaning should be performed just after you complete firing at the range or hunting. A thorough in depth cleaning is required before the storage for any amount of time to keep the firearm functioning properly and in a safe condition. Failure to properly clean the firearm may prevent the firearm from functioning safely and correctly and may result in injury or death to the shooter or others or damage to property.
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NEVER PRIME YOUR MUZZLELOADING FIREARM UNTILYOU ARE READY TO FIRE IT. Your muzzleloader should remain unprimed until the instant before firing. After you prime the firearm, your full attention should be on the target and firing of the firearm.
NEVER PASS A CHARGED MUZZLELOADING FIREARM TO ANOTHER PERSON. Once charged, a muzzleloading firearm requires your complete attention. Never charge the firearm and then hand it to another shooter. You should also never shoot a muzzleloading firearm that was charged by someone else. Only the person who actually performed the loading knows whether the firearm has been charged properly and should fire it.
BEFORE YOU ACCEPT A MUZZLELOADING FIREARM FROM SOMEONE, CONFIRM FOR YOURSELF THAT IT IS UNPRIMED AND UNCHARGED. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded and will fire.
NEVER CHARGE YOUR MUZZLELOADER DIRECTLY FROM A CAN, HORN OR FLASK. A spark from a previous firing may ignite the stream of powder being poured into the firearm and cause the container to explode. The explosion of a powder can, horn or flask may cause serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property. Use a separate pre-calibrated measuring device containing small quantities of powder to charge your firearm. Keep the muzzle directed away from your face and body when loading.
WHILE SHOOTING ALWAYS KEEP SUPPLIES OF POWDER, PRIMERS AND CAPS WELL AWAY FROM YOUR FIRING POSITION OR SHOOTING BENCH. A powder horn, flask, can of powder, or quantity of primers or caps can ignite with deadly force if exposed to sparks or intense heat. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe handling and storage of powder, primers, or caps. Keep unused powder, primers, or caps well away from firearms that are being discharged. Sparks from the discharge of a muzzleloading firearm may cause the unused supply of powder, primers, or caps to ignite causing serious injury and/or death to the shooter or bystanders and damage to property.
WARNING: NEVER RELY ON MECHANICAL FEATURES ALONE. MECHANICAL FEATURES CAN FAIL AND SHOULD NEVER BE EXCLUSIVELY RELIED UPON. ONLY YOUR CONSTANT SAFE FIREARM HANDLING WILL ENSURE THE SAFE USE OF YOUR FIREARM.
You must follow these procedures every time a firearm leaves your hand, is cleaned, handed to you or another person, transported or stored.
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4. LEARNING THE BASICS OF THE
VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™
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Gun Model designation on frame
Serial number marking on frame
Propellant marking on barrel
Caliber designation on barrel
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Striker button in the “at rest” and de-cocked position
Striker button in the cocked and ready to fire position
SAFETIES INCLUDED WITH THE VORTEK
STRIKERFIRE™
Your Traditions™ Vortek Strikerfire™ break-action muzzleloader comes equipped with dual safeties.
The first safety is an internal striker block safety that blocks the striker from being released and hitting the primer unless the trigger has been pulled. This prevents the striker from hitting the primer in the case of a drop or sudden impact.
The second safety is an ambidextrous mechanical trigger block safety that prevents the trigger from being pulled back and allowing the sear to become disengaged. The rifle can be cocked and also de-cocked with the trigger block safety engaged.
Trigger block safety disengaged, red ring is visible.
Trigger block safety engaged, “safe”, no
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5. FUNCTION TEST FOR THE VORTEK STRIKERFIRE™
WARNING: ALWAYS POINT THE MUZZLE IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND TREAT THE FIREARM AS IF IT WAS LOADED AND CAN FIRE.
WARNING: CONFIRM THE FIREARM IS UNCHARGED AND UNPRIMED BEFORE CONDUCTING ANY OF THE FUNCTION TESTS.
Now that you are familiar with the parts of the Vortek StrikerFire™ a function test can be performed on the rifle to ensure that all parts are operating as intended. This function test should also be performed after anytime you have disassembled the rifle for cleaning or any maintenance.
Function testing the action
1.Open the action by pressing on the barrel catch lever which will then allow the action to pivot open.
2.Close the action by pivoting the opposite way from when you opened the action waiting to hear a metallic click indicating the action is locked.
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