I see!! Well, for starters, the Sharps is NOT a muzzleloader!! It is a breechloader that uses a paper cartridge containing powder and bullet. You open the breechblock by dropping the lever, insert the cartridge bullet-first, then close th block. The block shears off the back end ot the cartridge, exposing the powder. Then you draw the hammer back to half-cock, place a cap on the nipple, cock the hammer fully, then aim and fire. In most states, such a breechloader is NOT permitted in the muzzle-loading special season. It has to be a rifle which is loaded from the muzzle only!!