I was just going through my North American Hunter magazine. In the magazine they had an article about muzzleloaders and why they failed to fire, and one incident of why it misfired.

One of the authorities was a guide. He was telling how they were hunting in snow and cold. How the hunter had prepared the rifle, and even popped primers. When it came to crunch time, it failed to fire. He was then telling about the firing pin in new inline muzzleloaders and how in cold and damp they can get stuck. I was wondering what all of you do to insure that the firing pin in say your Knight, Thompson Centers, Genesis, Etc.. all work the way they are supposed to? Makes the old hammer striker models look a little better. Although, they have to slide as well.

I guess I have over looked the importance of that firing pin being not only clean, but perhaps treated with something so that it would not freeze up in the cold and snow. What would be a good thing to treat it with? Silicon, graphite powder, oil, leave it dry?

The article went on to tell of a hunter having a slam dunk shot at a trophy buck. He pulled the trigger and flat out missed. The expert was positive that his EZ load sabot had moved just a little off the powder charge. He then suggested to check that load with the ramrod from time to time. Could this be the reason some of us are missing? Are you checking your load? This is one thing I am kind of anal about. I check the load when I head out to make sure it is seated tight. When I get to a blind and get seated, I will often check the projectile again. And this is done because I normally hunt with slip fit conicals or sabots. Round ball I have never found yet, to have moved off the powder charge.

Just some things I have been reading.