it seems like with a muzzleoader everyone has there own practice of voo-doo or something(DO THIS DONT DO THAT) and now i will tell you my thoughts after 10 years of hunting with one. i dont think it hurts to fire a cap or 2 but i like to put a rod with a patch down the barrel to catch the gunk and oil residue when i fire off the cap. i use a thompson center newenglander caplock muzzleoader and have had the gun NOT FIRE in several hunting situations and i think i know why. i think firing the cap can clog the nipple. im thinking that the gunk -particles and paper from the cap can build up and close or constrict the nipple on occasion. i think the best way for myself to insure ignition it to run a nipple pick down through the nipple hole after you have loaded it. i used to think that un screwing the nipple and poring powder in the hole would help but sometimes the gun still wouldnt go off. ever since i started runningb the nipple pick throught the nipple hole after loading i never get a cap that goes off and a gun that doesnt fire. just a thought