A friend of mine had a Traditions Hawkin muzzloader and it wouldn't fire most of the time. It turned out that it had some sort of a burr or obstruction in the flash hole. He shot a couple of deer with that gun, but had several others get away due to the gun not firing. The cap would make a loud bang and the deer would be off and running. Needless to say, he sold that gun (cheap). Sorry to say, he has been away from muzzloading ever since. I am going to try and persuade him to buy another, quality gun and try it again. I may even have to loan him my TC Whitemountain carbine. I have shot many deer with that gun and never had a misfire. It is a short, lightweight carrying gun. I have a TC reciever site on it and it is deadly out to 75 yds or so. I shoot 100 grains of 777 and a 385 grain Hornady Great Plains bullet. I have never had to track a deer shot with this combination. I had a big doe come under my treestand this year. It was 3 days after Christmas and I was hunting the late season. She appeared 10 minutes before the end of legal time. I almost felt bad shooting her, since it was so easy of a shot. She dropped like a poleaxed steer. No thrashing, or anything, she was dead immediately. It was a spineshot, straight down. I have shot other deer at farther distances and had the same results. I guess what I'm trying to say here, is buy a quality gun and you won't be disappointed.