MUZZLELOADER REGULATION CONSIDERATIONS

PRESENTED BY

DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

Muzzleloader History

• Flintlock

• Percussion

• In-line

Flintlock

Percussion Muzzleloaders

In-Line Muzzleloaders

Black Powder

Muzzleloader Evolution Summary

• Better ammo

• Enhanced barrel grooving

• Increased weather resistance (caps)

• More even/consistent burning powders

• No scope is the limiting factor

Evolution of Ammunition

Powder Overview

• Black powder larger volume (grain) than modern smokeless powders

• Black powder residue clogs barrel and is corrosive – must clean barrel after a shot or two and to prevent barrel from corroding

• Smokeless powder burns cleaner and puts out more force/pressure per gram than black powder

Powder Overview

• Black-powder and black-powder substitutes are carbon based propellants

• Smokeless powders are nitrocellulose based propellants

Powder Overview

• Smokeless powder more stable than black powder

• The smaller the grain size the faster the powder will burn, you can blow up your gun and get injured also.

Types of Black Powder

• (F) used for small cannon and very large bore guns

• (FF) used for 45caliber to shotguns and small cannon

• (FFF) used for 44 caliber and smaller bore rifles and pistols

• (FFFF) used mainly for priming flash pans on flint lock guns

Types of Black Powder

• You can use larger grain powder sizes in smaller sized calibers with less accuracy, but you should never use small grain powder in the larger bore guns. The smaller the grain size the faster the powder will burn.

Black Powder Substitutes (over 100 types/brands)

NAC 503.142

NAC 503.142 Hunting big game mammal with firearm. (NRS 501.105, 501.181, 503.150) The Commission hereby establishes the following exceptions to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 503.150:

1. During a type of hunt that is restricted to muzzle-loading firearms, a person may hunt a big game mammal only with a muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading musket, and may use only a lead ball, a lead bullet, a semi-jacketed bullet or a metal alloy bullet that expands. The use of smokeless powder is prohibited. Only black powder or a black powder substitute such as Pyrodex or Triple 7 may be used as a propellant.

Other State Regulations

• Idaho - Is loaded ONLY with loose black powder OR other loose synthetic black powder.

• Oregon - Granular (loose) black powder and black powder substitutes are the only legal propellants during muzzleloader-only seasons

• Arizona - Muzzleloading rifles; All other rifles using black powder or synthetic black powder;

Other State Regulations

• California - Black powder or equivalent black powder substitute including pellets

• Utah - It must be loaded with black powder or a black powder substitute. The black powder or black powder substitute cannot contain smokeless powder but contain some nitrocellulose

Regulations Must Be Enforceable

• C6H9(NO2)O5 C6H8(NO2)2O5 C6H7(NO2)3O5

OPTION 1

No change

• The use of smokeless powder is prohibited. Only black powder or a black powder substitute such as Pyrodex or Triple 7 may be used as a propellant.

OPTION 2

OPTION 3

• The use of smokeless powder is prohibited. Only black powder or a black powder substitute with a volumetric equivalent may be used as a propellant.

Option 4

• Only allow primitive muzzleloaders

– A wheel lock, matchlock or flintlock ignition system