Lyman Black Powder Instructions Manual

Lyman
®
User’s Guide for
Black Powder Products
This booklet contains important how-to information on the use
and maintenance of black powder products and accessories
including:
• Flintlock and Caplock - How They Work
• Black Powder Loads and Specifications
• Shooting Tips–Round Ball and Conicals
• Basics of Bullet Casting
• Disassembly and Cleaning
The User’s Guide also includes detailed product information and
exploded parts diagrams for:
• Great Plains Rifle • Deerstalker Rifle
• Trade Rifle • Plains...

Table of Contents
Black Powder Shooter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Special Product Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Some Words of Caution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Flintlock and Caplock–How they Work  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
How to Load—The Patched Roundball  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

1
Lyman
®
Dear Black Powder Shooter:
Congratulations on purchasing your new Lyman Black Powder Gun. All of our
black powder products are the result of extensive thought and testing. With
proper care, your new gun should bring you a lifetime of shooting pleasure.
Before firing your gun, there are a few precautions that should be followed.
Please read these instructions carefully.
1. If your new rifle is a flintlock, we have function tested the lock assembly,
flint and frizzen to ensure that it provides...

2
SPECIAL PRODUCT INFORMATION–
PLEASE READ
Check List for Lyman Black Powder Guns
Upon opening the carton containing your Black Powder Gun you should find
the following items.
Contents
Black Powder Model-Finished
Great Plains Rifle Stock
Great Plains Hunter Ramrod
Trade Rifle Barrel
DeerstalkerWedges (One for Trade & Deerstalker
two for Great Plains)
Primitive rear sight
(Trade & Great Plains)
Adjustable rear sight
(Trade & Great Plains)
Lyman 16AML & 37AML Sights
(Deerstalker only)
Cleaning Jag
Flint...

3
SOME WORDS OF CAUTION
1. All Lyman black powder pistols and rifles are intended for use with black
powder or Pyrodex only. Use of any other propellant can cause
serious injury to the shooter and damage to the firearm. Never use
smokeless powder.
2.Guard against overcharges. Follow the instructions and do not exceed
suggested charges in this booklet.
3. Wear safety glasses when shooting black powder firearms. Shatterproof
shooting glasses will protect the eyes from sparks, broken percussion
caps, hot...

4
FLINTLOCK AND CAPLOCK–HOW THEY WORK
The Flintlock
Todays flintlock evolved around 1600 in Europe and was the most efficient
lock for firearms use until the percussion system was perfected in the early
1800s. Even so, flintlock rifles remained in service in some of Americas more
rural areas until, perhaps, the turn of the century.
Simplicity of operation typifies the flintlock since all the shooter must have is a
bit of priming powder and a flint for the hammers jaws. This flint must be held
securely...

5
The flintlock is poised at full cock
and ready for firing.As the hammer falls, the leading edge
of the flint makes initial contact with
the face of the frizzen. The continuing
force of the hammer starts to rock the
springloaded frizzen back and up on its
pivot. Sparks generated here are minor
and probably offer very little to the
ignition process.
The hammer continues to fall and the
direct blow of the flint against the
frizzen changes to a heavy scraping of
the frizzen by the flint. This produces
a...

6
THE CAPLOCK
While the flintlock was a distinct improvement over the ignition systems it
superseded, it did have its problems and, as is usual, experiments were 
conducted by a variety of people in America and Europe seeking an improved
replacement. After several not-so-effective alternatives had been tried, the
percussion system as we know it today was devised, proved and accepted.
This new system was relatively impervious to the elements and offered the
shooter faster lock time and less distracting...

7
HOW TO LOAD ...
The Patched Roundball
Without a doubt, the most popular and widely used muzzle-loading projec-
tile is the patched roundball. This combination of a soft lead sphere and a
scrap of lubricated cloth is peculiarly American and has been with us ever
since its worth was proven prior to and during our Revolutionary War.
Over the years different styles of rifling have been devised and used with
some degree of success. Characteristics ran from extremely deep grooves to
relatively shallow ones;...

8
LOADING STEPS
1. Set the rifles butt on the ground with the muzzle inclined in a safe 
direction –well away from your body. Measure and pour the powder down
the barrel using an adjustable measure or pre-weighed charges.
2. Lay your strip of lubricated patching cloth (or pre-cut patch) over 
the muzzle. Center the ball and press it into the bore until it is flush 
with the muzzle. Tightfitting combinations can be seated by reversing your
ball starter and “rolling” it over the ball.
3. Cut the excess...