Modern Muzzle-Loading Rifles and Equipment

In the last 30 years or so, there has not been a lot of change in firearms. The one area where there has been a lot of improvement is in the area of muzzleloaders. Going back just those 30 years, you would find that most muzzleloaders were either flintlock, or percussion cap. Both of these designs are built on the side lock action. That means that there is a hammer that sits on the side of the gun, which descends on either the priming powder in the flintlock, or the musket cap in the percussion cap rifle. However, the emergence of the "inline" muzzleloader changed that.

With an inline muzzleloader, the firing cap, which is now typically a .209 shot gun primer, sits directly behind the powder charge. It is struck with a firing pin, much like in a center fire rifle. Many manufacturers now make a sealed breech rifle, which means that there is little chance of moisture getting into the chamber, dampening the powder, and keeping the rifle from firing. In the old style muzzleloaders, it was common for some minor obstruction to either delay the firing of the rifle, or keep it from firing all together. That is not the case as much today, as the flame can reach the powder uninhibited, and in a much more direct (and thus fast) manner. It was not uncommon with a flintlock especially, for there to be a delay between the pulling of the trigger and the firing of the rifle. Now, with an inline muzzleloader, that delay is virtually unnoticeable, at least if you keep your gun clean.