Whether you shoot a sidelock with a wooden stock or you have one of the most advanced CVA or Knight muzzleloaders with an inline ignition system, some of the fundamentals of muzzleloading remain the same. Therefore, your pack or possibles bag should contain these muzzleloader accessories, at minimum.
1. Muzzleloader Ramrod
Wood ramrods are just alright, but they break. So do fiberglass ramrods. We recommend one of the three-piece aluminum ramrods for sale at Anarchy Outdoors. They are lightweight, break down for fitting into a pack, and will not break.
2. Ball/Bullet Starter
Trying to start your bullet or ball down the bore with your ramrod is a great way to break it. There’s a reason they make muzzleloader bullet starters and it’s this. Make sure your pack has one.
3. Loading and Cleaning Jags
You’ll need loading jags as well as cleaning jags that are compatible with your ramrod for obvious reasons.
4. Patches
Make sure you carry at least 10 or 20 patches in your possibles bag so you can field clean your muzzleloader as needed. Actually, having more is better if you can spare the space.
5. Patch Puller/Worm
If you shoot a muzzleloading shotgun, you’ll need either a worm or a patch puller. The reason is you can unload a muzzleloader with one and recover the shot and powder, without having to fire the muzzleloader.
6. Ball Puller
Not a pleasant muzzleloader accessory to have to use, but if you do ever accidentally forget to load propellant (or something else happens) you’ll be glad you had a ball puller to remove the projectile from the bore.
7. Powder Flask/Horn
You need a place to keep your propellant. Whether you shoot pellets, a substitute, or “holy black,” a synthetic or brass flask is a great bet.
8. Loading Block or Speed Loader
Loading blocks are a little more primitive than muzzleloader speed loaders, and you don’t absolutely have to have one, but they can save you some trouble in the field.
9. Primer Case or Capper
You need a primer case to protect your primers from dust and moisture. A capper will not only hold primers but is a tool that makes it easier to prime your caplock’s cone.
10. Powder Measure
A powder measure is essential. Never “eyeball” powder or propellant. Always load either by grain (or volumetrically if using a shotgun) so you can control performance precisely. A grain or two one way or the other can make a big difference.
11. Vent Pick/Pen Brush
For caplock shooters, you’ll need a vent pick to clear out the cone (and for a flinter’s vent, as well). As for flinter shooters, the pan brush will help you keep your pan dry and clean for consistent ignition.
12. CO2 Discharger
This is a little modern as far as muzzleloader accessories go but it can be worth its weight in gold. Whether you simply want to safely unload your muzzleloader at the end of a hunt or you just want to silently discharge it (and safely) a CO2 discharger is a must-have. Very non-traditional, but very valuable, and much safer than pulling a ball or shooting the gun to clear it.
Where to Get Most of These Muzzleloader Accessories
This is just a start of the most essential muzzleloader accessories that you’ll want in your possibles bag, but remember, it’s not complete. You want anything in your possibles bag that you could possibly need (hence the name). Either way, you can get a lot of these accessories online at Anarchy Outdoors (link above). Take a look at their collection and get in touch with them if you have any questions.
