What sort of muzzleloader did you learn to shoot?
Was it a modern inline or did you learn on a sidelock like the rest of us?
If it was the latter, there’s no surprise there. Many a front stuffer learns the ropes on a caplock or even a flintlock shooting “holy black” and patched round balls.
Speaking of patched round balls, did you have something in your possibles bag that made it easier, faster even, to load the charge?
Or at least part of it?
We’re talking about a loading block – you know, those flat pieces of wood (literally, blocks) that have holes drilled around the edges, roughly corresponding to the diameter of the patched ball?
These are possibles bag staples, along with brass powder flasks, cap holders, cone wrenches, flint knappers, and loading jags.
But there is a better (and potentially a safer) alternative to loading blocks. These are modern muzzleloader speed loaders.
Here’s why they’re better
The Shortcomings of the Loading Block
At its most basic, a muzzleloader loading block is a thin piece of hardwood with holes drilled around the margins.
Over these holes, you place a patch, and into the hole, you press a round ball of appropriate diameter for your bore.
Complete the sequence, then throw the loading block in your possibles bag till you need to load the gun.
At that time, you draw your powder flask, measure the appropriate charge, pour it down the bore, then place the block over the muzzle, and start driving the ball home.
The system is not abysmal. It is not even truly bad. But it is inferior to a modern muzzleloader speed loader, and here’s why.
Have you ever heard this rhyme?
First the powder, then the ball,
If not that way, it won’t shoot at all!
This little mnemonic is an admonition not to forget the powder charge before ramming home a bullet – because if you do that, you need to use a ball puller to pull the ball out.
And that is a time consuming and quite annoying proposition.
The other thing about old school loading blocks is that there’s nothing in the way of a pre-measured charge. That wastes time and leaves room for error.
With a modern muzzleloader speed loader, there’s a pre-measured charge in one of the tubes either behind or next to the bullet.
That way, you can prepare the charge, precisely, in the comfort of your home, or at your bench, rather than out in the field.
It is faster, it is more consistent and precise, and it is safer than using a loading block.
So, with all due deference to tradition, get a muzzleloader speed loader for yourself. You deserve it.
Where to Get a Modern Muzzleloader Speed Loader?
If you’ve been convinced by the (quite watertight) arguments in this article, fast track yourself towards a new muzzleloader speed loader by visiting Anarchy Outdoors. They carry a wide variety of muzzleloader accessories and speed loaders are just one of them.
