Muzzleloading:
 Muzzleloading is the term used to describe the sport, or pastime of firing muzzle-loading guns or muzzleloaders. Muzzleloading in this case will apply to muzzle-loading rifles "(Muzzleloaders)". It usually, but not always, involves the use of a loose powder propellant (i.e. gun powder), a projectile, as well as a separate method of ignition or priming the rifle. The powder and projectile are always loaded from the muzzle end of the rifle barrel.

Caliber Selections:
 The United States of America was settled and occupied traveling from east to west and south to north, as this expansion took place the animals settlers and trailblazers encountered changed in size from common white-tailed deer of the east to very large bears of the west and north, as these animals were encountered bore sizes in muzzle-loaded rifles changed as well. When selecting a muzzle-loading rifle you first need to establish what it will be used for, below is a common sense caliber suggested use listing which is based on muzzleloader bullet or projectile wound channel for hunting purposes.

(.36 Caliber), Thirty six caliber and smaller bore diameter muzzle-loading rifles are a good choice for small game like Rabbits and Squirrels and Varminting.
(Light Recoiling Rifle)

(.45 Caliber), Forty five caliber bore diameter muzzle-loading rifles are a good choice for Antelope, Black Bear, Black-Tailed Deer, Hogs, Javelina, Mule Deer & White-Tailed Deer.
(Light To Medium Recoiling Rifle)

(.50 Caliber), Fifty caliber bore diameter muzzle-loading rifles are a good choice for medium to large game such as Elk Caribou & Sheep.
(Medium To Heavy Recoiling Rifle)

(.54 Caliber), Fifty four caliber and larger bore diameter muzzle-loading rifles are a good choice for big game like Moose and large Bears.
(Heavy Recoiling Rifle)

Barrel Twist Rates And Velocities:
 Bullet choices for the muzzleloaders are many for the simple fact that there were many muzzleloaders manufactured with varying barrel twist rates; 1 in 20 inches, 1 in 28 inches, 1 in 48 inches and 1 in 66 inches just to name a few.

 1:20" twist barrels shoot long heavy bullets fine at velocities below 1650 fps with sabots and under 1400 fps with conicals.
 1:28" twist barrels shoot many weights of bullets fine either sabots and conicals over the entire velocity range.
 1:48" twist barrels shoot patched roundball fine up to about 1800 fps and under 1750 fps with conicals.
 1:66" twist barrels shoot shoot patched roundball over the entire velocity range quite accurately.

Muzzleloading Classification:
 Muzzle-loading rifles can be classed in two different categories, Inline muzzle-loading rifles and Sidelock muzzle-loading rifles.

 1. Inline muzzleloading will be with a rifle of a inline, modern primer design and will be loaded from the muzzle end of the barrel with the use of a black powder substitute for a reliable propellant charge such as triple seven, pyrodex or blackhorn 209.

 2. Sidelock muzzleloading will be with a rifle of a sidelock design with either a flintlock type ignition system or a percussion cap system and will be loaded from the muzzle end of the barrel with the use of black powder for a reliable propellant or priming charge.

Loading Sequence:
 The sequence of loading your rifle after checking to make sure there are no obstructions in the barrel is to do the following:

 1. Charging The Rifle With Gunpowder, either by inserting premeasured pellets, pouring in loose measured powder, or by inserting a pre-measured bag of gunpowder usually called a "cartridge", gunpowder used is typically blackpowder or blackpowder substitutes like Pyrodex.

 2. Projectile Loading Or Bullet Loading, only one at a time is loaded.
 a. Patched round balls, the patch is wrapped around the base of the ball, the purpose of which is to grip the rifling and impart spin to the loose fitting ball.
 b. Pre-Lubed bullets, no wad is used as the projectile has a hollow base or gas rings which expands to grip the rifling and is already lubed, however using a wad at the base of the bullet does in some cases increase accuracy.
 c. Saboted bullets, no patch or lube is used as the projectile has a concaved base which expands to grip the rifling.

 3. Seating The Charge, a tool called a "ramrod" is used to push the items down the barrel and then seated firmly together against the breech, at this point the muzzle-loading rifle has been charged with powder and bullet and not fully loaded.

 4. Priming The Rifle, completes the loading process.
 a. The inline rifle is now primed with a 209 shotshell primer or a likeness thereof at the rear of the breech.
 b. The sidelock percussion cap rifle is now primed by placing the hammer in half-cock position which exposes the nipple and a cap is placed on the nipple.
 c. The sidelock flintlock rifle is now primed by placing the hammer in half-cock position which exposes the frizzen pan which is now charged with priming powder.

 5. The Muzzle-Loading Rifle Has Now Been Muzzle-Loaded, ready for firing.