A percussion muzzleloader has the nipple mounted on the outside of the barrel at the breech end. To ignite a gunpowder charge, it uses a small percussion cap that has an explosive compound. This firearm’s firing mechanism consists of the following parts:

TriggerThe trigger is the small lever on the firearm. It releases the hammer when pulled.

HammerThe hammer strikes the percussion cap, producing a spark.

NippleThe nipple is a small, tapered metal tube that screws into the barrel. The percussion cap is pushed onto the nipple and is held on by tension.

RamrodThe ramrod is used to push the bullet down a barrel until it is seated on top of the charge. It is also used to determine whether the firearm is loaded. On traditional muzzleloaders, the ramrod may be made of wood, whereas modern muzzleloaders will have a fiberglass or composite ramrod.

Patch BoxThe patch box is a convenient, easy way to store patches accessibly.