Black powder is highly fouling and it may become difficult to load a ball after a few shots. When your rifle becomes hard to load, swab the bore a few times with a lubricated patch or bore cleaner.

Black powder is highly corrosive, and if it’s left to sit or its residue not wiped away, it can ruin a gun in a very short time. Flintlock muzzleloaders date back to the 1700s and are still made ...

D'Arcy Egan/The Plain DealerCraftsman Ian Pratt (left) of Marshallville, Ohio provides Bill Pachinger of Middleburg Heights some guidance in building a black powder rifle. The class is being held ...

Like the old guys, Gibbs loads by pouring black powder down the barrel, followed by patch and ball, and tamping it tight with a ramrod. He shoots 60 grains of powder and a .490 round ball.