You are shooting a muzzleloader. A hang fire happens. What should you do?

When a hang fire occurs while shooting a muzzleloader, the most important safety protocol is to ensure that the firearm remains pointed in a safe direction, which in this case is downrange. A hang fire is a delay between the ignition of the primer and the actual firing of the round. Because of this delay, there is a risk that the gun could discharge unexpectedly after the trigger has been pulled, which can occur up to several seconds after the initial firing attempt.

By keeping the firearm pointed downrange, you minimize the risk of injury to yourself or others in case the gun discharges unexpectedly. This is a fundamental rule of firearm safety, emphasizing the importance of always treating a firearm as if it is loaded and being prepared for the possibility of an unintentional discharge.

Other options involve actions that could compromise safety. For example, looking down the muzzle is extremely dangerous and should never be done, as it exposes you to the risk of personal injury if the gun fires. Taking the gun back home or reloading and firing again does not address the immediate safety concern posed by the hang fire and could potentially lead to mismanagement of the firearm that may result in an accident. Therefore, maintaining a safe direction is crucial in handling this situation.