How to Shoot the Pedersoli Sharps Rifle

Engage the safety by pulling the hammer back to the half-cock position before loading the rifle. Fully open the breach by extending the rifle's lever downward. Place a bullet firmly into the breach. Fill the remainder of the chamber with black powder. Ensure that the chamber is completely full of powder and that there are no empty gaps between the powder and the bullet. Settle the powder in the chamber by tapping the side of the rifle, and carefully close the breach by pulling the rifle lever upward.

Shake off of any powder that is still on the rifle. (If you're using a prepared paper cartridge you don't need to go through these steps; you can simply insert the paper cartridge into the chamber.)

Place a musket cap securely on the rifle's nipple and pull the hammer to its full back position. The rifle is now ready to fire.

Aim at your target and slowly pull back on the rear trigger until it clicks. Then place your trigger finger on the front trigger and gently pull until the rifle fires.

After the shot is fired, pull the hammer back to the half-cock position and extend the rifle lever downward to eject the spent cartridge.

If the rifle does not fire, keep the rifle pointed in a safe direction for at least one minute. Remove the musket cap, and check that the chamber is completely filled with powder. Put the musket cap back and try firing the rifle again. If the rifle fails again, you will have to unload it.

Unload the rifle. Remove the musket cap, point the rifle downward, and gently tap the side of the rifle to settle the powder. Over a bowl of water, turn the rifle upside down and carefully open the breach allowing the powder to spill into the water. Clear the chamber of powder, place the rifle's ramrod down the barrel and push out the bullet.