This is one of the simpler tips. The goal here is to get all of the powder to the breech of the muzzleloader. As the powder is poured down the muzzle, some of the powder might stick to the sides of the barrel, especially if a damp cleaning patch was ran down the barrel. Some shooters use a long tube that drops the powder directly into the breach. I haven’t gotten one of these tubes yet, but they seem like the best way to ensure that all the powder is sitting at the breech before the ball and patch is loaded. What I do is tap the muzzle of the barrel with my wooden hammer to knock any black powder particles that might stick to the side of the barrel loose. I also try to wait a minute or two after cleaning the barrel before I put the powder down so that it will be as dry as possible.
If you make sure that all of the powder is at the breach before the ball and patch is loaded, you will improve the accuracy of your shooting.
