how many muzzleloaders are loaded in your house now?

[Bob Roller]

Never kept a muzzle loading rifle loaded but did use a percussion revolver in 1950 on a bum that tried to pull my mother out of the house.Modern guns are always loaded.
Bob Roller

I read about someone who had an incident in which they used a percussion revolver. The police, sorting things out, took custody of the gun. The officer asked, "How do I unload it?"

In this incident the cops thought it was a good idea and one of them told me be sure and clean the barrel and that one chamber.The shot I fired was intended to kill but did a good job of plowing a trench along the left side of the head and
an ear was damaged badly.I have NO social conscience and would do it again in any incident that would require that level
of force.This man was only interested in a small pretty red haired woman and found out "She ain't available".
We live about 500 yards North of what is now the CSX and we now own that home.In 1950 steam locomotives moved thru
the area pulling long freight or coal trains and would slow down and stop to take on water.Transients (bums) would get off and come into the residential areas and steal whatever was useful to them,clothes off a clothes line of food from a garden but it was my mother who was probably outside gathering or hanging clothes when this guy spotted her and thought he'd have some "fun" with her.I was 14 then and now almost 86 and feel no remorse and never will.
Bob Roller

[Steeltrap]

Never kept a muzzle loading rifle loaded but did use a percussion revolver in 1950 on a bum that tried to pull my mother out of the house.Modern guns are always loaded.
Bob Roller

I read about someone who had an incident in which they used a percussion revolver. The police, sorting things out, took custody of the gun. The officer asked, "How do I unload it?"

In this incident the cops thought it was a good idea and one of them told me be sure and clean the barrel and that one chamber.The shot I fired was intended to kill but did a good job of plowing a trench along the left side of the head and
an ear was damaged badly.I have NO social conscience and would do it again in any incident that would require that level
of force.This man was only interested in a small pretty red haired woman and found out "She ain't available".
We live about 500 yards North of what is now the CSX and we now own that home.In 1950 steam locomotives moved thru
the area pulling long freight or coal trains and would slow down and stop to take on water.Transients (bums) would get off and come into the residential areas and steal whatever was useful to them,clothes off a clothes line of food from a garden but it was my mother who was probably outside gathering or hanging clothes when this guy spotted her and thought he'd have some "fun" with her.I was 14 then and now almost 86 and feel no remorse and never will.
Bob Roller

Nor should you. Cheers!

[OldMtnMan]

Here's one of the problems. Nobody can tell if a muzzleloader is loaded by just looking at it. A CF gun is easy to see is loaded and easy to unload. Experienced muzzleloader will know a muzzleloader is loaded but the unexperienced has no clue.

So, let's say you have a loaded muzzleloader in your house and you get hit by a truck and die. Of course you can die many ways. The truck is to illustrate that death can come fast and unexpected.

So, your family, friends, or whoever sells your loaded muzzleloader. Maybe to someone new to muzzleloaders. Maybe it isn't sold and a family member keeps it who is new to muzzleloaders.

Can you see what can happen? Someone could be killed because a muzzleloader was left loaded.

[Bob Roller]

I had forgot about this episode of my life until a contributor on this forum showed a young grandson with a Remington six shooter and that brought back this episode.Had my grandfather,C.M.Taylor not gone to the A&P grocery store that bum would not have been shot.Grandpa Taylor was a large,all bone and muscle man that could have easily broken the back of that man but he had taken his small wagon and went to the store.
  Four years ago I came close to again using a gun on a possible pedophile.We had a pretty 10 year old girl staying with her grandparents 3 doors West of us and like her mother,she was developing physically way to fas and she anf I were talking in fron of our house and she had one of her legs propped up over the frame of the bike and it outlined her backside. A car came around the corner and stopped and the driver was staring at her when I spoke up and said, "Hey,she's only 10 so get out of the neighborhood".I don't think he saw me until I hollered at him.I asked if she knew him and her answer was no.
Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

Here's one of the problems. Nobody can tell if a muzzleloader is loaded by just looking at it. A CF gun is easy to see is loaded and easy to unload. Experienced muzzleloader will know a muzzleloader is loaded but the unexperienced has no clue.

So, let's say you have a loaded muzzleloader in your house and you get hit by a truck and die. Of course you can die many ways. The truck is to illustrate that death can come fast and unexpected.

So, your family, friends, or whoever sells your loaded muzzleloader. Maybe to someone new to muzzleloaders. Maybe it isn't sold and a family member keeps it who is new to muzzleloaders.

Can you see what can happen? Someone could be killed because a muzzleloader was left loaded.

Years ago there WAS a tragedy involving a muzzle loader.It was a military smooth bore that used a tape primer
and the man made that bought it at an auction and tried a roll of caps in the lock to see if they could be made to
work.One of them did and the gun went off and whatever it was loaded with hit his wife.She died on the operating table.
We have a friend who has a number of muzzle loaders in his antique store and I make it my job to check with a rod
that's longer than the barrel to see what,if anything is in it.ALL guns should be considered as being loaded including those
in museums.Back in the "day" when black powder was not easily found I heard "know nothings" tell people to pry open a shotgun shell and use that powder in a muzzle loader.I wonder how many are still loaded because a percussion cap couldn't fire the smokeless from the cartridge?
The above mentioned tape primer tragedy was published in a local newspaper but was not local for us.
  Bob Roller

[walks with gun]

   I did mention in a earlier post that my rifles have a leather (LOADED) tag hanging from the hammer and most family members know that I often have them loaded.

[bones92]

I had forgot about this episode of my life until a contributor on this forum showed a young grandson with a Remington six shooter and that brought back this episode.Had my grandfather,C.M.Taylor not gone to the A&P grocery store that bum would not have been shot.Grandpa Taylor was a large,all bone and muscle man that could have easily broken the back of that man but he had taken his small wagon and went to the store.
  Four years ago I came close to again using a gun on a possible pedophile.We had a pretty 10 year old girl staying with her grandparents 3 doors West of us and like her mother,she was developing physically way to fas and she anf I were talking in fron of our house and she had one ofher legs propped up over the frame of the bike and it outlined her backside. A car came around the corner and stopped and the driver was staring at her when I spoke up and said, "Hey,she's only 10 so get out of the neighborhood".I don't think he saw me until I hollered at him.I asked if she knew him and her answer was no.
Bob Roller

This is the consequences we face in a society where pornography is normalized and where pedophilia is seeping into art and entertainment more and more.   

[bones92]

My only concern about loaded muzzleloaders is that black powder attracts moisture, and I can't help but think that I will induce corrosion where the powder.    If I need a gun quickly,  I'm not reaching for a BP firearm, anyway.    Anything I need to shoot with a muzzleloader can wait till I've loaded it.  Anything needing to be shot right away will mean a centerfire arm is to be used.

[OldMtnMan]

My only concern about loaded muzzleloaders is that black powder attracts moisture, and I can't help but think that I will induce corrosion where the powder.    If I need a gun quickly,  I'm not reaching for a BP firearm, anyway.    Anything I need to shoot with a muzzleloader can wait till I've loaded it.  Anything needing to be shot right away will mean a centerfire arm is to be used.

Plus, a second shot is nice to have.

[walks with gun]

  It is possible to have both.  Modern firearms placed in safe areas around the house and outbuildings as well as on ones person AND a muzzleloader for general stuff.

[Steeltrap]

Frankly, I can't even believe there's a discussion about having a loaded primitive weapon in the house.

Who keeps a loaded crossbow with bolt in tact in the house "just in case"?

Nobody that I want to associate with.

[Bob Roller]

  It is possible to have both.  Modern firearms placed in safe areas around the house and outbuildings as well as on ones person AND a muzzleloader for general stuff.

I am never unarmed and Wva has no gun laws now beyond those pertaining to shooting them in the city limits other than established indoor ranges.NEVER mess with an old man.There is no way to predict what he may have with him.We also are NOT obligated to retreat in the event of an encounter with tweedledee the wonder dummy that thinks a geezer is an easy target.
Bob Roller

[walks with gun]

   Some of us live in places where we can walk out the door and roam the woods for hours or days.  I most often like to carry one of my flint rifles and see no point in unloading it everyday since I will most likely carry it again the next day.  I sure can't understand why anyone on this sight wouldn't consider a "primitive weapon" to do so,  no-one I would want to associate with thats for sure.

[OldMtnMan]

   Some of us live in places where we can walk out the door and roam the woods for hours or days.  I most often like to carry one of my flint rifles and see no point in unloading it everyday since I will most likely carry it again the next day.  I sure can't understand why anyone on this sight wouldn't consider a "primitive weapon" to do so,  no-one I would want to associate with thats for sure.

You carry it for a bear encounter?

[snapper]

I am going to dump my load in a matter of minutes.   I believe deer season is over for me this year and the rifle needs to be cleaned and put away.

Fleener

[walks with gun]

    OldMtnMan,   I carry it because I don't believe in going unarmed if possible,  I carry it for protection,  I carry it because I often plink at targets along the way.  I carry it because when grouse or rabbits are in season I sometimes bag a couple for dinner,  I carry it it becouse it is a beautiful tool and I enjoy using it, I carry it because it is my god given right and my right as a U.S. citizen and I carry it becouse I @!*% well want to.

[bones92]

Walks with gun, I can see where that would make sense.  I'd love to live in the countryside someday where I can walk my own woods.  I'd probably keep a muzzleloader ready to grab (unprimed), too.  I'd want to discharge regularly, though, so as not to leave powder for weeks on end without cleaning.

As for now, I have no good reason to keep a loaded muzzleloader around the house.   It would be problematic for me to just discharge it  (I'd have to drive out some country road, and fire it off into the ditch while no cars were around). I've had this issue before, on the few occasions I've keep my DGW flintlock loaded over night when I hunted a few days in a row.   Never having had a chance to shoot a deer, I had to pull the PRB with my rod.   Then I discharged the powder in the backyard so as not to make too loud a report in the neighborhood.   (I probably could have just washed the powder out with warm water).

[OldMtnMan]

    OldMtnMan,   I carry it because I don't believe in going unarmed if possible,  I carry it for protection,  I carry it because I often plink at targets along the way.  I carry it because when grouse or rabbits are in season I sometimes bag a couple for dinner,  I carry it it becouse it is a beautiful tool and I enjoy using it, I carry it because it is my god given right and my right as a U.S. citizen and I carry it becouse I @!*% well want to.

I do it too. Even if it's just to carry it instead of hiking the Rockies without it. Kind of reminds me of being on a hunt. I'll shoot a knot in a dead tree now and then.

One time I got stopped by a warden. I'm not sure saying I just like to carry it would have worked. He was convinced I was hunting. I was thinking of what I was going to say as he walked up to me. I finally settled on saying it's the only gun I own and i'm carrying it for bear protection. It worked and i'm not so sure it wasn't close to the truth.

I'm glad he didn't notice the bear spray in my back pocket.

[walks with gun]

    OldMtnMan,   I carry it because I don't believe in going unarmed if possible,  I carry it for protection,  I carry it because I often plink at targets along the way.  I carry it because when grouse or rabbits are in season I sometimes bag a couple for dinner,  I carry it it becouse it is a beautiful tool and I enjoy using it, I carry it because it is my god given right and my right as a U.S. citizen and I carry it becouse I @!*% well want to.

I do it too. Even if it's just to carry it instead of hiking the Rockies without it. Kind of reminds me of being on a hunt. I'll shoot a knot in a dead tree now and then.   Couple years ago I took a hike with my .45 longrifle hoping to find a grouse or wood duck for supper.   Brush was thicker than heck, climbed over some down trees and kept finding more and more black bear sign while sneaking into a pond I knew.  finally found where the beave made a very long dam so decided to cross it instead of fighting my way back through this logged off mess.  Couple more spots on the dam were bear dug out bee larve (ground nests) and when I finally got to the other side and somewhat less slippery solid ground I noticed somewhere along the line I had lost my flint.  So much for bear protection.  lol

One time I got stopped by a warden. I'm not sure saying I just like to carry it would have worked. He was convinced I was hunting. I was thinking of what I was going to say as he walked up to me. I finally settled on saying it's the only gun I own and i'm carrying it for bear protection. It worked and i'm not so sure it wasn't close to the truth.

I'm glad he didn't notice the bear spray in my back pocket.

[oldtravler61]

  Well I usually I have No muzzleloaders loaded in my house.
But from the time my kids were little. They have been taught that all guns are loaded unless they have checked them themselves. I also told them to absolutey NEVER ever take another person's word for it. No matter how much experience they say they have. 
 They have been trained on all types of weapons systems.
 Oldtravler

[bob in the woods]

I'm not going to say what I'm really thinking because that would probably get me in trouble with the ALR police, but ........perhaps someone can explain why it's OK to have a non mentionable firearm loaded in the house, [ for whatever reason] while having a muzzleloader in like condition is beyond dangerous ?    Frankly, I can't see the point of the post other than to poke the bears.

[OldMtnMan]

I'm not going to say what I'm really thinking because that would probably get me in trouble with the ALR police, but ........perhaps someone can explain why it's OK to have a non mentionable firearm loaded in the house, [ for whatever reason] while having a muzzleloader in like condition is beyond dangerous ?    Frankly, I can't see the point of the post other than to poke the bears.

Maybe, because the average person can't tell when a muzzleloader is loaded.

Also, old technology. A flintlock can be fired with no powder in the pan.

Then there's some of us who feel no gun should be loaded in the house.

[James Rogers]

I'm not going to say what I'm really thinking because that would probably get me in trouble with the ALR police, but ........perhaps someone can explain why it's OK to have a non mentionable firearm loaded in the house, [ for whatever reason] while having a muzzleloader in like condition is beyond dangerous ?    Frankly, I can't see the point of the post other than to poke the bears.

Maybe, because the average person can't tell when a muzzleloader is loaded.

Also, old technology. A flintlock can be fired with no powder in the pan.

Then there's some of us who feel no gun should be loaded in the house.

I believe this to be the gulf between mindsets.  To each his own as to how they define their "safe space ".

[walks with gun]

   A empty gun is a worthless gun.   Some of us use our guns almost every day.  Familuarity with them is whats needed.

[utseabee]

None.
I don't keep them loaded anymore. A while back, I left one loaded and it pitted the bore where the powder charge was. I think the powder absorbed moisture and and it rusted. The rest of the bore was fine. I have no real proof that it was caused by leaving it loaded, but I've never had a bore rust any other time. Too much money into these rifles for me to take the chance.