With muzzleloaders, anything is possible. The problem is you have to stay focused all the time from start to finish. After all, we are not sticking a cartridge into the action and just shooting. A lot more ramrods have went down range then most people will admit. At least you're honest enough to admit the mistake. I am just glad that you were not imjured and the rifle was not as well. Now you can laugh about it.

I came so close to doing the exact same thing one day, I can feel your pain. As I was loading, shooting, etc. the dog who loves to see the guns go off, was all excited (too many years in a duck blind I think)and was messing around infront of the range table. Getting tired of yelling at the dog to calm down, I put the rifle down in the shooting stand, and took the animal into the house. I sat back down, and was just about to fire, when I noticed the ramrod missing in the thimble rib. Thank goodness I looked around or I would have had the same experience. Then I noticed the rifle still had the ramrod in the barrel.

I was at a public range once when a person two stations down from me did the same thing. He had loaded and was talking to someone who wasinterested in his rifle. He then turned around and took a bead and fired. Like you, he seemed upset over the recoil. When he went to reload, he just started laughing. I'm glad he could laugh about it.

Keep shooting.. maybe if you watch the online stores, they will have a sale on ramrods.. just kidding. Glad you're all right.