Originally Posted by
Breechplug
Do as most would, put your ram rod in the barrel and see how much is sticking out the end of it, you should be able to remember how the ram rod looks in your loaded ML. If in dout pull the Breechplug and do the Manufactures recommended stepd for removing a loaded barrel.
What I do and have always done is put a pice of Masking Tape over the end of My ML Barrel to keep out moisture, when fired there's no guessing if it has a charge in it or not. But from now on put a mark on your Ram Rod when it's loaded, with the Ram Rod sticking out the end of your loaded barrel, (UN PRIMERED) take a knife or something similar to etch a mark where the Ram Rod meets the top part of your barrel, from now on you'll never have to guess again.
(BP)
Good suggestions, however, if you have not ever marked the ramrod it is pretty easy to check from the breech end about how long your breechplug is so you should be able to estimate approximately (within a quarter inch or so) where the end of the plug should be from the outside of the barrel. Then lay your ramrod on the side and mark the end of the barrel. Once that is done drop the ramrod in and see if it lines up with the mark or if it is about an inch plus off. With any load the powder and bullet column will be over an inch long. Depending on loose powder or pellets removing the breechplug will pretty much mess up the powder so cleaning will be required. Powder will get into the threads and any grease that is in there.