Originally Posted by 7.62NATO

What is unsafe about leaving a muzzloader "loaded"? HMMMM? Unless you are storing it on top of the oven or baseboard heater, there is nothing unsafe about it! You REMOVE the primer. You CHECK and DOUBLE CHECK the action just like you do any other gun. Every time I TOUCH my muzzleloader, I open the action, just like any other gun. A muzzleloader less the primer is considered UNLOADED. I keep my self defense pistols loaded while they are in the safe. What's the difference (oh yeah, besides the fact that the ML can't go BANG if I am wreckless and somehow cock it and pull the trigger "accidentally" BECAUSE THERE IS NO PRIMER IN IT!!!)?

I agree with MZS that the OP should consider switching to powder. I personally use Blackhorn 209 for hunting and do not even remove the powder and bullet after the season is over. It's usually another 4 months before I get around to shooting it again, and it goes bang, hits where I want it to and leaves no pitting in the bottom of the barrel.