Originally Posted by bronko22000

An easy way to tell is to let the ramrod drop into the bore the last 6" or so. If it sounds "tinny" it is unloaded. But if the sound is sort of muffled or makes a thud type sound it probably is loaded.
Another thing you can do is, if you have an air compressor and a blow gun, is to remove the nipple and blow air into the nipple area. If an ample amount of air comes out of the muzzle its unloaded.