There have been many recorded cases of people buying old ML's at estate & auctions sales found in a deep back corner closets that were loaded and fired after well over 30 years. I left mine loaded for well over a month this last,mid Nov 14thto mid Dec.19th and they still fired even though we had rain many or those days.

Al

Keep in mind some fire a fouling shot prior to loading for hunt. If that is the situation it depends on what the fouling shot put in the bore. A clean bore with a loaded rifle should be fine, but not if there is fouling in the barrel.

is it legal to transporta ML with the Sabot and pellets in the gun as long as there is no primer??

It is in Missouri.
Edit- I found this on the bottom right of page 11 in the Illinois reg book.
http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/Digest/Digest.pdf

Removal of percussion cap or removal of
prime powder from frizzen pan with frizzen
open and hammer all the way down or
removal of prime powder from flashpan and
wheel un-wound or removal of prime powder
and match with match not lit shall
constitute an unloaded
muzzleloading firearm.


I also found this in the middle of page 9.

Transporting Firearms and Bow and
Arrow Devices in Vehicles
have or carry a shotgun, rifle, handgun
or airgun in or on any vehicle, conveyance
or aircraft the firearm or
airgun is unloaded and completely
enclosed in a case (see definition of
case on page 6) as noted in the
Migratory Game Bird Section, page 18
(Hunting From Floating Blinds). Also
see Hunting From Vehicles and Boats
(see above) and “Frequently Asked
Questions” (page 40).

check your State regulations. Some states consider them unloaded with the cap off, primer out, or pan cleaned. Some don't.

could someone translate this for someone who doesn't know what a frizzen pan or a flash pan is?? can you transport a ML in Illinois that is loaded without a primer?

In Canada, a muzzleloader is considered unloaded for "Transportation Purposes" when the cap, primer (209) or the flint have been removed. However, for storage, the powder and projectile must also be removed.

jbutler - http://www.personal.usyd.edu.au/~slaw/SuesPage/flintlk.htm

that should explain some of the components of the flintlock for you. Basically all they are saying is you open the frizzen which is the backward L on the lock and covers the pan. Then make sure there is no powder in the priming pan, and lower the hammer under the open frizzen so the rifle can not fire. Its then considered unloaded. I personally would put a frizzen cover over the frizzen and some leather under the flint in the pan just to make sure the flint can not come into contact with anything metal. A flint can spark and ignite a charge even without powder in the priming pan.

[/quote] my air discharge tool doesnt blow out all the pyrodex. it leaves enough behind to gum up the works. i like to always start fesh and never more than a couple days with the charge left in it. why take a chance.

Wow, Thanks for all the replies. Keep them coming if you want. It appears to me that it is still a matter of opinion. I will probably leave it loaded for half the season, and cover the end of the barrel, it just sucks that you have to waist the sabot and powder, I guess it's part of muzzleloading though. Thanks again.