The reason the powder didn't burn was that the sabot was too loose and there was not enough pressure on the powder charge for it to ignite.
That is the reason I said that if it had been black or a sub it would have fired.
The rifle has a 24 in barrel added to 15 ft thats a long ways for the bullet to have gone with just a primer.If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it.
Allways mark my ram rods when loading if its not at the mark I check to see whats wrong.
I have been shooting over 50 years and I did load twice in a row last year without putting the powder in.When you do that and you have just a sabot and bullet in the barrel its no problem taking out the breech plug and pushing the bullet out but if for some reason you have to pull one with the powder now that is a mess to clean all the powder out of the chamber.The slightest distraction can get you problems with a muzzle loader.

Agree 100%. I now at the range, Iset out a speed loader, a primer and a bullet to load, all as a group together, so if I am distracted I know here I am in the loading process. I have put a bullet down without powder before, so I know I can also double load. I do have a witness mark and use it every time. The combination of witness mark and placing all component of a charge all together for a single load has helped me to avoid being distracted. Another thing if your helping someone stay with them and don't mess with your gun while they are loading and shooting. Take turns and don't distract each other. Teach care of loading, and safety. Of course this is just my opinion. Chap Gleason

What's the old saying? .... among experienced muzzleloader users there are twosorts of people when it comes to admitting to a dry load - those who freely admit it and liars.

I'll tell ya one thing...I won't forget it.

If you keep learnin' old rookie, we are going to have to rename you, like "learnin'Rookie" so something like that. Chap Gleason

I used to use some plastic pellets with no powder in my revolver for inside practice. It is amazing how much power you can get with even a pistol primer and a 209 is possibly ten times more.

How about "oldexrookie" or "rookienomore"?

Boys, its going to take me awhile to catch up with most of you....so I think the name is appropriate for the time being.