RE: leaving the gun loaded.
 

I'd be careful about leaving the gun loaded for long periods of time. Yes, sometimes you can leave it for a few days, weeks or months and then it will still shoot fine, but it doesn't happen like that all the time. As Kathwackk said, temperature changes (being outside, inside, cold weather, hot, back & forth) can cause condensation build-up which can wet the powder. If the gun is stored at a constant temp. the whole time, then it shouldn't be as much of a problem. Make sure before you load it that the barrel is completely clean (no fouling, no oil, etc.) then pop a couple of primers to make sure the flash hole is cleared. Drop your pellets & bullet in and then don't do anything else. Even with temp. changes, this should be okay for a few days. If you want to keep it longer than that, make sure the temp & humidity where the gun is stored is kept constant, and cross your fingers;)

RE: leaving the gun loaded.
 

In PA too you can carry your ML in your vehicle with a charge and bullet in the barrel. It is not considered loaded until the pan is primed or there is a cap or primer installed. But whenever I am transporting my ML with a charge in the barrel, I always carry a blue shop towel and cover the ignition system with a piece of it.

RE: leaving the gun loaded.
 

thought about that i though there was a small chance the hammer might hit the gunfire the shoot from metal to metal contact

RE: leaving the gun loaded.
 

Like everyone else has said, most states consider a muzzle loader safe to transport if it has no primer in it. The last 4 states I lived in were like that, those were MS, WA, MI and AR.
I leave mine loaded for no more than a week.