Has anyone ever bought a loaded gun before

[Tumblernotch]

I bought an old Belgian 12 ga. at a roadside flea market that was definitely not in firing condition. The locks were shot (broken mainsprings, parts missing &c.). Took it home and checked the barrels. One of them had something in it so I pulled the wadding out. Then about and ounce load of mixed shot, then a little more wadding and then about 30 grains of powder. Poured the powder on my anvil and lit it. Fired like it was brand new. The wadding was a page from an old magazine and was dated December 24, 1944. The butt was stamped with the owner's name under the plate. Just a couple of weeks ago I met a new guy at our club and we were talking about this and it turned out that his dad was the former owner.

You always want to check this stuff out. Black powder will go off even if it's 200 years or more older if it's dry. Been a lot of people killed by heating old barrels or using old artillery shells for andirons or while de-fuzing them.

 

[TommyKid]

I bought a percussion SxS a while back. As soon as I got it, I checked if it was loaded. What I found in each barrel still makes me shake my head. There was what appeared to be a "fake" shell (plastic body and rubber tip) in each bore. When I got them both out I found that the rubber tip popped off. In each was a .22 LR round. I contact the seller and he had no idea, as he had recently purchased the gun, himself.
Tom

 

[shootemup]

I've never bought one, but on two occasions I was accused of shipping loaded muzzleloaders to buyers on an auction site.

I have, and always have had, a regular procedure I go through as I am packaging the gun for shipment, which starts with cleaning and oiling the gun, so I knew it was impossible that either of those muzzleloaders had arrived loaded. But there is really not much you can say when someone tells you their gun arrived with a load in it. :idunno:

 

[texcl]

wow, that's crazy

 

[Zonie]

Have I bought a loaded muzzleloader?

Yes.

To make matters worse, it was loaded with smokeless powder.

Fortunately I discovered this before I tried to pop a cap on it. :shake:

 

[shootemup]

Agreed, but you run across all sorts of folks I guess. I've bought, sold, or traded lots of muzzleloaders over the past dozen years or so, and have had good luck with people for the most part, but every now and then you run across a weasel.

I think one of those guys was just trying to insulate himself against negative feedback, because he was pretty slow in paying. The other might have been buyer's remorse or something, I dunno.

 

[pa woods roamer]

Bought a used CVA Bobcat. Went the Shop and ran a Rod down in it to clean the Barrel. Snapped a couple Caps. I then loadeed it up with 60grs. of 2F and went outside. I wouldn`t fire. so, took the Nipple out and put a few grains of 4f under rhe Nipple. Touched it off and it damn near spun me around!!! shoulder hurt like heck and was stunned for awhile. I`m pretty sure the Gun was loaded with a Maxi-Ball because there was an oval hole plus aroundball hole in the target. I`m thinking the Maxi-Ball went in sideways. Live and learn....

 

[roboskittle]

Never bought one myself because the prices just werent right. Went and looked at a Renegade couple months back. There was corrosion around the nipple and first thing I thought was it had to be loaded still. I ran the rod down and it stopped about 4 inches short. I handed the rifle to the owner and told him that it was loaded or had something stuck in the barrel. He told me wow I have been letting my kids play with it. :shocked2: I offered him 50 cash for it and he said no way my friend wants it for 100. I said tell your friend good luck with it and make sure you let him know it is loaded or has an obstruction in the barrel and please dont let your kids play with it anymore. He got really mad at me and made some foul talk while I walked to my car.

First thing I do with any weapon be it a muzzle loader or cartridge gun is check for a load and clear it if possible. That should be standard practice for any responsible gun owner period. If you cant check the muzzle loader ie no bore light, no ramrod than it should be treated as if it were loaded until it is checked. Loaded or not my kids will never "play" with any of my real guns. They will learn properly as I did how to safely make use of them though.

Sorry just ranting now lol.

 

[desi23]

I've bought several over the years. Old ML shotguns seem to show up loaded fairly regularly. I've had a Colt pocket come into the store loaded too. Many people can't figure out how to unload a cartridge gun let alone a muzzleloader. I see quite a few people come in to sell cartridge guns that are loaded every month.

 

[JEB/Ms]

I went in a pawn shop some years ago and was looking at the muzzleloaders. When I checked a little CVA I found it loaded. I told the owner about it and he said, "how do you unload one of those things?" I told him to make me a deal on it and let me worry about it. He said he had $25. in it and if I would give him $26. for it I could have it. It cleaned up nicely.
JEB/Ms