normal/safe for someone who only has a percussion rifle to keep loaded without the cap for home def?

What are the chances you will actually need to defend yourself with a firearm? We all know it's better to have a gun and not need it than the other way around, but keeping a loaded gun for self-defense carries associated risks, so if you decide you need to then for heaven's sake make it an appropriate modern firearm well suited to the task. There's no reason it should ever have to be a muzzleloader. If money is a problem work a few extra shifts and get a plenty reliable <$200 9mm pistol. If you have lost your 2A rights at a young age but are now a law-abiding, then petition the courts to restore your rights. If you live someplace you can't have a gun, and are that worried about home intruders, you did buy a steel security door and windows to help keep intruders out, right? Or how about flat out moving to someplace more gun friendly and/or less dangerous. I grew up in Los Angeles and now live in North Idaho. I didn't move because the are is safer, more gun friendly and a sportsman's paradise, but those sure are wonderful side benefits.

I love to shoot all kinds of firearms, especially BP revolvers and long guns, but if I carried or kept one in the home for self-protection it would be because I wanted to and not because it was the most appropriate choice of weapons. My choice would be a percussion revolver with paper cartridges carried with the hammer down on the safety notch. I could do it, but why? My 12 gauge pump shotgun I hunt with does perfect bedroom self-defense duty and I have a Taurus G2 9mm 12+1 semi auto pistol for when I'm out. Both are available for less than $200 each. If you value the lives of you and your family enough to carry and keep a loaded gun at home then make the appropriate choice.

I can hunt from my back yard. During deer season I may get home early and hop into the stand. For several months during the year, I have a loaded but not capped muzzle loader in a secure location above my garage.
I do have a bag and rubber band around the muzzle with a note saying the bore is loaded and what needs to be done to remove the load (contact a friend). In the event I'm no longer on this earth to do so. I have personally inspected a muzzle loader at a pawn shop that was loaded with powder and ball and no on knew it. Many people expect muzzle loaders NOT to be loaded in the home. Just a thought to make sure you either mark it or someone knows about it.

I keep a Benelli tactical 12ga with an empty chamber...just need to do a noisy chilling rack attention getter. Never a B/P for home defense...keeping it safe, I could only imagine trying to prime or cap in a dark emergency...with only a one dark shot, or a revolver with several smoky shots....not really in these days and times. Of course it is totally legal to carry a capped B/P revolver on safety notch or empty chamber which is always unregistered, anywhere, anytime, any place...including laying on your lap driving...but...???

I’d no qualms in keeping my Remington’s New Army pistol loaded at the bedside.

Also, if it was all I had, you bet I’d use a caplock rifle for defense. I’d be sure it was clean, keep it well loaded, and as to the cap, I’d tie a leather thong to the gun with a few holes punched in the end where I could push in caps. Grab the rifle, go to half cock, thumb a cap, and standby to repel boarders!!

Now granted I’d use a suppository first, but if my old hawkins gun was all I had, it would beat a sharp stick! Also in realistic self defense just the presentation of the gun prevents the VAST majority of conflicts, and if fire is needed, it’s usually a one shot and done if you study the statistics.

smoothshooter said:

I never bought that story about changing his loads daily for a minute.
Think about the impracticality of it on several levels.
Hickok was a very good PR guy.

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But But but ... it's a documented truth. An article in TrueWest Magazine said so

RAM117 said:

just curious, do people do this? is it safe/common/normal? obvoisuly without the caps cus that might be lil too dangerous, but without the caps for home defnese, it isnt hard to grab the caps and quickly put it on, but it will take sometime if nothing is loaded.

what do yall think of it?

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The only good reason I know of for using a BP firearm for home defense would be if you were prohibited from owning a modern firearm.

RAM117 said:

just curious, do people do this? is it safe/common/normal? obvoisuly without the caps cus that might be lil too dangerous, but without the caps for home defnese, it isnt hard to grab the caps and quickly put it on, but it will take sometime if nothing is loaded.

what do yall think of it?

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Just buy a clapped-out pump shotgun; cut the barrel off just ahead of the front stock or to the shortest legal length. The sound of one of those racking the first shot would probably discourage your invader, and you would never have to defend your action in court. Any kind of shot load would work in close quarters; bird-shot at 20 feet is essentially a slug.

Using a BP in the house you will get only one clean shot no matter how many cylinders it has.
Try shooting a BP inside and see what happens. I have had days on the open range that it took 10-15 seconds for enough smoke to clear to see the target. Coup that up in your living room or bedroom. I don't think you would like it.

Alas, knowledge and experience.

All generalizations are flawed.

Regarding Hickok shooting and cleaning every day, I don't know of good documentation either way. What I do know is he spent time in both Hays City(now just Hays) and Abilene Kansas. I lived in Hays for a few years. Even now you don't have to go very far to be out of town. Back in his day he probably could walk 100-200 yards to a place where he could practice and unload a revolver or two. Given his reputation and where he was, I would be surprised if he shot both and then went back with empty firearms. Maybe one or the other every other day. Of course he could have lugged along a shotgun as a backup.

for articles on how many YEARS a BP revolver can be kept loaded and still fire when needed visit the 1858 Remington forum........
truly enlightening

arcticap said:

Hickok's daily cleaning and reloading ritual was witnessed by many since it became a public attraction.
It was part of how he was able to keep the peace and to stay alive.--->>> https://books.google.com/books?id=GiabCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=did+bill+hickok+reload+his+revolvers+every+day&source=bl&ots=V6T-E6UxIk&sig=ACfU3U33I-VP6PkVfkY1KZXH51HZ2BfOlw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjWq5j8n4DhAhWlm-AKHf5bCWg4ChDoATAIegQIABAB#v=onepage&q=did bill hickok reload his revolvers every day&f=false

Perhaps he didn't do it every single day, but he did it often enough to never lose a gunfight due to a misfire.
The same can't be said for his opponents since a misfire once saved his life.
His record speaks for itself.

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Hickock was a notorious showoff that also carried cartridge guns as backups ........aside from the 4 proven kills, what is his record?

I know the OP asked about using a M/L for home defense and I have read all the responses.

Some for and some against the idea, my choice is modern.

While making wind socks today, that leaves lots of time to think, I got to thinking about alternatives to a M/L and not being a modern gun.

I looked briefing on the internet and saw that the range of a Tazer is 30 feet. That would cover inside the house for protection. You would not have go through the hassles of a M/L and keeping the necessary supplies.

One advantage of Taser, is you would not have to worry about killing the person and dealing with Law Enforcement/lawyers.

Know it is not PC or HC.

You could put a couple around the house and not worry about kids.

Thoughts?

Get a modern pistol if you feel a serious need for self defense. An "unmentionable". I may be off topic, but self defense is a serious subject. A Taser is good for law enforcement, as a retired LEO I went to a class for them, but the civilian versions are different from the LEO versions. If someone is breaking into your house, do you really want to Tase them? They're no safer than a handgun, except they're Less Lethal. You don't want your kid shooting his brother with one.

Redstick Lee said:

Hickock was a notorious showoff that also carried cartridge guns as backups ........aside from the 4 proven kills, what is his record?

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Hickok is known to have fatally shot six men and is suspected of having killed a seventh (McCanles). He probably killed twice as many Indians while performing legal & heroic deeds.
Hickok's birthplace is now the Wild Bill Hickok Memorial and is a listed historic site under the supervision of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.--->>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Bill_Hickok

Hickok liked to shoot just as much as we do. I'm pretty certain he shot daily or frequently enough that it was noticed by others. It's not like he was sitting there with a hammer and punch unloading his pistols. He was plinking / target shooting them.

Get a cartridge gun. Black powder will corrode your bore. And it wont take long. Nuff Said.

May God forbid such trouble ever comes your way, but if it does it will likely be fast and immediately quite serious. Unless warned by your trusty canine or equivalent early warning system, your first clue a home invasion robbery is coming is the crash of a burly SOB kicking in your front door and five or six more rushing in with guns, knives and bats at the ready. It will be very close and ugly. Complicate the situation with the fact you have loved ones in other rooms protected only by interior walls that don't stop bullets very well. If I can get to it in time, make mine a shotgun repeater with extended magazine tube. 1 oz #7 1/2's for the first two or three, then #4 buck. I might even consider one of those new fangled self loaders. Should I lose the use of one arm in the melee I might still be able to get off another shot or two. But whatever weapon you select for home defense, follow Bill Hickok's example and make sure you are expertly proficient with it. There ain't no trophy for second place in a gunfight. I would no more choose a muzzleloader for home defense than I would opt for a horse and buckboard to take my wounded to the hospital after the fight. Just my two cents worth.