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A little calming is perhaps in order -
A black powder gun charged with powder and ball is not 'loaded' in the sense of a smokeless powder gun with a cartridge installed. In most, if not all, states, a percussion gun is not considered loaded by the authorities until a cap is installed. Black powder (including synthetics) is very stable absent a heat source of considerable magnitude. Those are the facts.
Having said that, the rules in fastforty's post are still the best protection against an ND. The discovery that a black powder gun is charged should not change the way the gun is treated, nor should it change the judgment about how it was treated before the discovery was made. That same sentiment applies if the word 'charged' is changed to 'loaded'.
What should be different is the intensity of the reaction. Curses and hysteria about a charged and uncapped black powder gun are inappropriate hyperbole and do not promote an image of responsible gun ownership. They should be saved for the events in which the gun is truly loaded, as opposed to charged.
The transgression by olmontanaboy's neighbor was not in giving him a charged gun but in not telling him the gun was charged. olmontanaboy is absolutely correct in blaming himself for not checking the condition of the weapon, and his displeasure with his neighbor is warranted, although misdirected and perhaps overstated.
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