I would think that if the cap is off of the muzzle loader it cant be fired by accident.
Go with the shotgun if you want to play it safe, with a muzzle loader you gotta load a certain amount of powder and it just takes forever, an plus when you shoot a muzzle loader there is so much smoke you cant really tell if you hit or missed
THIS is an apple and oranges type question. They are 2 entirely different types of weapons, unless you mean a muzzle-loading shotgun. A muzzle-loader can be set off by ANY spark at the touch hole, NOT just a cap, IF IT IS LOADED. ANY weapon is only as safe as the person using it. ALL weapons should be considered loaded UNLESS YOU have PERSONALLY determined that it is NOT loaded AT THAT TIME!!
perhaps so, but with a muzzle loader where you have to manually load the powder between shoots, its completely possible to accidentally overload the gun which upon firing it the gun can become a bomb. With cartridged ammunition it is extremely unlikely, perhaps one in a million chance or less, the charge is too large to cause that. I personally think cartridge ammunition is always safer than muzzle loaders, and you can easily chamber a round right when you need it, so up to that point the gun has no shell in the chamber.
Not to be short but that answer is a resounding NO! Any firearm should be concidered dangerous without the proper training. Even the pro's have accidents occasionally, and it usually a preventable incident. Now having said that, a muzzle loader without a cap but with powder and shot in the chamber is still capable of firing (altough uncommon.) A muzzle loader (as with any gun) should be considered loaded at all times, unless you have seen the gun shot and it has not left your sight since. Even a shotgun with the barrel off is a very safe gun, but if you place a shell in the chamber can be fired by heat or static electricity. Best way to make sure-- go take a gun course that includes live firing and very good safety instructions.
