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My nephew just loaned me his Traditions Pursuit muzzleloader to hunt with during NC upcoming BP season. It has sat in his gunsafe loaded with 2 50 gr Pyrodex pellets behind a 300 gr Hornady HP/XTP for 3 years. Is this safe to put a primer in and shoot?

Just as easy to pull the breach plug and dump/push the load out.

Make sure there are no obstructions in the barrel but the charge and bullet and fire it, or if ya dont trust him or know WHO loaded it make him shoot it

Gunner

Just pull the load shiz can the pellets an save the sabot an bullet ,use 3-7 powder, 2f with 100 gr, you will love it

Yes, it's easy to unload. Plus, i'd never shoot a ML that I didn't load.

Check for rust and pitting behind the bullet. Push it all
out first.

What he said.

amen to that.

I pulled the breach plug and pushed it all out. I cleaned the bore/breach. Went to the range yesterday and loaded 2 pyrodex pellets behind a Hornady 240 gr XTP/HP. I shot it 4 times. Averaged 1850 fps 2" high at 100 yds. Basically this is the same as a Ruger 77/44. Should I try 3 pellets or leave it alone? The group was probably slightly less than 1.5" When I got home to clean it that was one dirty bore; nothing like my centerfires.

LEave it be...the pyrodex is dirty but it will clean up with a little solvent....sounds like you are good to go!

One more pellet is a trade-off.
1.) Accuracy can improve, stay consistent, or worsen
2.) Trajectory from 175-250 yards will improve significantly
3.) Recoil in a light gun is going to seriously increase
IMHO, unless you handle recoil really well and plan to shoot a lot of deer from 175 yards and beyond it's a waste of money spent on extra pellets. Although I shoot BH209, I think for a lot of folks the pellets are really simple, easy to handle and clean up well with just soap and water.

pyrodex should be cleaned with warm soapy water to kill the corrosive salts.

I would not change a thing. My elk load is 90 gr of BH 209.

Nailed it!