Dear Cris, I think I over reacted. As a child my friends and i played cowboy, with an old "decommisioned musket.We shot the thing with caps, matchheads, etc. 20 years later my friend took it to a gunsmith, thinking it might have some antique value, and found that it was still loaded.If your father-in-law fired it 10 or 15 years ago, chances are he unloaded it. However 1. easy way. fire the load out. 2. hard way. special tool called worm to extract ball and wad if any. fits on ramrod. 3. Best way. take it to a gunsmith if you have any doubts. best of luck,better safe than...