I've been considering purchasing a reproduction caplock muzzleloader, and was wondering, what would happen if I fired it without loading, but with a percussion cap. Would it just make a pop, and if so, how loud? Kind of a dumb question, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

Thanks!

It definitely seems to be a replica of some sort of very old gun (which is why I'm posting this here). I really want to find out exactly what kind of gun this is. Can anyone here help?

Posting for my grandmother - This was apparently my great grandfathers gun and we’re trying to find out any info about it. My grandma said she thinks it’s from the ‘20s and remembers her dad having it her whole life. Does anyone know any information about this?

I found a Ward Western Field 20ga bolt-action shotgun at my local gun shop for a hundred bucks. I bought it, if nothing else it's kinda cool looking.

I gotta wait three days to pick it up (Maine's new waiting period), but I'm doing a little research on it in the meantime.

So - anyone have any info/part sources/age?

It's in good shape - a ding on the muzzle crown but not in the barrel, a touch of surface rust, a bunch of lint or dirt or whatever in the action, the usual stuff. I've no qualms taking it apart to this extent, I've done an SKS before, but I don't know where to start.

Also - I was shopping in the first place for a 20ga for deer hunting (shotgun only area), but I don't know what the choke is on this gun. No screw-in for sure, but would it be fully open?

EDIT: upon further research, I appear to have a Mossberg 85 made for Montgomery-Ward. This should be fun.