Yes, you do have to discharge the rifle after loading it, i do not know of a safe way to unload a black powder other than that. My Bone Collector breaks in the middle and you can remove the pellets then ram the projectile back down the barrel but those just came out in the last few years. All the older models need discharged. Now discharging in the air is just STUPID!! RIP young girl, you were taken way to early all because someone did not think first.