A muzzleloader is not a firearm.
yes a muzzleloader is a firearm and is covered as such by most all states .
that being said most all states do not include it as a fire arm covered under the FFA hence no back grounds and no restrictions .
However with the strong push and technological advancements of the modern muzzleloading weapons , a couple of states have now went to treating muzzleloaders of all descriptions as the same as those covered under the FFA . Hence you have to have them shipped to someone with an FFL .
Now I could be wrong here but I believe you can purchase on line . However that purchase either has to be from a FFL holder OR it must be delivered to an FFL who in turn has to do the background before turning the firearm over .
Times are changing fellas . The more manufactures push to push comparisons to those of center fire smokeless weapons them more muzzleloaders are going to be treated as such
if you need an FFL holder many of the gun auction sites have searches that they most time perform for free . I guarantee that there is a number of holder very close to you