as you can see, many good info.as you are talking to HUNTER not target shooter,here is my advice. many deer are missed because of recoil.i seen it, been there done that.with a flintlock ,open sights you are not going to be shooting more than 100 yards.mostly 30 yards to 80 yards.if you practice a lot, recoil is no problem, most dont. if you hunt a lot, recoil is not problem, most dont. soooooooooooo,here is what i have learned in about40 years after the buck. if you cant hold gun steady because of smoke,noise,kick etc. its a big thing with a FLINTLOCK.not so much with rifle with scope.a little movement on OPEN sights and mr. buck is gone.here is what i do. i have .50cal t/c hawkins.i load about 80 grs of 2f geox with the 370 maxi-ball.no kick and will nail a deer.now, i changed to POWERBELTS .why, because they are HOLLOW points.you dont need and should not shoot hot loads with these bullets.you CAN shoot lighter loads and cleanly kill a buck.this is why i think the hollow point POWERBELTS are greatest thing for a buck in 40 years i have been stalking them here in state of pa.i dont use them for practice,only hunting.i use roundballs.then,before season, i sight in gun for POWERBELTS. takes me about 6 shots to get it in the bullseye,or less because i know which powder works best with 295/348 pb.i have put the maxi-balls away now. as for maxi-hunters,they are terrible in a .50 cal to shoot.i gave away 2 boxes of maxi-hunters.but maxi-balls/powerbelts are fine.