I didn't say they were more accurate at 100 yards. I said they would probably tend to be more consistent at 200 yards than a ML would be. My ML shoots 1 inch groups at 100 yards off from a bench. However it will not do anywhere near that at 150 or 200 yards. I had to switch bullets and make up a new load to get acceptable accuracy at 150 yards, when the load I had would make ragged hole groups at 100. They just don't seem to stabilize that well that far out.

What was suggesting is that you are not just going to go out with a new muzzle loader, throw three pellets in it with a 240 grn pistol bullet and get decent accuracy beyond 100 yards, if at 100 yards. Which is what most try to do. Not that you can't get a decent muzzle loader out to 200 yards (haven't seen one personally to be honest) just that I highly doubt it will happen easily.

And like I said, the ballistics for muzzle loaders looks good on paper, but in the real world a rifle bullet designed for game performs better than a heavy pistol bullet shot at increased speeds. Which is basically what you are doing with an inline muzzle loader or a modern slug gun.

Nobody is saying that a muzzle loader will not work, I know they do since I use one. But if I could use a 30-30 or a 243 that 700ML 50 cal would be gathering a lot of dust during regular gun season.

I think a decent comparison to what I am talking about would be the difference between a normal 40 grn 22LR hollow point and the 17HMR. One uses a basic soft lead bullet moving at a moderate speed. The other uses a well designed bullet that is much lighter but moving at much faster rate. Sure the 22 will kill small animals, and it will do it effectively. But there is no denying the little 17 will shoot farther and transfer more energy to the game. That is what it was designed to after all.

At least that is how I see it anyway.

If you are shooting a muzzle loader for the challenge I surely hope you are not using a modern inline, because to most that would be cheating. You need a flintlock with a ball to really be muzzle loading.

Paul