Skeeter - I agree with you 100 %. If it' s legal and you can afford it then use what' s available and I ain' t one to bash anybody for that. My posts are merely stating my opinion on where I' d like to see muzzleloader hunting go. I' ve read numerous posts of yours and I don' t think there' s any question that if scopes were outlawed in your m/l hunt you' d go to hunting irons and still love it.
I' ve not seen any data to saw whether or not htese advances have made any changes in m/l success rates, but as one post mentioned, Colorado can' t seem to give out enough cow tags to control their herds. Food for thought I guess.

Archery & Muzzleloader season is right around the corner. Good luck to all you fellas!! Let a few big bulls slip through the cracks for us rifle hunters!!!!!