You are already seeing an advancement in the development of bullets. Brass ones, Copper ones, even fake roundballs. All of them are going to push these front loaders to places we only dreamed would be 30 years ago. Also the development of powders. Cleaner, more powerful, and it will only get better. But the one thing I have seen is optics. Before I mounted a magnification scope on my rifles, 100 yards was it for this fellow. And I was and still am happy with that.

Wisconsin is still one state that does not allow magnification on muzzleloaders. Some people hate the idea. I say what's the difference. Let them hunt with what they want. If they want to set up and take 200 yard shots, so be it. The southern and middle of the state would benefit a great deal with optics. But where I hunt, 75 yards is a long shot. Unless your hunting a hay field. And if I hunted a hay field, I guess if legal I would have my optics and fancy bullets to do the job. I like to harvest an animal clean. If that means I have to have good because I have bad eye sight... so be it.

There are very fast twist muzzleloaders. Look at some of the Whitworth, Gibbs, and such. They have 1-18 I believe, like the Sharps rifles. And with the rifle conical bullet they can shoot some extreme distances. Even with just a peep sight.