Hi, new member here. I was doing some ballistic calculations the other day. My granddaughter has accompanied my son hunting (woodchucks, mostly). I don't know if she will want to hunt, herself, but if she does, I hope she will take to muzzleloading. So, I did some calculations, based on the caliber .54. Other calibers would be proportionally similar. I looked at the 230 Gr PRB with 120 Gr of black, and the energy at 100 yards. This distance was mentioned as a practical hunting distance, and I agree. Now, take this 100 yard energy, and achieve it with a bullet 230 Gr in weight, say a 230 XTP. The increased ballistic coefficient of the bullet will allow you to get that 100 yard energy figure with a much lower muzzle velocity, using half the powder charge (60 Gr), and a lot less recoil. So, why would we subject my granddaughter (or anyone) to more recoil than necessary, to achieve the same result? Well, not exactly the same result; the wind drift would be less, also.

I suspect some people would object to the use of sabots, but they're nothing more than a thick patch, in essence.

Anyone see a fallacy in my calculations?

OldBob47