I don't know that bigger round balls are better because dead is dead. I too ten to lean toward the larger calibers though. Most of my hunting is done with a 58 caliber using either a patched .570 or .575 round ball. One thing is certain though, the larger balls provide more kinetic energy. Another thing that I like is that if the deer has an exit wound, the blood trail seems to be more pronounced if the deer runs. The only deer that I have shot with a 45 caliber round ball did not have an exit wound but dropped in his tracks when I shot him. That was with a little 50gr charge of GOEX fffg.