Just a thought... If you could line all the guys out here in the west and for this we will say Colorado is in the west... OK so you have the Mt. men and explorers of 1840's - 1860 and you gave them the choice of rifles, powder, and projectiles of their time showed them the ML rifles, powders, and projectiles of today what do you think the majority of them would choose to use? Especially to a man that his life and trade depended on his rife of choice.
It is the nature of man to move to improvement. But then there folks that choose to remain in place and in time and you know that is their choice and right. We just need to hope those that choose stay in the 1860's do it as well as Pete does. But in real life it just doesn't happen with the majority.
I know I am going to regret this bit but for me this is how I feel