I agree that the max loads don't make a lot of sense unless you are doing something really different like trying to shoot 200 yards (which by the way takes a lot of practice to do well). I kill elk at 100 yards or less with a 300gr. bullet driven by 80-90gr. of Black Mag'3 which is about 95gr. of Black Powder level energy (maybe a little bit more). Don't know what in the US is harder to knock down than elk. Maybe big bears but I wouldn't try shooting something that shoots back with a single shot muzzleloader.