I am going to use my .50 cal New Englander during the ML season this year in IL. With open sights and tree stand hunting, my shots will be under 75 yards. I am undecided on what bullet to use. I have .490 round balls, Maxi Balls (370 grains, I think), 340 grain Minnies, and Maxi Hunters which I think are in the mid 300 grain range. I will be using Pyrodex RS.

Of the 3 the best is the Maxi Hunters. The round balls are consider by many "deer cripplers":

http://www.chuckhawks.com/powerbelt_bullets.htm

since they loose energy so quickly. As for the Minnies, I am not very familar with them, but I know the Max-hunters have a lot of knock down power. I have tried them before in my TC FlintLock, but they didn't group that well. Did NOT try wads, corn mean and other tricks to get them to fly better however. Chap Gleason

You'll probably be best off with those maxiballs.

Try the maxiballs and if your groups are not that good use a wad between the powder and maxiball. I used to shoot a wad my grandafather made and man I tell you it was night and day how much more accurate it was. He made a tool to cut the a wad out of the foam plates. This worked really well and they really penetrated well. I bet the maxi hunters would work the same with the wad. Good Luck!!!

River Rat

Which ever is most accurate.. my choice if all were equal, maxiball. I never got a maxihunter to shoot well yet. Actually do not over look roundball. While some claim them ineffective, I have never had that experience with them. They have killed more deer for me then about any other projectile out of a muzzleloader.

If the twist is 1 in 66 the round ball is liable to be the only one that shoots good, I have taken 27 deer with round ball most with 54 cal which is the best long range PRB cal. as far as I am concerned, I took a few with 45 and a numer with 50cal. Some people under rate PRB they will do a good job if the shooter does. if you have a 1-48 twist you might try a Real bullet if there are any if they will shoot accurate out of your gun they are a good choice, In the long run the best choice is what shoots the best. Most of the wounding type hit can be traced back to shooters fault, a lot of them do not aim for the right spot or get "buck" fever". I found that right up tight behind the front shoulder half way up the body works well with bow cross bow MZ or high power or pistol taking out both lungs has always done the job very neatly for me. Lee

Yeah Round balls are deer Cripplers, Ask this poor fellow
Round ball has been taking game since.....Longer than i can remember

If I want to try the Maxi-Balls or Maxi-Hunters, how much corn meal do a put in after the powder or what are good wads to buy and/or make?

Every rifle has it's own personality, but my NewEnglander is very funny about what I feed it. Maxi-Hunters will not group out of it, but the Lee 320 grain REAL is a tack-driver. It also likes 350 grain .458 cast lead bullets in an MMP .50/.458 orange sabot. I just tried them a short time ago, and put the first 4 shots into one ragged hole at 50 yards, but of course I had to try shot #5. [:@]

I will say for a wad under the conical a wonder wad is excellent:I would use a 54 cal wad in a 50 cal. barrel much tighter seal: I would not pass or try a round ball in the new englander as long as your barrel doesn't have the QLA a RB with 90 grains of 3F goex will stop most any deer if the shot is placed right.
I would also look into REALS CONICALS 320 grainers here another good lead bullet:I wonder if black jack hill over at e bay is still casting:He does cast an excellent bullet