Thanks for all the info guys. Ive got 4 more days of hunting left here in VA so I am going to finish out the season with the roundballs, but I will be doing a lot of testing in the next few weeks trying to find what the gun likes in a hunting load. I got a pile of roundballs for plinking. Who knows I may drill a ten pointer this evening and be stuck on round balls for life. From what Ive read I feel comfortable using the .490 ball out to 100 yards for deer with proper shot placement, but usally my shots are around 50-75 anyway. I did miss a really nice 9 pointer with my savage smokeless muzzleloader at about 125 yards early this year (nerves not the gun) but got him 2 days later with my Ruger 7X57.

Good luck hunting. Never underestimate a roundball. I've watched them drop deer in their tracks at 100 yards. (No matter what the experts say). Put that thing in the rifle spot and it will do the trick.