I'm trying to get an idea of what to expect with a .50 cal Deerstalker/Country Hunter/Deerhunter rifle. Care to share your hunting load and groups? Muzzle velocity? What is your max range?

I'm trying to find BCs for conicals such as the 354 and 360 Minie, 250 and 320 REAL, Lyman's 395 Plains and 370 Maxi (I found 2 BC's for it: .095 and .217...which is correct?)

Why not tell us what you want to hunt, and how far you think you can shoot them?

Not to ever discourage anybody from using a traditional muzzleloader, but any reason you haven't considered an inline? The ignition problems would go away.

I can understand your concern for the BC of different conical bullets. But to be honest, I could care less about the BC in most cases. You are shooting an open sighted traditional rifle. So you are going to have to decide just how far you want to shoot and what you want to shoot at. For instance, deer are not that hard to kill. Even a 70 grain load of powder will kill deer at most open sight distances. Hunting something larger, then you have to start looking at the weight of the projectile.

You have a 1-48 twist. So it will shoot roundball, conical bullets and even sabots. If the Lyman is like mine, they like between 85 and 95 grains of powder. Good luck with your new rifle. It will be interesting to see what you discover.

I guess you asked him too many questions Dave. Maybe he will check back in and answer them.

Sorry fellows.

At the moment, as I'm stuck in Texas, I'd hunt smaller whitetail, axis, and hogs. But SWMBO and I would like to move. The Rockies is something we both agree on. Somewhere from northern New Mexico or Arizona to Colorado. That would give elk, mule deer and black bears a chance at going home with me.

I am hoping to find something that I can keep a 6" circle out to 125 yds with a 100 yd 0. I may find that either the gun or myself are not up to that task though. Time would tell. But I felt it wasn't too much of a stretch.

I have considered an inline, and my father has a CVA he talked about giving me. I really like the looks of a sidelock and have never cared for plastic stocks (camo looks OK).

I'm concerned with the BC A) because I'm stuck on numbers and would like an idea of what is going on, and B) because it's much easier for me to judge distance than wind drift keeping me closer to target.

I'm only vaguely interested in RB due to the poor BC. But it would be nice for cheap plinking and possible coyote killin'.

I still have to figure out this Old Army I just got. Had to get a 3/16 deep socket since I couldn't find a Ruger nipple wrench or nut driver. Ready for the range after church! I was given some 190 grn conicals for it from a guy on another forum.

Don't underestimate the round ball. It kills them as dead as any other bullet. Keep them at or under 100yds, and you can get out the skinning knife.

I certainly don't doubt the RB. But I see it will be ~10" off at 100 yds with a mere 10 mph wind. That's quite a bit. I'd just prefer better wind bucking than that. And 478 ft/lbs seems low for a big deer or hog.

Well, it's not a .270 son. It's all part of muzzleloaders.

Yea. And that's kinda cool in it's own way. It certainly has my interest!