Why Big Balls Are Better
 

This explains why I lean toward the .54 and .58 when using round balls for deer. Though I've never hunted deer with round balls in a .45, many folks do with good results.

Something goofy is going on here. The picture in the OP isn't showing up for me. But the Photobucket code is correct. For a test, I posted it on Modern Muzzleloader's Sidelock/Traditional forum and it shows up there just fine.

Is the picture above showing up for you? If not, can you see it by clicking on it?

I have to click on it myself. PB pics have been doing that a lot lately I have noticed.

Seems to do it most when trying to post up a doc rather than a pic.

Your follow-up suggestion worked fine for me.

I too had to click on it to open it. But then it opened fine.

I have to agree that a larger ball is a much better hunting alternative then smaller. Yet many prefer the smaller ball. An old friend of mine has hunted deer for years with a .45 caliber Kentucky model round ball twist rifle and has never had a problem harvesting deer with it. But remember, where we hunt, shots are close and we pick out shots. Still, he shot a huge buck one year, right through the heart and he claimed he only tracked it 50 yards.

I like the .54 caliber. I have yet to harvest a deer with the .58 caliber. Only because I never liked to carry that pipe around in the woods. If the deer ever return to my area, I might have to give that a try.

Opened fine for me to Semi. I'm sure glad I have big balls! And hopefully I will be unloading them this coming week!!!! (early ML season here in PA)

Not getting any photos, but five different ballistic charts!?!?!?

It is a jpeg image. Photobucket is just goofy sometimes. Try using the IMG tag when posting instead of the HTML tag.



Weird, it shows up when i edit the post

I did use the IMG code. Tried it several times. As I said, the picture shows up properly on Modern Muzzleloader, but not here.
http://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/fo...p?f=15&t=27557

Round balls, especially those .50 caliber and larger, perform much better than their listed foot pounds of energy would indicate.

i've killed a few deer and a dozen or so wild hogs with .50 caliber and .54 caliber guns firing patched round balls. Most died within 20 yards of being hit. One deer went 80-100 yards: Good exit wound from the .530 round ball.

I cant see the picture.
My email is active here and i am willing to help as i have a flickr account. If that will work for you.
Jw

Here is the table Semi was trying to get up... If this not correct Semi let me know.

I don't know that bigger round balls are better because dead is dead. I too ten to lean toward the larger calibers though. Most of my hunting is done with a 58 caliber using either a patched .570 or .575 round ball. One thing is certain though, the larger balls provide more kinetic energy. Another thing that I like is that if the deer has an exit wound, the blood trail seems to be more pronounced if the deer runs. The only deer that I have shot with a 45 caliber round ball did not have an exit wound but dropped in his tracks when I shot him. That was with a little 50gr charge of GOEX fffg.