I have a .50 caliber muzzleloader, old school style with a 1 in 78 inch twist. Made to shoot round ball only, but very accurate. However, all I hear is that round balls won't do the job and a guy needs a muzzleloader with a faster twist rate so he can throw maxi balls or sabots. Opinions? Experiences?

Gee, those settlers were screwed then!

Yup, done it.

The benefits.

Faster muzzle velocity = flatter trajectory.

The down side.

Lower projectile weight = lower FPE.
Ability to power through big bones at longer ranges.

If you are reasonable with your choice of shots, there should be no issue using a patched roundball out to 50-75 yards. You might me using a ball in weight up to about what, 170 grains?

I have taken 3 elk and 4 or 5 deer with a ML, getting old so I can't remember for sure. The elk were all taken with conicals, but I did take a deer with a patched roundball once. There was no issue with the hit, lung/heart at about 30 yards.

I have yet to shoot at an animal at a range of greater than 40 yards with a ML. Using a ML is about getting close and making your one shot count. Live by these two rules and you should do just fine. Go get 'em.

have killed many deer handliy with a 50 cal round ball. no elk tho. havnt tried yet.

DO any of you folks find that the round ball does not leave a very good blood trail or that it doesn't put the animal down quickly? Even with close range shots and heart/lung hits? A book I am curently reading suggests that the round ball will not expand much and leaves a small exit wound. Any advice to refute this? How many grains of powder are you guys using. I am getting good groups at 100 yards (not that I'd take a shot that far) with 85 grains of the black stuff. Thanks, Brass

4 elk, 8-9 muleys. 110 gr in .54

I limit my shots to 100 yds with my Great Plains Rifle.

take a hammer and squish a round ball flat. thats how most of mine ended up but then again more went thru and werent found. usually sue about 100 grs of 3f