I've been hunting with the muzzle loading rifle since I built my first one, a .54 caliber Thompson/Center "Hawken", from a kit back when I was only 18 years old. Back then, it was a purely pragmatic exercise to extend my hunting season. There were no in-lines back then, and the T/C was widely regarded as the "best" (if certainly not the most authentic) rifle available. The end result was, I guess, somewhat predictable - the experience planted the seed of interest in not just muzzle loaders, but antique arms of all persuasions.
The one thing I always thought had to be "modernized" about the old front stuffers was what looks to be the rather anemic ballistics of the round ball. While I have fired thousands of them just for fun, or in primitive rifle matches, I only very briefly hunted with them before I went back to the "Maxi Ball" or some other such elongated bullet.
Now I found myself, after having veered over into the black powder cartridge rifle niche (both for hunting and competition), embracing both the single shot and the lever gun, down to only two muzzle loaders left in the house. Of course I kept the T/C, being the first one I built, and I kept a .50 caliber flintlock Dixie Tennessee Mountain rifle just to have a representative example of that style of rifle.
So, I have now duly rectified that situation with the purchase of a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .54 caliber. This (unlike the T/C) is a relatively faithful copy of Sam and Jake's rifle they produced in St. Louis so long ago. I opted for the slow twist (66"), suitable for the round ball. I'll leave the big heavy bullets to the T/C.
The listed maximum load for this rifle is 110 grains of FFg behind the patched round ball. My T/C will take 120 grains behind the Maxi Ball, for a good deal more power. I actually shoot the Lyman Plains Bullet in preference to the T/C bullet because it's even heavier - 450 grains vs. 430. The round ball is, for comparison, only 230 grains.
Left to right is the round ball, T/C Maxi, and Lyman Plains:
I know I've chosen to severely handicap myself with this approach, but that's o.k. I could really care less if I ever shoot anything ever again, so I can wait for my shot. I just feel the need to do this "the right way", and experience a little more realistically just what is was like to hunt with these rifles. I'm looking forward to it.