Post in the link says all that needs to be said...

http://wyomingschuetzen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1479

WOW!

I don't know what else to say.

This particular post at the WSU site best illustrates why I get cantankerous when folks jump to unfounded conclusions or accept other gossip to similar points about what BP muzzleloaders are or are not capable of achieving. I find this particularly illuminating given the use of aperture sights.

I shot this same size group at 50 yards with my Lyman Great Plains 54 cal , using Horandy Round Ball, .018 patch lubed with Pam Cooking Spray and 80 gr of T7 and open sights. Should have keep the target and posted it.

I have two classes of muzzle loaders, target guns and a single long rifle. Paper punching is obviously a different endeavor from shooting game, but the long rifle will shoot as well as I can with most any gun in offhand application and that w/o serious load development. 5 in 2" +\- at 50. Best I've ever done is 10 in a sub 3" group @ 100 yards, that with a Ruger#1 in .257 Roberts. Within reason I fail to see a significant difference in that level of dispersion.

There are many accounts of long range hits through out history with muzzle loaders with both round and conical bullets. Considering the quality of the black powder available back in the day, the consistency achieved by some shooters is quite remarkable. Whether it loads from the breach or the muzzle, an accurate rifle in the hands of a good marksman is a deadly combo.

I only shot that kind of group one time with the patch round ball, must have wobbled just right with the open sights