Kind of sad there aren't any posts in this section. As much as I love firearms of all types, Smokepoles are my #1 favorite rifles to shoot, and to hunt with. I predominantly hunt with them, and have done so since well back in the 80's when the muzzleloader season was a $10 extension to the rifle hunt... that was back in the days you could shoot multiple bucks each year plus a doe. I LOVED hunting that next week into Nov, hunting in snow, just as the rutt was coming on.
I only have two frontstuffers currently, a '76 T/C Hawkin in .50 cal that I rebarreled with a 1/28" faster twist barrel. My other gun is a Remington M700ML in .50 caliber. My wife surprised me with that gun for Christmas one year (how cool is that!). I've taken a heck of alot of deer with it, and an elk back when they had the ML300 draw hunt.
There are alot of new powders and bullets that have come out over the years, but I still stick with the old Pyrodex RS, 90 grains under a .240grn XTP. It shoots fantastically out of either rifle, well enough I've never been motivated to find anything better.
I wish the late season was back, hunting in Sept with 90 degree days is pretty rough at times.
-DallanC