You may still not agree with Chuck. He didn't write that.

I keep waiting and hoping to see, hear or read about muzzleloader hunting with big bore calibers.  Unfortunately everyone seems in a rush to turn their smoke pole into an inefficeint version of their bolt action -06 (or .270 or whatever).  I always giggle (or frown) when I see an .50 inline with a 4x12 scope stuffed with the now cookie cutter load of 150 gr of wonder pellets under a saboted light for caliber pistol bullet.  The scope reticle is pre-calibrated to ranges out to 250 yards or more and the bullet isn't even .50 cal but rather .45.  Just how a 250 yard shot at an animal with this rig is any more challenging or impressive than the same shot with the old .308 I haven't figured out yet.  On the other hand, hearing about someone sneaking up to chip shot range and killing a big game animal with a controlled shot from a large bore and I know I'm listening to someone who prides themselves on hunting and not just shooting.

Reading the article, I can't quite get behind a load using 200 grains of FFg.  I'm not so much concerned about damaging the gun (although possible with some lower or questionable quality imports) as much as I wouldn't want to waste the powder.  I'll bet a significant amount would end up unburned on the ground.  Much more than 120 gr would be too much & I'll bet the best loads for efficiency and accuracy would be between 90 and 110 grains. 

Nothing wrong with the 54 caliber muzzle loader either!