I use a conical in my .54 caliber Lyman Great Plains Hunter. I chose that mainly because I liked the improved ballistics and because I wanted something big enough to thump a moose if/when I finally draw a tag here in Colorado. My rifle has a 1:32 twist and shoots the conicals very nicely.

It really depends on the rifle you have and what shoots best out of it. Of course, if you're buying a new rifle for hunting, you should decide what kind of projectile you want to shoot and get a rifle with the appropriate twist.

A slower twist (1:66 or thereabouts) is usually best for round balls. A faster twist (like my rifle's 1:32) is usually best for conicals. Some rifles come with a compromise twist of 1:48. These usually work okay with round balls and moderate loads, or with very short conicals. Some of them, though, achieve their compromise by compromising accuracy--they just don't shoot anything all that well!

Whatever you shoot, hunting with a muzzleloader is a great experience. It forces you to get close and get the job done with one shot. When I hear of "hunters" who lost an elk after shooting 4 or 5 shots from their rifles at 500 yards, I'm glad that I use a muzzleloader and actually HUNT my elk!

I only use the round ball. I shoot a .530 patched round ball in both my .54's. They have proven to be very effective.

I have used a .570 swaged round ball in my 58 cal. T/C big bore hawken for several years, an seem to work. My longest shot has been about 80 yds.

Round balls for me

MoHuntress

I have 2 50's (caplock and a flint'r) and a 54 greatplains pistol (back-up for my bear hunting!). I am a ball and patch guy with my patches soaked in bear oil. I have been experimenting with the power belt bullets tho and I am kind of thinking I like them? A tough thing to say coming from a wanabe traditionalist!

I to use a .535 RB for deer give a tight fit with .15 patch.
For elk I use a modified 438 grain Civil war conical with a deep hollow base, she is very accurate in my long gun out to 150yrds
" That’s the limit that I shoot"

Roundball for both my .54cal trade rifle and for my .50cal flinter.

I see a lot of round ball action here. Is this because of the accuracy, or more of a traditional thing. ?

For myself, I cast roundball as it stretches out a pound of lead further than if casting larger boolits...

Just getting back into the sport here.

Round Balls only here... .495 with my .50 cal. Hawkins Tradition.