I had heard the same about muzzleloaders not being regulated. Im OK if the barrels are parallel. At the kind of distances Im intending to use this, I suspect it will be fine. Likewise, IF (big if), I can get one barrel to shoot true, then I can compensate for the other. Again I see this as pretty much a 50-100m gun, with emphasis on the 50 side.

At this point I really have no preference for round ball or conical. Neither do I see much difference between a 58cal Minie ball or 20ga round at the distances Im imagining.

IF again big if, I move to a cartridge, and assuming I can find a rifled 410 full length insert; Im actually toying with using 460S&W brass as a longer than 45LC and shorter than 410 case.

I just bought what seems like a lifetime supply of Alcan 410 brass. I havent measured it recently; but I thought it was 2 1/2 inches. The problem I was told with the Alcan brass, is that they used a pre 209 primer, which is a tad smaller. I have a few of the smaller primers. The guy I bought the brass from said some 209s would squeeze in and a 15/64s drill bit would open them up to 209 size???

The 460 brass is 1.8" so it will fit with a bit of "free bore" jump. My question is how will that free bore effect shooting AND how much BP can I fit in a 460 case? I had a crimping tool made for 410 which also works with the 460; BUT if I dont have to roll a crimp over a ball and only use a thin over powder wad, I should be able to get a good bit of BP. Im not looking for magnum loads, just suitable for Deer and Hogs.

38-55 (375 Win) is another option but I dont have any brass, and given todays issues with ammo, Im hesitant to seek a cartridge that is loaded only sporatically in good times.