The decisions between traditional and in-line is a personal one, to be sure, but how about the decision to go with a faster twist (conical) vs a slower one (ball) in a traditional gun?

The Lyman Great Plains Rifle vs. the Great Plains Hunter, for example. Are conicals that much superior to round ball in a traditional gun for hunting situations? Is it accuracy, velocity or effective range? I am not talking about target shooting, strictly hunting with a traditional gun.

Thanks.

All things being equal the conical will shoot more accurately than a round ball. It is a much more stable projectile due to it's shape. The other advantage is it's weight. It has superior energy if the velocities are the same, it does take more powder to get that velocity but it does retain velocity better. In most hunting situations I think the conical makes a better hunting bullet. However, I've never lost an elk or a deer when using a roundball (7 elk so far). Go with whichever you want just remember to get in practice with the one you decide on.

[Double, the Lymans GP, comes in a slow twist for ball as well as a fast twist and perhaps an even faster twist for sabots. The ball twist is there for sure however.

Brent

PS. I prefer ball for target shooting out to 100 yds, for deer it's fine, for moose, I've risked it, but found no moose so I can't say it sufficed. However, most of the big game in the east was exterminated with .40 and .45 roundball guns in the late 18th century and into the early 19th century.

My rifle has a twist of 1 in 48", and will shoot eather bullets or balls very accuratly. I prefer to use round balls in my .50 cal for deer hunting. But, if I was shooting elk or moose, I would use a bullet, or get a .54 and go with the bigger ball.