Field reference · black powder

Muzzleloader Caliber Chart

Traditional and inline muzzleloader calibers: what each was used for, a typical powder charge and projectile, speed, energy, effective range, point-blank range and twist. Speed, energy and BC are typical figures for the listed charge and projectile; real numbers vary by powder, projectile and barrel length. Tap a column header to sort.

	Made for	Charge					Twist rate for typical load	Effective range

How MPBR is figured

Traditional sidelocks, flintlocks and conical setups assume open iron sights about 0.6" over the bore. The inline sabot row assumes a scope 1.5" over the bore. Zones are 2" for small game, 4" for turkey and small predators, 6" for deer and up, with sight-in height at 50 yards. Round balls lose speed quickly, so point-blank range is short.

Powder and twist

Granulation: Fg is coarse (big bores), FFg for .45 and up, FFFg for small bores and pan priming in flintlocks use FFFFg.
Slow twists (1:48 and slower) suit patched round balls; fast twists (1:28) suit conicals and sabots.
Never use smokeless powder unless the muzzleloader is specifically built and marked for it.

Keep in mind

Charges, velocities and BCs are typical figures from my own knowledge, not looked up; muzzleloader speed varies a lot with powder brand, patch and barrel length. Follow your rifle maker's maximum charge and your state's muzzleloader season rules.