Powder & Shot Load ratios out of smoothbore muzzleloaders...

[Stumpkiller]

We've also seen shot cups and sophisticad cushion wads.

Pattern some with tow or paper wasp nest. That's all I ever used in my Bess. More lead just threw denser doughnuts, but dropping the powder closed the center of the pattern and 1-1/8 oz (it was a 16 bore "carbine") was about optimal.

 

[roundball]

Never used big powder charges in the first place and never had problems with dough-nut holes since the first patterning session. Like most folks, I discovered on that first trip that using only half of a Circle Fly 1/2" cushion wad gave me tighter patterns than the full size heavier wad.
(later switched to a pair of 1/8" felt wads)

 

[grousehunter]

the only thing that makes the none square load functional in a modern shot shell is the cup. if the shot cannot be contained in the plastic it will ride up the barrel deform and fly off target. sure you can put 2 ounces shot down a 20 bore but little of those pellets will reach target. shoot the gun across water and watch the results, a heavy shot charge will result in 20 yards of water disturbance. as you approach the sqaure load you will notice the charge punching a small group at almost the same time. when you witness this, shoot at paper, and fine tune the load. all working loads will be small compaired to modern thinking, in fact they just may be smaller than the target loads stated on boxed ammo.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Wompability is the word all right! The coffee can test went really well! Both were significant hits with the sights pointed dead-on centered. Both times between 1-2 dozen pellet hits per coffee can. Since the POA was dead-on the coffee cans I'm kinda figuring that I don't have to worry about doughnut holes. And both cans were thrown backwards quite well upon impact.

Next coffee can test will be 20 & 25 yards. Will report on the "Wompability".

Dave