Most accuracy from a side-lock, not so tough: Quality barrel, with thought and research put into type and rate of twist. Then it's a matter of trial and error with different size balls, different sizes of patches, and different lubes.
I'd say the accuracy you can expect is more than enough to go to your average rifle range, and out shoot 90% of the modern rifles on the range, that are being fired by "average" shooters.
The reason the Bat-Guns (inlines) are shooting out to 200 yards is mainly because of the mega-powder charges...the 200 yard guns are using 150 or more grains of powder to get the velocity up and trajectory down. That's also the reason for the sabots, as a lighter, saboted slug will have much more velocity over a bore diameter slug...as I'm sure you know. So combine mega powder charges with a saboted pistol slug and what do you get? A .444 Marlin that's what! (ballistically) Why scoped rifles that are ballistically identicle to modern rifles get to use the muzzle loading seasons is beyond me.
For me, the REASON for shooting a flintlock rifle is for FUN and ENJOYMENT. Most of the fun and enjoyment is working within the limitation of 100-125 yards. Out to 100 yards, the round ball will fly flatter, hit harder and expand some. A slug really is kind of out of place in a flinter. I enjoy shooting minnies out of my 1861 Springfield, but I can't imagine ever poking one down the barrel of my Jaeger!
For some people, the REASON for shooting black powder is just an eaiser way to get a deer or elk, so they think. Hence the rush or interest in a "muzzle loader" that will shoot to 200 yards. There's really no fun and enjoyment, or appreciation of the type of rifle used, other than is it the newest, fastest, most whizz-bang high tech thing and will it make it more EASY to kill the game...and make up for lack of hunting skill.
I am very much into shooting all types of military firearms, especially at 500 and 1200 yards. I love doing that. I have no interest in shooting game over 100 yards, as when it comes to hunting, I love the hunting more than the shooting, so I choose a flintlock which makes hunting more of a hunt....!!! Is this making ANY sense??
I guess what I'm trying to say is to separate hunting with a flintlock from shooting. Although, as others have mentioned you can get very fine accuracy from a round-ball flinter, you don't need MOA accuracy, because you won't be shooting out to ranges where your shots will disperse enough to cause a bad shot or miss...a big consideration when shooting out to 500 meters but not a factor to take a deer at 100 yards.
Good luck with your flinter...with the right attitude you will certainly become an addict like the rest of us, and ENJOY shooting and hunting more. All things considered, there's no advantage for any projectile other than a round ball. Traditionalist or not, if you are going to feed a flintlock with saboted slugs...might as well just use a modern rifle in the first place. For hunting out to 125 the round ball will leave NOTHING to be desired. Go to a bigger caliber before going to a slug. If you have doubts about effectiveness of a .50" roundball, get a .54. .54 balls still "seems" small or ineffective, (yeah right!) go to a .58", and so on and so on.
Sorry for all the drivel...must be the coffee.
:yakyak:
Rat