I guess it depends on what your primary use for the rifle is. For target shooting in a match and practice I usually try for the center of the 6 bull 8 ring black target at 25 yards. For me I am usually close enough at 50 with that. I usually up the powder 10-15 grains at 100 yards. Alot of people like to sight in using a 6 o'clock hold at the bottom of the black. I try to sight in holding center of target, in case I use that gun for hunting or shooting at animal paper targets. I know alot of people here will be much more knowledgeable on what I am about to say and can clarify me if I get something wrong here. Many years ago I heard of the 13 yard rule, which is actually for 12 1/2 yards but usually rounded up to 13 yards. Apparently the old longhunters and mountain men, knowing the trajectory of the roundball they fired, zeroed in using this method. As I recall once you have the correct powder, ball and patch combo zero in to strike 1 inch high at 13 yards. The ball should hit 2 inches high at 50, drop and hit poi at the center of the target at 75, be 2 inches low at 100 and 6 inches low at 130. That way when hunting or in battle they could hold center of target and get a lethal hit from the muzzle to 130 yards. As I said I may be off on this somewhat and others can correct where I misquoted. I have tried this a few times with my Early Virginia I got from Narrangansett over 20 years ago but didn't stick with it enough to work it out. I have not been to our muzzle loading club's range since my wife passed a little over 2 years ago but am really getting ready to get back out there and will probably try that with my Early Virginia again, hopefully seeing it through this time.
That gives me a 5X target. In reality it ain't happened yet.
