Black Powder https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/data/catalog/categories/images/43/original/muzzleloaders.jpg Modern day black powder or muzzleloaders are a lot like the muskets that were used in the American Revolutionary War, just a lot more accurate.  This is because the new technology incorporated into the design.   Have you ever heard of the Kentucky Long Rifle?  These were some of the original firearms to use rifling to extend their range by putting a spin on the round.  By putting a spin on the bullet it allowed it to fly further and straighter,which allowed for more accuracy and precision.   http://ukrifle.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/kentucky-long-rifle3.jpg The original muskets shot a ball of lead which did not fit very well inside the bore. They bounced around inside the barrel causing inaccuracy and dissipation of energy. It also allowed for the escape of the force of the explosion of the gunpowder to pass around the ball instead of pushing it.  Later on the lead became more the shape of the modern bullet and had a better fit inside of the barrel.  Also bullet manufactures started putting an indentation in the center of the rear of the new bullets to help trap the explosion.  With this new shape came the idea of rifling.  This produced tighter fitting, more aerodynamic bullets, and a rifling pattern that put spin on the rounds, giving the muskets more accuracy and a greatly increased range.   http://gregsrelics.tripod.com/Pictures/MyBulletCollection.JPG As is illustrated by the above image, there was quite the progression in  the design of projectiles.  Also notice that the caliber of the bullets is displayed next to each description.  Most of the rifle rounds were .52 caliber or bigger, where as the more popular rounds today are .300 or smaller.  The smaller .44 caliber rounds where used for primarily revolvers.