Max, look for my posts in the firearm section on both airguns and muzzleloaders. I hunt Deer/Elk with a .50 cal and starting this year squirrels with a .32 kit I built. I cast my own Minnie Balls and Midsouth Shooters supply makes a kit so you can make your own #11 caps out of aluminum cans and kids roll caps.

If going muzzle loader why not go flintlock? No worry about caps and bang smoke is not that hard to make. Have one for the challenge when I hunt now.

I opted not do go flintlock simply because I was looking at a dual purpose muzzleloader. I wanted one I could hunt with now when times are good and it's fun, but I also wanted one as a backup when TSHTF. That said right now for recreational hunting who cares if it doesn't go bang reliably but when things go to hell and I'm hunting because I have to put food on the table or starve I want to minimize the chances of a misfire as much as possible. My hunting lineup is airgun for small game, 60# compound bow for big game then the cartridge guns and muzzleloaders bringing up the tail. When things go bad the report of a firearm whether it's centerfire or muzzleloader is going to bring people like ants to honey when they're hungry and I'd rather like to avoid that.

Bow check
Centerfire check
Shotgun check
Cap lock check
Flintlock check
Traps check
Snares check

Dang I didn't even think about air guns for squirrels and such. I do have sling shots for up close quiet work.

Para, I have 3 different airguns
1) Gamo Hunter 220, .177, 1000fps, spring, barrel cocker, loves Predator ballistic tips. Tears the head right off a squirrel to 40 yds and shoots dime sized groups.
2) Webley Tempest pistol, spring, barrel cocker, 450-500fps, 1/2 dollar groups at 20yds
3) Walther Talon, .22, 1000fps, spring, barrel cocker, still breaking in so not sure of pellet choice yet. Check back in the firearms section where I'm doing a write up on it. So far at 40yds it will bury a field point 1/2 way through a 2x4. Stay away from the cheap crap and CO2, the springers are harder to shoot because of the unusual recoil but all you need are pellets, no powder or compressed gas. If you want to browse I got the Walther from airgundepot, they treated me very well.

i probably shouldn't mention my total ammunition amounts but suffice to say, i have over 20,000 .22 rds.

on the subject of corrosive ammo, it was designed to last a century in less than ideal conditions. corrosive primers can take more abuse and will still work long after non-corrosive ones have given up. as for cleaning after using them, do it as soon as practicable. the fired primers create salt that sits in your barrel and mixes with moisture in the air to begin pitting the steel. in low humidity environments you may be able to go a week or so before cleaning but down south or on the coast that isn't a very good idea.

the best way to preserve your rifle if cleaning isn't possible soon is to spray windex down the bore and run a patch down it before packing away your rifle. the ammonia neutralizes the salts and protects your barrel until you can clean it properly.

airgun depot is a great resource. they have pre-pressurized rifles you simply fill with an external pump and then have 30+ shots before the velocity drops. these are bolt action repeaters which gives you quick follow up shots and the ability to take more than one animal at a time without having to stop and recock the gun. they also hold pressure a LONG time so they can be pressurized and left until needed to discourage pests and such.

they also have big bore air rifles...up to .50 cal that can be used on large thin skinned game.

I agree with chaos, I stock 1000 rounds per weapon, and I have a ton of weapons. This is a rule of US SOF weapon caching, 1000 per weapon.

ya we got a skunk w/ 2 shots of non hunting rounds from our airguns... couldn't use the mosins cause' we're in the center of town lol