The perfect rifle would be one which shot a bullet in a perfectly straight line to all distances, so that all one had to do was point and shoot. Not even the most powerful, high velocity smokeless rifle shooting a scientifically designed bullet can do that, of course.
All bullets travel to the target in a looping arc, first rising then falling toward the target.
Because of the relatively low velocities and poor flight characteristics of the projectiles used in black powder rifles, the problem is compounded for them. High drag causes them to slow quickly, and this results in an exaggerated looping path to the target. This is true of conicals, but especially of roundball. To the beginner trying to set his rifle up for hunting, this can seem a daunting problem. All is not lost, however.