In the Allegheny mountains the American gunsmiths were building muzzleloaders through the 1800's and even into the 1900's. At that early age the muzzleloaders were way more powerful than the breechloader and out in the west were exactly are you going to find shells for your rifle or shotgun. On the Little Bighorn expedition a relative of Custer held out a new Colt peacemaker for a Times reported to inspect. His first question; where do find ammunition for this thing out here? The answer was he had a cap and ball revolver with loose ammunition in his saddle bag. Some Bedford county gunsmiths were building flintlocks into the 1880 and 90's.
If someone thinks that when the breechloaders appeared everyone trashed their muzzleloaders to buy them better think again!! It took along time for people to be convinced especially in the remote areas.
All the best