50, 54, or 58 cal flintlock “Plains” rifle?

[morehops52]

I had 50's and decided to get a 54 in case I ever got to elk hunting. A 54 is lighter than a 50 assuming same barrel blank. If possible also get a swamped barrel. Once you've carried one you'll appreciate the saved weight and excellent balance. The largest choice of options goes to 50 cal and in my parts most gun shops will have 50 and 54 but not much in other BP calibers.

 

[Trev]

I'd probably pick .50, over .54, I've had both for ~25 years; 8 more balls and 20+ charges per pound do add up. I'd not want a larger than .54 riffled, to me the large bores are moving into smooth bore size, but that's just me. I've wanted a .62 smooth bore for years, but not bad enough to make it happen.
I like the idea of multiple barrels mentioned above.

 

[Patched]

50s and under are for squirrel hunting and frog eating flatlanders…

Go 54….cuz a 58 kicks harder than the critters you’d be dropping with it.

54 shoots flat hits hard…it’s the “Goldilocks” sweet spot calibre for western “plains” game animals…enough for elk and bear…Louis and Clark used it as did everyone of John Baird’s self proclaimed magazine mountainman brigade of the 1970s-80s …talk about an endorsement.

54cal puts the balls in you shootin pouch.

 

[Antelope Pete]

What about Dimmick? (sp)

Yeah him too. He falls into the "or several others" category along with Fordney, Gumph, Krider, etc.

 

[hanshi]

With mostly target shooting and plinking with "maybe" some deer hunting a .45 is all you need. Less lead, powder and recoil so a .45 is comfortable and economical. I've killed more deer with .45s than any other and I've used the .50, .54 and .62. But if you don't know what you might end up hunting the .54 covers more ground.

 

[Trev]

I'd feel comfortable shooting any "plains" animal except a grizzly with a .50, and I'd try my best not to have to shoot one of them with any single shot gun. People on the plains had lived for eons using only bows, so even a squirrel rifle would be more deadly. So yeah, a .45 would probably do. I've read that the .44 revolvers killed bison, and long ago read that the St. Louis rifles often started as smaller bores and over time were reamed larger as the riffling wore. Someplace else I read that most were .50 or .53.
Bigger than a .54, I'd go to .68 or so and keep it smooth, although I've read that T. Roosevelt owned a .70 Hawken rifle. That must run about 14 balls to the pound.

 

[rickystl]

50s and under are for squirrel hunting and frog eating flatlanders…

Go 54….cuz a 58 kicks harder than the critters you’d be dropping with it.

54 shoots flat hits hard…it’s the “Goldilocks” sweet spot calibre for western “plains” game animals…enough for elk and bear…Louis and Clark used it as did everyone of John Baird’s self proclaimed magazine mountainman brigade of the 1970s-80s …talk about an endorsement.

54cal puts the balls in you shootin pouch.

Funny thing. Back in the 1970's, custom barrel maker Bill Large more or less said the same thing about the .54.

Rick

 

[Patched]

Funny thing. Back in the 1970's, custom barrel maker Bill Large more or less said the same thing about the .54.

Rick

I have 54 barrels on “plains” guns from that era…GRRW, Don Getz, Hoppy Hopkins, Jim Goodien…wait times were long with JJJJ Large barrels so I never got one…twists in 70 to 75 range…
Excellent exceptional shooters with any amount of powder as long as I preserve the integrity of the patches…felt over powder wads work well for that…this is what’s needed for 150 yd shots on muleys in the west.

I tried those squirrel calibers…they’re awesome on squirrels…and frogs but I like antelope steaks.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

For big game…the .54 calibre is simply hard to beat. I killed elk for years with a .50 calibre and a patched RB. Then one year, my dad wanted to go hunting with me…and he wanted us to both have the same calibre, his choice was .54 calibre.

So I got me a .54 calibre CVA Big Bore Mountain Rifle…and was shocked at how well the .54 performed on elk.

My day to day shooter, is going to be a little .32 calibre, a zippy little .40 or a .45 calibre…low on resource consumption, deadly accurate, and so fun to shoot. But if I’m going for elk, it’s a .54 calibre that I take into the woods.

 

[gustrolland]

I’ve had a full stock standing breech flintlock “Plains” type rifle on my bucket list for over 25 years. I know that to call it a Hawken wouldn’t be historically correct, hence “Plains” type. This may be stirring the pot with a Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge type question, but which caliber would y’all prefer, and why? It will be used for target shooting and some whitetail deer hunting. I’ve been successfully deer hunting for nearly 40 years, but have yet to take one with one of my muzzleloaders. I know exactly what I want, but may have to build it in order to find it. Caliber is about the only thing I’m undecided on. Y’all please help me out!

I shoot flinters in .45, .50, .54 and
58. And like them all, and can't even say that only one is my favorite. Just to save some lead, I would say a .50 might be the way to go. It will make a great fun or hunting caliber. My .54 is the only one that hasn't taken meat. What ever you get will be great. Have fun.

 

[William O.]

I’ve had a full stock standing breech flintlock “Plains” type rifle on my bucket list for over 25 years. I know that to call it a Hawken wouldn’t be historically correct, hence “Plains” type. This may be stirring the pot with a Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge type question, but which caliber would y’all prefer, and why? It will be used for target shooting and some whitetail deer hunting. I’ve been successfully deer hunting for nearly 40 years, but have yet to take one with one of my muzzleloaders. I know exactly what I want, but may have to build it in order to find it. Caliber is about the only thing I’m undecided on. Y’all please help me out!

For me I would suggest the .54. It's less nose heavy compared to a 50 cal barrel of the same dimensions and still less recoil than the .58. My first .54 muzzleloader shot a bullseye at 100 yards right out of the box and I've been hooked ever since.

 

[Cowboy]

Have all the calibers you’re referencing to.

I personally shoot .54 in flint or percussion.

Have a Jack Garner built plains rifle that’s a full stock flinter that I shoot quite often. It’s a tack driver and hits with authority.

Respectfully, Cowboy