.50 and .54 or consolidate on one caliber?

[smrkdown]

I just recently got a Lyman Deerstalker in .50, and aside from some QC issues, I really like it.

I've also been considering picking up a Lyman GPR which comes highly recommended, especially in .54.

I plan to use mostly PRB, and .50 and .54 will both be perfectly adequate for deer hunting in Pennsylvania. So, I like the idea of having a .54, I don't really need one.

So, here's the question... Do you feel it's worth having both .50 and .54, or do you prefer to keep it simple and consolidate on one caliber?

 

[Semisane]

Having only one caliber would be soooo boring. Everyone needs a .54 (which is quite simply the gateway drug to a .58 :grin: ).

 

[Elkeater]

A 50 and a 58? How much difference in trajectory between 54 and 58?

 

[Vaino]

I think you've already answered your question.....have both....but you'll find the .50 inferior to the .54. Of course I'm an advocate of the .54 which to me is "the caliber" for deer, bear and elk.

The .54 offers excellent velocity and therefore a useable trajectory and the energy is unquestioned...it's no wonder that it was the "mountain men's" favorite. Of course I'm talking about PRB loads......Fred

 

[mooman76]

You don't really need a 54 for deer, 50 is perfectly adequate. On the other hand, this id coming from someone with 8 different BP calibers. I don't need all those either but I have them.

 

[tenngun]

You would have to work that out on a test as many of the test used 3 f in .54 and 2 f in the .58.at 1400fsp a.58 willhave about a foot of drop and 4" mid range trajectory,and that's about the same as a .54. But at 1800 fos a . 54 has a 7 " drop at 100 yards and 2 " mrt. You can get higher velocities with the .54.
Should you ever decide to go after elk moose or longer range western hunting you might consider a .54. If you stay with deer a .50 will more then do the job for you. However our guns are our toys, multi guns that work in multi ways and have all the fun little stuff that goes along with them is a lot of fun.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

I started with a .50 Thompson Center caplock in right hand config, upgraded to a .50 Lyman GPR caplock in left hand config. and shortly after built my .50 flint left hand, at that point sold all the cap guns.

My point being I stayed with a single caliber until I felt supremely confident with it.

When it came time for me to "do something bigger" I went full on .62 in a left hand Trade gun, that allows for nearly endless projectile selection.

Either way, definitely weigh all the options and choose wisely, its a slippery slope.

:haha:

 

[Lonegun1894]

IF you were to stick with .50 in both, there is no guarantee that both your guns will want the same diameter RB, or the same thickness patch, or even the same lube. I personally have both, and like and use both. If possible, I would say go someplace where you can shoulder both the .50 and .54 GPRs in the same place and notice the feel and balance of them. For what it's worth, the .54 is a bit lighter in weight and less muzzle heavy than the .50. So I'd rather carry the .54, and rather shoot the .54 off hand, but the .50 stays on target a bit easier off a rest. Hunting deer and hogs, both work great, but the .54 fires a heavier RB and it is the weight that is more of an advantage than the extra diameter. It allows you to penetrate deeper. Think being able to shoot a deer from any angle (other than from straight behind) and know you will punch your RB out the other side. Your .50 may or may not exit on a broad side shot, mine often doesn't, but the .54s always exit either deer or hogs. The meat tastes great regardless of it if was taken with a .50 or a .54, and the animals don't complain either way. I'd get a .54 just for the variety of it, and in case you ever decide to hunt anything a bit bigger.

 

[Spikebuck]

Well....let's see....I've had or have .32, .36, .40, .45, .50, .54, .58. and .62 (both rifle and smooth). :hmm: Should a guy have more than one caliber! :wink: :grin:

Seriously, my favorite for deer is the .54, hands down. If I could only have two guns it would be a .54 rifle and a .62/20 ga smoothie. If I could only have one, it would be a .62/20 ga smoothie. :2

 

[bubba.50]

you not only WANT a 54 to go with yer 50, you NEED it! and a 58 and a 45 and a 36 and a 32 and likely several other calibers as well. :thumbsup:

 

[smrkdown]

Consensus seems to be to get the .54.

Only real qualm was having to have two sets of accessories, but I guess I'll get over that.

 

[Spikebuck]

having to have two sets of accessories

A jag and different ball size. Maybe different patch material. Not much extra you have to buy.

 

[William O.]

IF you were to stick with .50 in both, there is no guarantee that both your guns will want the same diameter RB, or the same thickness patch, or even the same lube. I personally have both, and like and use both. If possible, I would say go someplace where you can shoulder both the .50 and .54 GPRs in the same place and notice the feel and balance of them. For what it's worth, the .54 is a bit lighter in weight and less muzzle heavy than the .50. So I'd rather carry the .54, and rather shoot the .54 off hand, but the .50 stays on target a bit easier off a rest. Hunting deer and hogs, both work great, but the .54 fires a heavier RB and it is the weight that is more of an advantage than the extra diameter. It allows you to penetrate deeper. Think being able to shoot a deer from any angle (other than from straight behind) and know you will punch your RB out the other side. Your .50 may or may not exit on a broad side shot, mine often doesn't, but the .54s always exit either deer or hogs. The meat tastes great regardless of it if was taken with a .50 or a .54, and the animals don't complain either way. I'd get a .54 just for the variety of it, and in case you ever decide to hunt anything a bit bigger.

Exactly why I went with the .54 to begin my muzzle loading experience. Especially in the GPR form, the .54 is, to me, much less nose heavy and carries better. My .54 is also my most accurate rifle, probably because I've had it longer than either of my .50's but that's my take on it and recommend getting a .54.

 

[Danny Ross]

To answer your question in a different way. You have a Deer Stalker which is a nice nice rifle, BUT now you want a GPR which is a nice rifle . They are both caplocks but different. Why have both? Because you want them. My suggestion is get the 54 in the GPR, you have a 50 in the Deer Stalker. You will end up shooting the one you like best on any given day. I have both calibers in different models, I like shooting all of them. Thing is "IF" I would want to go for larger game other than deer I have the 54. If not I still have a 54 and a 50. DANNY

 

[nkbj]

Been wondering what to do with the unfired lefty flinter fifty barrel for my GPR.

.54--> :slap:

 

[fleener]

I like staying with a limited number of cal.

I think I have 6 rifles in .54 cal. and for a smaller rifle I have a couple .40 cal.

Fleener

 

[SDSmlf]

I also like to stay with a limited number of rifle calibers to keep things simple. 45 caliber, a couple percussion and one flint; 50 cal, more than I can remember without a physical inventory; 54 cal, probably the most popular in my collection (for what it is worth, the 54 flint GPR is great gun); only a couple of 58s, a flint and a percussion; and only one 62 cal (flint). And there are the smmothbores, but I believe the topic is rifles. Do not believe any two shoot their best with the exact same load. Most use the same roundball, except I have a couple different sized 50 cal molds. Have a number of different patch materials. Some require felt or veggie wads. Powder charges vary (trying to go to all Swiss fff, we will see). One 45 and two 50s are set up as slug guns. Writing this out it seems sounds like a sickness... Good luck with your consolidation plans.

 

[Lonegun1894]

I like staying with a limited number of cal.
Fleener

Me too! Only the ones I have or can get molds for! :rotf:

 

[M. De Land]

I've owned both and prefer the .54 by a wide margin. It just seems to be one of the most well balanced calibers of, power and accuracy.

 

[Don Steele]

First..for Bona Fides...I have 4 50's.
40-odd yrs ago, if I knew then what I know now, I would have made my FIRST muzzleloader a .54.
Then I'd have started searching for a nice small caliber LH flintlock, and been done.
From where you're sitting, I'd say enjoy the 50 you have for hunting and go small...40 or less to shoot A LOT.
My 40 flintlock goes to the range with me 3x a week, EVERY week, year 'round. I get one of the 50's out only when getting ready for one of the specific events they get used for...hunting (deer and hogs), Chunk shooting, Table shooting, etc.
Your experience and/or interests may differ but that's mine.