.50 versus .54 Caliber Rifle?

[patrick_ford]

Yet another gringo interested in learning about smokepoles here.

I've pretty much decided I want a TC Hawken rifle, a renegade if I can find one. My issue is I can't figure out to go with a .50 or .54 caliber...

I will use this rifle to hunt as well as target shoot. Hunting wise, since I live in the Carolinas, I will probably never hunt anything bigger than a whitetail or wild pig. I'd like to be able to use it on smaller game if possible. I think I'd like to stick with round balls, but would probably experiment with conicals later on.

Is there any sort of arguement for one over the other in my situation?

Thanks,

Patrick

 

[BrownBear]

I've got Lyman Great Plains Rifles in both 50 and 54. Either caliber is suitable for deer, and in my experience, with reduced loads are perfectly good for small game head shots. And for target work, I don't think anyone can tell you one is more inherently accurate than the other.

Differences you will notice are balance, weight and recoil. I find that the 54 cal Lyman balances better due to less steel out front in the barrel. There is correspondingly less weight, too. And recoil can be lots more severe with heavy "mastadon" loads or longer range loads in the 54 of well over 100 grains of powder. At what I consider deer hunting charges in either caliber of 70-90 grains of powder, you'll be hard pressed to notice the difference. But the 54 will take larger charges, and in combo with its heavier RB, it can kick more than the same model in 50, that is unless you get into shooting heavy conicals. Then both will bite back.

For pigs you might be happier with the 54 than the 50 due to more "whompability" than the 50, as described by one of the notables here at the site. I keep reaching for the 54 when I head out on a hunt, even though there's a perfectly good 50 right beside it. That's not because I have any doubts about the 50, but because I somehow have more confidence in the 54.

And there you have it. Pretty darn few differences anyone can measure, but pretty significant differences in personal tastes. I'd sure try to handle both before buying, so you can make up your own mind about weight and balance. Your taste could easily be the opposite of mine.

 

[jerem0621]

I recently bought a T/C New Englander in .50 caliber and I can't be happier. I can't say I prefer one over the other but I think .50 caliber supplies are a little more common. Case in Point, last Saturday I went to Sportmans Warehouse and they had a ton of traditional muzzleloading supplies, but only in .50 caliber. Of course if you pour your own lead and make your own patches this is a moot point. :hatsoff:

Jerem

 

[cptleo1]

"I keep reaching for the 54 when I head out on a hunt, even though there's a perfectly good 50 right beside it. That's not because I have any doubts about the 50, but because I somehow have more confidence in the 54."

I don't know how to describe it either.

For hunting and plinking in the Southeast the .50 will do it just fine, BUT, the .54 just SEEMS to do it better.

Sooner or later you will get a crack at a big hog or a bear, might as well have the big gun.

Sooner or later you will build or buy a few more rifles but till then the .54 will cover a lot of bases for ya.

Even if you are just shooting soda cans the .54 will really make em jump.

With 50 grs of powder the .54 is a pussy cat with 100 gr she is a tiger - treat one right and she will purr like a big kitten.

IMHO

There is no "Right, first gun or caliber" shoot as many as you can before you plop down your hard earned cash and enjoy the smoke !

 

[Goldhunter]

+2. I also have a .50 and shoot my .54 more. In fact my last build was also a .54. They are both great, though.

I'm about to put a new barrel on my .50 so I may be shooting it a bit more when that happens.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

welcome to the Forum Patrick, from the WNC mountains. tough choice you have. I have a .50 myself, have been dialing in the Lee REAL slug for a crack at wild/feral S.C. hogs early spring, hopefully. no shop around here carries .54 supplys, those that own them have to order.

 

[bucktales]

.54, And I'd lean towards a Renegade. What is nice about that, is you can later swap with an aftermarket 1" barrel like Green Mountain has, in .50.

 

[Decon]

whenever i step out the door the .54 go's with me :thumbsup: :grin:

 

[MSW]

a agree with bucktales. if you have problems getting supplies, you can always 'roll your own' .54 ball, and cutting patches isn't all that difficult.

well. one guy's opinion, maybe worth what you just paid for it.

 

[nchawkeye]

Patrick...Welcome...Also in NC...I started with a .45 flinter in the 70s...Back in the mid-80s I had a run in with a bear, a BIG bear...Decided to make a .54, haven't looked back...Go with the .54, lots of folks forget that NC has a pretty good population of bear...

 

[E Poffinbarger]

Patrick:

Here's my 3cents worth:

Since you said initially you will primarily be shooting "patched ball", therefore IMHO look seriously at a rifle with a slow twist barrel.

Then possibly conicals(for Mastadon hunting)at a later date, therefore IMHO consider a rifle that you can also purchase a second interchangable fast twist barrel.

Lyman sells through MidSouthShootersSupply an off the shelf rifle, in which you can also purchase a second barrel.

In summary, in my case I have two rifles;one fast twist and one slow twist, as I too hunt both whitetail, wild hogs and occasionally a Mastadon, however more importantly both of my rifles are .54 caliber.

Osage

 

[Trench]

I was in your shoes a year ago. I settled on a .50 "Hawken" style rifle. I'm limited to 70gr of powder for accuracy, so my hunting range is limited to say, 70 yds. This is fine, as I usually hunt in woodlots where shots more than 50yds is unusual.
If I ever wanted to hunt more open forests, I'd feel more comfortable with a .54. It's more of a mass-driver as it's about 52gr heavier than a .50 roundball.
My next rifle will be at least a .54 for that purpose.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Think of it this way: what appears to be a small difference in diameter - .50 to .54 - is actually a 29% increase in ball mass! 178 gr vs. 230 gr. That's a big difference.

When I put my eggs in one basket and ordered a custom flinter I went with a .54. I hunt whitetails almost exclusively, but can tone it down for potting small game.

I also still hunt frequently with a percussion .50 when the weather is off (and that is my normal carry piece for regular deer season). I don't feel undergunned at all, but I do like the extra margin the .54 gives for slightly longer shots. More mass = less chance of deflection for wind or a twig strike. Also, God forbid, a shot strays into a marginal spot on the animal the extra mass and diameter of the .54 may help you recover the animal or drop it quicker.

 

[MikeC]

My opinion since you don't already own either caliber I would determine first what type of projectile I would use to hunt my largest game.

If using conicals I would go with the .50 if round balls .54 and to just throw a little wrench into the works being your after a stock T/C I assume you'll find both the .50 and .54 have 1:48 twist barrels so inherently the .50 should shoot roundballs slightly better. Either way your good to go.

 

[Mountainman56]

A TC Hawken or Renegade is a good choice for a huntin rifle but I would also look seriously at a Lyman GPR. I have both and I honestly prefer the Lyman. Also with either one you can get additional barrels in .50 or .54 in slow twist for prb's or fast twist for conicals so there is no reason you can't have a .50 and a .54 in the same rifle.

My personal choice for hunting everything up to and including deer has always been a .50 but then again that's all I shoot for everything so it's possible I may be a little biased. :wink:

 

[Rafsob]

I have been hunting with a .50 for a few years now and finally bought myself a birthday present last year. It was a Hawkens Sportized Carbine in.54 cal. from Investarms.

Well to make a long story short, I took my first deer with it the other day and was impressed. The .50 takes deer, but the .54 does it with authority!!!

 

[jercon]

If your going to punch hogs get the .54 I have .45.50.54 the .54 is a GM drop in and boy do she shoot all in one big hole at 75 yards!and it shoots the Maxie's good .not as tight a group as PRB but you would not miss with it.

 

[Mad Professor]

.54, And I'd lean towards a Renegade. What is nice about that, is you can later swap with an aftermarket 1" barrel like Green Mountain has, in .50.

Or 58 cal!!!

 

[delgue]

I have a 45 flinter 50 inline 54 TC Scout. The Scout is the one I take most of the time. The 425 gr.HP does a great job on deer and hogs

 

[ryoung14]

Normally, I'd say "Go for the .54.", Pat. It's the better killer; especially with roundballs.

But seeing as how you're new at this and there is a degree of uncertainty, maybe a more roundabout approach would have some advantages.

Consider this:
Buy the .50 Hawken. It'll have a 15/16" barrel with a 1:48 twist. This will be fast enough for .50 conicals which are quite deadly with hunting loads. That twist will also shoot lightly loaded .50 PRBs very accurately. With the light PRB loads you can learn, practice and hunt small game to your hearts content, all with excellent accuracy. Forum member Roundball reports that he routinely gets the 1:48 barrels to shoot the PRB accurately with hunting loads, but not everyone has, so it must take some skill.

Then, when you've cut your teeth on this sport, order up a 15/16" Green Mountain .54 slow twist drop-in roundball barrel. It should be easy to develop accurate .54 PRB hunting loads in this barrel. The slow twist, however, makes it a specialized roundball barrel as it probably won't stabilize most conicals.

So, at this point, you should be able to 1)shoot .50 conicals reasonably well, 2)easily shoot accurate .50 PRB target and small game loads, 3)easily shoot accurate .54 PRB hunting loads...all in relatively light 15/16" barrels.

If you go the .54 Hawken or the Renegade route, you'll be into 1" barrels which are significantly heavier. If, later on, you go the dedicated PRB route with a 1" barrel, it'll be quite heavy as these barrels are normally 31" to 32" in length. However, if you plan to shoot .58s someday, the 1" barrel is the way to go.

FWIW...sorry it's so long.
Bob