50 vs 54 cal

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chrisahrens

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I am looking for opionions on 50 vs 54 cal for big game. 50 being a bit lighter, 54 a bit more powerful. but is it a significant difference. i'd like to hear from 50 cal owners, on elk and bear.
 
I built my son a .50 cal rifle with a 38" swamped barrel due in part to the weight of the barrel and percieved recoil. Whitetail deer are the largest thing we shoot in Ohio. It does fine on whitetail but I have yet to shoot a deer with a .54 that didn't drop in it's tracks. I'm sure other's would chime in but I am already planning on his next gun being a .54 caliber. I'm sure there will be plenty of folks who wiegh in on both sides but I'll take the .54 hands down.
 
Being a noob to the muzzleloading world myself I lack the credentials of many old vets on this board but everything I've read and heard leads me to believe that if you're shooting round balls, there's no replacement for displacement. Bigger is always better for what you're after.

If you're shooting high tech modern bullets I'm sure either would be fine and in fact, there are a lot more choices available for .50 caliber.
 
I've killed deer with .50 and they were just as dead as the ones I killed with a.54or a .62.The early plains guns were often .50,later .54 became dominant.Balisticly there is little to choose between them.I doubt if a well placed shot from a .54 would kill anything that an = shot from a .50 would leave suffering.That said I used a .54 when hunting out west.
 
The only edge the 50 has over the 54 is that the 50 will shoot a little flatter. If that matters??
I shoot everything from .40 to .62, so each has it's values and short-comings.
A .50 will take most game, here in North America, especially game that won't eat you.
I hope this helps.
Fred
 
I have both, and like both, but prefer the .54. Assuming you are considering the same rifle that is available in both calibers (Lyman GPRs in my case for both rifles) the larger caliber will have the bigger bore, ie, less metal, so will be slightly lighter in weight. It will also use slightly more powder and lead, so there is a trade off. Speaking of powder and lead, it is often said that a .50 will shoot flatter than a .54, or a .45 flatter than a .50, etc, etc. I call BS on that one IF equal loads are used. Notice I didn't say equal powder charges tho. If I limit my loads in my .54 to the same 70grs FFFg that I use in my .50, then yes, the .50 will shoot flatter, but that is because it will be traveling faster so we are NOT getting a true comparison. To get a true comparison, we need to start both caliber RBs at the same velocity to start out with, which will require more powder in the larger caliber to start out with. If you start out with equal velocities, then you will see that the larger caliber actually maintains it's velocity a little better to in truth shoots a little flatter. Now it won't be a lot flatter, so please don't misunderstand me, but it will be a bit of an improvement. But like I said earlier, you will pay for that flatter trajectory with more powder amd slightly more recoil. I would still get the larger caliber considering the game you mentioned, because it is always easier to load a larger gun down than it is to load a smaller gun up.
 
I have killed deer with both. No bear or elk.


Prefer the .54 but don't feel helpless with the .50

Note that the .54 carries 27% more mass and isn't much slower (especially if loaded a little hotter). Makes a bigger hole.
 
well, if I had it all to over again, i'd get a .54, but such was not possible when I got into flint. I built a .36 and a .40. and i'll probably do a .62 smoothie next, but then a .54.

while much is made of 'knockdown power' (a. k. a. whompability) I think that shot placement counts for far more than is given credit, and I commend Dutch Schoultz' method to your use... best money I've spent in a long time.

here's the link:
http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/


if you can't hit a 5x7 file card at that range, don't take the shot.

OK - i'll climb down off my soapbox before I fall and get hurt...

one guy's free opinion, and doubtless well worth the price...
 
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peasant said:
I am looking for opionions on 50 vs 54 cal for big game. 50 being a bit lighter, 54 a bit more powerful. but is it a significant difference. i'd like to hear from 50 cal owners, on elk and bear.

50 is a good deer caliber and I would shoot anything with it if the opportunity was right, well anything I am like the meet in Montana.
However, for Elk I would rather have a bigger ball and would REALLY rather have my 67 caliber rifle for Elk and larger critters. But the recoil requires me to shoot it more to stay in "shape" and its hard on a somewhat damaged neck.
If you intend the hunt elk get a 54-58. If you intend to hunt Elk in the vicinity of Yellowstone NP in WY and MT and I suppose ID as well you might want something bigger than a 58.
GBears are beginning the be a bigger problem than they were. But I still hunt with my 50 in "occupied Gbear habitat" but I would rather not meet one OR have it come to the gunshot to eat what I have shot...
Dan
 
Mooseleg.jpg


This is the front leg and shoulder blade of an Alaska Bull Moose killed by one of Dad's friends.
When the critter is this big you need to avoid major bones.

Dan
 
peasant said:
I am looking for opionions on 50 vs 54 cal for big game. 50 being a bit lighter, 54 a bit more powerful. but is it a significant difference. i'd like to hear from 50 cal owners, on elk and bear.

Between the stated choices, definitely .54, 48" twist for big'uns.
 
I have never shot an elk yet with a ML however I have killed BIG hogs and black bears with them. I have used everything from 45 cal-58. So with this being said, I can say IMO the 50 or 54 would work fine on either elk or bear. However when it comes to a charging grizzly biggers better. But black bears I have killed 6 and none at more than 25 yards and none went more than 100 yards after the shot. But being I have 1 45 cal, 2 50 cal, and 4 54's, and 1 58 cal I guess I like the 54 the best. But I feel 45 is OK for close range deer out to maybe 80 yards with a 70 3f charge and a buffalo bullet works well, 50 cal 70-80 grains 3f prb has killed hogs up to 300 lbs with good results, heavier buffalo bullet even more devestating, 54 cal 90 grains 3f from prb or 120 with a maxi will kill anything known to man within a minimal distance of course. Go with what you like, and can shoot well.
 

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