50 vs. 54

[Tankerchief]

I have an opportunity to purchase a used 50 or 54 cal. Is there an advantage one way or another in ease of shooting obtaining caps, bullets, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

-Mike

 

[Stykbow]

You’ll have an easier time finding 50 cal stuff locally and it’ll handle most any game. Folks will tell you that the upside of a 54 is more punch and is a better choice for elk and such if for no other reason than the regulations in place in some states. I have no first hand experience with the 54.

 

[RIDE-RED350R]

I have 4 TC front stuffers in this house. All 4 are 50cal, just by happenstance. Would really like to get a Renegade or Hawken 54, just because.

The 50s do seem to enjoy the advantage of a wider array of available bullets if you don't cast your own.

 

[Billy Boy]

I have an opportunity to purchase a used 50 or 54 cal. Is there an advantage one way or another in ease of shooting obtaining caps, bullets, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

-Mike

1- Drop a 50 ball on your ingrown toenail
2- Drop a 54 ball on your ingrown toenail
3- Decide which one hurts more
4- Pick the one that hurt more

 

[oldwood]

Unless you're going for elk , etc. , A .50 w/ 80 Gr. FFFG will almost shoot diagonally through a white tail deer. ! turn in 66" twist. I did that one day to a buck. Broke his left front shoulder , ball passed through lotsa organs , and stalled under the hide at the rump. The buck took about four leaps and quit. I have a young friend working in Colorado , that regularly kills elk and mule deer with a .50 long rifle , I built for him in the early 1980's. ......oldwood

 

[bubba.50]

I prefer the 54 but, that's just it, a personal preference. Like has been said, 50cal stuff is easier to find, slightly less lead is used, and anything you shoot is not going to be able to tell you if you used a 50 or 54 caliber.

 

[Hawk54]

I have a .54 and two .50 calibers and they will kill anything the .54 will. If I could only have one I would take a .50.

 

[JohnnieT]

I prefer the .54, but I own .50’s also. I have no logical reason for my preference. My grandad liked it and I grew up shooting his, so when it was time to get my own rifle I took his advice and got the same. I’m up to four .54’s and two .50’s. They serve equally well in the deer woods and at the range. You won’t really go wrong with either.

 

[deerstalkert]

as said above, the 50 is easier to feed. i prefer the .54. but the .50 is easier to shoot alot. get both. you will eventually.

 

[BigAl52]

Easy just buy both of them. Then you dont need to decide

 

[Walkingeagle]

If your goal is hunting with PRB then I recommend the .54. If it’s more so targets and a little deer hunting, then definitely get the .50. You’ll use less powder for a real accurate target load as well.
Walk

 

[josie wales]

People that shoot a 54 caliber usually are found drinking PBR and Bourbon neat.. The .50 crowd usually drinking wine spritzers and Fuzzy Navels. Now I am not saying the 50 crowd has some kind of gender identity problem....what I am saying it is an age thing. Older hunters like the 54....Young hunters like the 50.

 

[Bad Karma]

I prefer the 54 but, that's just it, a personal preference. Like has been said, 50cal stuff is easier to find, slightly less lead is used, and anything you shoot is not going to be able to tell you if you used a 50 or 54 caliber.

Unless you’re hunting elk. I much prefer the .54 for critters that size.

 

[bubba.50]

Unless you’re hunting elk. I much prefer the .54 for critters that size.

I would too. But like I said, go up to bugle-boy elk while he's laying in a heap and ask 'did he use a 50 or 54 to shoot you?'

 

[Bad Karma]

Well yeah, and I’ve killed elk with marginal calibers too. Not everything I do is a great idea. Shocking but true.

 

[JRL1164]

I don't currently have a .54 to compare to but I've taken more deer and hogs with my .50 TC New Englander than any of my center fire rifles. As others have stated finding .50 supplies has been easier in my area compared to .54 or .45.

 

[Tankerchief]

Easy just buy both of them. Then you dont need to decide

Great idea, but I prefer to stay married

 

[Kodiak13]

People that shoot a 54 caliber usually are found drinking PBR and Bourbon neat.. The .50 crowd usually drinking wine spritzers and Fuzzy Navels. Now I am not saying the 50 crowd has some kind of gender identity problem....what I am saying it is an age thing. Older hunters like the 54....Young hunters like the 50.

This old fart prefers the .54...shot an elephant in the chest and it existed its rear end, complete passthrough!!! Of course it was a stuffed animal...LOL

 

[ZUG]

My pick - .36 caliber for small game/varmints -- .45 caliber for targets and medium size game - .54 caliber for the rest. This is all I need BUT I have other calibers that I find are just too much FUN to shoot .

 

[longcruise]

This topic contains considerable assumption that you intend to hunt big game with it.

All that's said about availability of supplies for the 50 is correct so to answer your stated question, the 50 is the way to go for ease of obtaining necessities.

If you do plan to hunt big game then decide based on the regulations where you intend to hunt.