50 vs. 54

[deermanok]

I have 45, 50 and 54 caliber guns. Powder and caps are the same for all. I only use round balls in the 45 and 54. The 50, has a lot more options for bullets. If you're just gonna target shoot and maybe a little deer hunting, than the 50 will suit your needs.

 

[LeonardC]

Does OP cast? I fudged when I bought my .54 T/C Renegade years ago and bought their molds for Maxi-Ball and Hunter rounds. I recenlty bought round ball molds from Lee and a used one from T/C. I see the used T/C molds for sale from time to time. Hornady sells round balls for the .54 I haven't looked for other .54 bullets.

What you shooting? Mine has worked fine shooting paper. I had dreams of deer and elk when I bought my .54 I've added (dream) hunting moose and bison since moving to AK. (AK requires having a back up centerfire rifle for bison...I'm so so on that for now. If I drew a tag I don't think I'd be willing to carry 2 rifles.)

 

[hanshi]

Yes, if you cast .54 ammo won't be a problem. I have both a .50 and a .54 with the .50 getting the most attention. A lot of that is due to the rifles themselves and not the caliber. My favorite by far is the .45. I don't hunt elk but everything else east of the Mississippi can be handled very well with a .45. So between the .50 and the .54 I'd choose the .50. The .54 is a really nice caliber and I like it. But unless you go after the really big stuff (I don't hunt moose) the .50 will do it all.

 

[stikshooter]

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

I favor 54 but have several of both ,I cast so that's not a problem . However the 54 is easier to carry with the bigger hole and truth be said ,a bigger hole makes for less tracking and more forgiving if your not on the money aiming where you planned on hitting (it does happen) ! /Ed

 

[LME]

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.

The very first M.L. I bought was a .54 cal. It was the only one in the store. All the M.L.,s I have bought since then were .54 cal. I learned how to shoot the first one and liked the results so why change now? All I cared about was the M.L.season and I didn't want to miss out. It is as others have stated harder to find .54 cal. stuff but when you do stock up. I also order things for a .54 no problem. I do feel a .54 is more rifle than I need but like I said, I like them.

 

[Grenadier1758]

If you can handle them, get the one that fits you best as you put it to your shoulder. Get the one that seems to be in the best condition.

 

[Mike in FL]

Although I have 50, I believe a 54 will do anything a 50 can do, only better.

 

[Bushfire]

I have both and prefer the 54 for PRB.

You could always skip the middle man and just get a flinter. We nearly all end up there eventually.

My journey was
Inline 50 - caplock 50 fast twist - caplock 54 slow twist - flint 54 slow twist - flint 20G/62 smootbore.

 

[tenngun]

At the time of the Western beaver trade, mountain man era, the big fur companies bought lots of .50s, early in the trade. Later .54 was an average. Jake made lots of .50s Jake and Sam made lots of .54( .53).
On paper there is little to choose from. .54 has a bit more power, .50 shoots a little flatter.
.54 holds velocity down range a little better, but out to a hundred and fifty yards not so one would notice
When modern ml started to be made they were .45s an .58. The .50 BAR was well known and .50s got a cool factor. A .54 even more cool when they were introduced in the modern age.
Is it ‘better’, I had several and loved ‘em.
Today you buy a dozen eggs or donuts. Back in the day we weren’t so much given to ten and tenths
A twelve bore gun is pretty famous. Most of the war between the states was fought with a .58, 24 to the pound.
Side arms, most of the revolvers were .44 or .36…. 48 and 96 to the pound respectively.
.45/.44 and .36 was also a common rifle size.
One, Two,four and eight dozen respectively.
Was a .54, two ball to an ounce, a book keeping tic?
Just for thought, a bess was eleven bore, but shot about a dozen ball to the pound.
The French musket shot twenty ball to a French pound. And a .62 two dozen to a French pound and twenty ball to an English one
Just a further look English money was all dozens, and twentieths.and even American money 1/8 and 1/16 in the form of ‘bits’ based on Spanish pieces of eight was common
Was that so for the popularity of of .54?

 

[Bad Karma]

At the time of the Western beaver trade, mountain man era, the big fur companies bought lots of .50s, early in the trade. Later .54 was an average. Jake made lots of .50s Jake and Sam made lots of .54( .53).
On paper there is little to choose from. .54 has a bit more power, .50 shoots a little flatter.
.54 holds velocity down range a little better, but out to a hundred and fifty yards not so one would notice
When modern ml started to be made they were .45s an .58. The .50 BAR was well known and .50s got a cool factor. A .54 even more cool when they were introduced in the modern age.
Is it ‘better’, I had several and loved ‘em.
Today you buy a dozen eggs or donuts. Back in the day we weren’t so much given to ten and tenths
A twelve bore gun is pretty famous. Most of the war between the states was fought with a .58, 24 to the pound.
Side arms, most of the revolvers were .44 or .36…. 48 and 96 to the pound respectively.
.45/.44 and .36 was also a common rifle size.
One, Two,four and eight dozen respectively.
Was a .54, two ball to an ounce, a book keeping tic?
Just for thought, a bess was eleven bore, but shot about a dozen ball to the pound.
The French musket shot twenty ball to a French pound. And a .62 two dozen to a French pound and twenty ball to an English one
Just a further look English money was all dozens, and twentieths.and even American money 1/8 and 1/16 in the form of ‘bits’ based on Spanish pieces of eight was common
Was that so for the popularity of of .54?

Yes.

 

[Hoodoo Tom]

Go .62 or go home. Just funnin. My favoritest was a .54

 

[cynthialee]

You can't go wrong with either one.

For deer and under, use a patched round ball. For elk and larger use a heavy conical. Shot a few deer over the years with the .50 and one with a .56 smooth-rifle, I couldn't tell if the one shot with the larger bullet felt any more dead than the ones shot with the .50

I have a .54 but I never used it to hunt as my .50's are all more accurate. Which is an issue with the shooter and no shortcoming of the rifle I assure you. I just got sick of trying to find the .54's ideal load when I had 3 other rifles already dialed in.

 

[leadhoarder]

.54 because they do not make a .58. Wait a minute…..

 

[mushka]

My first mz rifle was a kit in .54, a gift from my wife, I've kept it and like shooting it. I've got .50's too and like them. I'll keep both calibers.

 

[roundballman]

My first one was a 50, after that I have accumulated 36, 40, 45, 54, and at last a 58 smoothbore. They are all fun and have their place. Get one and if you are like the rest of us on the forum it won't be your last one. You can't go wrong with whichever one you choose.

 

[Mulemauler]

If I could only have one the .50 is more economical and versatile to shoot but fortunately have a big safe that holds plenty of variety.

 

[GBG]

.54 round ball to the brain of an American bison.

https://trapperman.com/forum/attach...9/full-2625-149857-img_20200914_093036756.jpg

 

[chorizo]

54 cal 375gr 100gr RS Select. Broke shoulder, destroyed heart and through both lungs, lodged under skin far side. She went 20 yards. Shot from 85 yards.

Depends on what you are going to use it for. Your call.

 

[brazosland]

The Indian that was the Contrary in Little Big Man used a .50….

 

[cynthialee]

The Indian that was the Contrary in Little Big Man used a .50….

I was like 8 or 9 when I saw that movie. That dude riding his horse backwards was a hoot to my child mind.