I am planning to hunt deer for the first time this year with a PRB. Is a .54 more effective at longer shots than a .50? Or just have more punch at a given yardage? Which would you guys use? In the area I go, all shots have been well under 100 yds. Thanks
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.50 vs .54
- Thread starter Flint50
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Yes.
A .54 carries about 30% more mass than a .50 round ball. That mass means it retains more speed and energy (if started at the same muzzle velocity) at any range compared to the .50 cal. It also has a bit more recoil. I prefer a medium 80 to 90 gr FFg load in the .54 which is very pleasant to shoot and plenty powerful for deer. Not much different than the load I use in my .50 cal.
A .50 is plenty for deer, but the .54 is plenty plus a litte more.
If you're every lucky enough to get where there are moose and elk the .54 will make a difference then.
A .54 carries about 30% more mass than a .50 round ball. That mass means it retains more speed and energy (if started at the same muzzle velocity) at any range compared to the .50 cal. It also has a bit more recoil. I prefer a medium 80 to 90 gr FFg load in the .54 which is very pleasant to shoot and plenty powerful for deer. Not much different than the load I use in my .50 cal.
A .50 is plenty for deer, but the .54 is plenty plus a litte more.
If you're every lucky enough to get where there are moose and elk the .54 will make a difference then.
Guest
I say go with a .62 caliber smoothbore...you'll feel better about yourself.
eace:
eace:Guest
Ditto to what Stumpy said and espically on the part on elk or moose.. If for no other reason if you even have the slight thought of someday down the raod to try your luck at elk out west with a muzzleloader the .54 is far more what would be needed IMO and it is also great for deer espically in heavy cover.
Woody
Woody
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Even for small game and head shots with reduced loads, there's no penalty for using a 54 rather than a 50. When I was choosing, it became a question of why not get a 54. As it turns out there weren't any reasons to get the 50 rather than the 54.
The only advantage that I can see in having a .50 cal. is that components and accessories seem to be most common in this caliber, not that it's a major issue, but here in Central PA a lot of stores only care balls, bullets, jags, brushes, etc. for .50 cal.s. .54 cal items are a little more difficult to find and normally require a bit more travel, and .58 cal. stuff is only available from a few select businesses.
I shot both .50 and .54 caliber but I always liked the .54 caliber much more. Stumpkiller pretty much told it like it is (as he usually does so well). Get the .54 caliber and then learn to cast your own ball. It is one of the best hobbies I can think of......
Yes, due to it's heavier weight, the .54cal ball will carry more energy to longer ranges than a .50cal.
Yes, heavier weight = more energy = more punch at a given yardage than a .50cal.
If I could only have a .50 or a .54cal round ball rifle, I'd get the .54cal.
If that means 50-75yds, a heart shot with a .50cal ball will kill them just as dead and just as fast as a .54cal ball, or a .45cal ball.
Shot placement is the key regardless of caliber.
I say go with a .62 caliber smoothbore...you'll feel better about yourself.
That's it! I can say to my squaw, "Honey, I needed the new musket to cushion the blow of my impending midlife crisis!" :crackup: :thumbsup: :crackup: :crackup:
I would definatly go with the .54. You can never have too much gun. You won't always get the perfect shot at the perfect range, and the extra power of the .54 can offset a little of that.
The advantage of larger caliber roundballs is a bit better sectional density and ballistic coefiecient, but the differance ain't huge. Mainly, a bigger caliber can burn more powder and powder burned translates exactly to power generated. Trouble is, you secure that advantage only if you DO burn more powder. I you don't load much over 100 grains there is no real differance between .50 & .54. If you want to torture yourself with 150 powder charges then by all means go at least .54. :imo:
You don't need any more than 80-90 grs of powder in a .54 to cleanly take deer. You may want to up the charge if you plan on going after elk.
Guest
_____"Trouble is, you secure that advantage only if you DO burn more powder."_____
In the past, my .58 loaded with 90 grs., has broken welds on iron targets shot routinely with a .54 loaded with 90 grs. for years.
Which tells me, thet even with the powder charge the "same" in both caliburs (and even tho the velocity had to be slightly higher) with the .54,.... the heavier .58 cal. ball seemed to have greater "momentum" when it hit the targit.
I think this scenario is also comparable with the .50 and the heavier .54 when powder charges are identical. :imo: :m2c:
YMHS
rollingb
Yes, it's sort of like the little kid at a bowling alley who can barely carry a ball to the foul line.
He somehow manages to get it rolling, so slowly that you can see the finger holes come up around every time...yet if that slow "heavy" ball manages to reach the pins it just plows right on in due to it's weight and momentum.
Guest
Roundball,.... I agree, and I think the "decrease in momentum" is less with a heavier ball over extended range,.. then with a slightly faster and lighter ball.
YMHS
rollingb
YMHS
rollingb
Fifty-four all the way! :imo:
It may fly in the face of common sense, but larger bores are more efficient than smaller ones. The same weight projectile in a 54 vs. a 50 will go faster with the same powder charge, barrrel length being equal. Has to do with the greater surface area the gasses have to work against. And, as has already been pointed out, the larger ball will carry more momentum.
It may fly in the face of common sense, but larger bores are more efficient than smaller ones. The same weight projectile in a 54 vs. a 50 will go faster with the same powder charge, barrrel length being equal. Has to do with the greater surface area the gasses have to work against. And, as has already been pointed out, the larger ball will carry more momentum.
I say go with a .62 caliber smoothbore...you'll feel better about yourself.
Hey! what kind of spin are you trying to put on this thread? :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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