.54 or .50

[tx50cal]

Which cal. do you perfer and why? I don't want to start any arguments here, just looking for some thoughts.
I have been told that the .50 is more versitile due to the number of projectiles out there. Well as far as I know you can load a .490 or .495 roundball or a couple of differant weight conicals. With out getting involved in the sabot stuff I don't see this as more versitle.
I chose to go with the .54 because I thought I would just get the biggest and then load accordingly. If I need to pound an elk the .54 will do it better than the .50. If I want to shoot smaller game I just need to lighten the load some. There are about the same number of projectiles for both the .50 and .54. The .54 just outweighs the .50 projectiles. :m2c:
Whats your take on this? :results:

 

[Rebel]

I agree with your thinking on it. You can always download for small stuff, but it is nice to have enough gun for the bigger stuff. I like the .54 myself of the two. :front:

 

[BS]

I agree with your thinking on it. You can always download for small stuff, but it is nice to have enough gun for the bigger stuff. I like the .54 myself of the two. :front:

I agree with rebel!
:thumbsup:

 

[Landngroove]

I also agree with your thinking. If you are going to hunt with rounballs, the .54 has that little extra. .50, .490", 175 grains, .54, .530", 230 grains. You can bring the weight up with conicals for the .50, but same goes for the .54. I like using roundballs for hunting deer, so I prefer the .54.

 

[gordy]

I have to agree with Your thinking about downloading the .54.Most here, I believe!prefer shooting the PRB,so the availabilty of different projectiles is generally not the prime consideration in chooseing a cal.If shooting Elk is high on Your list,the .54 is the way to go.I have .45,.50,and .54 cal.rifles.The .50 gets shot the most because it's a Flinter.If I live long enough I'll have all Flinters.

 

[roundball]

I chose to go with the .54 because I thought I would just get the biggest and then load accordingly.

Well, IMO, there are a lot of pros and cons to each of the most common calibers:

Actually the .58cal is larger, and at 279grns, it's a powerful and extremely accurate roundball caliber...unquestioned in it's hunting capability...but pricy to shoot year round unless you cast your own balls;

A coin could be tossed over the .50 vs. .54 as far as flexibility goes, however, if speaking strickly about round balls for hunting purposes, especially in more open areas where average shot distances may be longer, then the .54cal/230grn ball gets the nod for carrying energy further;

But if the typical hunting distances are normal woods distances of 50-75yds, the .50cal round ball is basically the same as a .30-30 under those conditions, has taken a lot of game, and is cheaper to shoot year round.

And the .45cal is just an outstanding caliber...the 128grn round ball takes deer easily in the 50-75yd range...and the .45cal/255grn Maxi-Hunter has the weight and range to rival the .54cal...and both are tack drivers in 1:48" twist barrels...plenty of flexibility for small and big game hunting at normal woods distances...and the least expensive to shoot targets year round;

I like them all and am in a constant struggle over which caliber I like better from one month to the next...would hate to give up any of them...But...if I could only have one caliber in any configuration for squirrels, whitetails, and targets for the rest of my days, it would be a .45cal/1:48" twist Flintlock.
:front:

 

[Bob J]

I chose to go with the .54 because I thought I would just get the biggest and then load accordingly. If I need to pound an elk the .54 will do it better than the .50. If I want to shoot smaller game I just need to lighten the load some. :m2c:
Whats your take on this? :results:

.54 for the reasons you stated :thumbsup:

 

[Flint50]

I prefer the .54, however, the fixins' for a .50 can be found everywhere. Seems the market is designed for a .50 no disrespect fot the .50-it has taken a lot of game, I just like the extra punch of the .54

 

[leadball]

Up here in northern wisc there is just whitetailed deer and black bear hunting over bait and both are shot at close ranges so no need for a 54. i have shot all four of my deer with 50 caliber prb and they were not long of this world. looking forward to taking a bear this year with 50 cal prb. They are hitting the baits :front:

 

[54ball]

Hello,
.50s are great but .54s have that little edge for big game with roundballs. The .54 is also an old millitary caliber. The first two rifles produced by U.S. aresnals were the 1803 Harpers Ferry and later the 1841 Mississippi both in .54. The only drawback to the .54 is sometimes premade balls and conicals are harder to find in your general retail stores. You can always find .50 stuff.

 

[MikeChapin]

I only shoot round balls and have both 50 and 54 rifles. I have seen a lot of elk taken with a 50 but I prefer a larger caliber. I generally use a 58 for elk but have used a 54.

Since you would like to chase elk with it at some time, I would give the edge to the 54.

 

I agree, if you are going to use it for elk, go with the .54. The .54 is a very efficient caliber roundball, reaching good velocities (read trajectory) and energies with less powder than the bigger .58 and over balls. The .50 is only a .22 bullet heavier than the .45, but the .54 is a significant increase in ball weight over the .45. :imo:

 

[WV_Hillbilly]

Got to add my agreement to the rest,

The .54 DOES have the advantage. Besides, just about everyone has a .50cal (or has had one at some time or another). It's nice to be a little bit bigger, more powerful and "deviate from the norm".

ALWAYS use a BIG enough gun, and Shoot Safely,
WV_Hillbilly

 

[Wolfbane]

My only ML is a .54. It just seemed to have too many advantages; plus having the big bore leaves more "Ooooh" factor when you show people the rifle.

 

[Pittsburghunter]

Guess I am the odd man out. Any gun shop you go to will have 80% .50cal making it the most widely available ammo. A .50 will do anything the .54 will with the exception of roundball only performance on big game. A .50 shoots conicals in excess of 400g and will shoot lighter ones father distances than a .54.

So in my opinion if you are shooting only round ball and doing that under 100yds the .54 has an advantage over .50. If bullets are in the mix a whole can of worms opens up.

I can go into any gun shop and most hardware stores and find .50 ammo. If I am looking for .54 I hear cricketts chirp.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I think Pittsburghunter makes a good point. While there may be a lot of .54 caliber stuff available from the makers the .50 caliber is much easier to find on store shelves.
The difference between .50 and .54 roundballs is more between the ears of the shooter than between the ribs of the critter. I've owned several of each and have no real preference.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I like the .54 caliber best. A 230 grain .530 ball at 1850 f.p.s. gives over 1750 ft. lbs. of energy according to my tables. A 177 grain .490 ball gives 1372 ft. lbs. at the same velocity. And the more you stoke them up, the bigger the disparity.

 

[Old40Rod]

If you are hunting deer size game or larger, .54, without question. I have never had a problem finding any .54 balls or bullets. If you think you will, just stock up. If you are shooting enough .54 bullets to make price an issue, then cast your own.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

A more reasonable comparison is not at equal velocities but with equal powder charges, since most folks will load all the powder that accuracy and recoil tolerance will permit.
According to the Lyman book, 100 grains of 2f gives the .50cal 1334 ft.lb. at the muzzle while the same 100 grains in a .54 shows only 1176. Retained energy at 100 yards is 449 ft.lbs for the .50 and 500 even for the .54. That is an 11% edge for the .54 at 100 but then you'd have to say the .50 has the edge at lesser ranges plus its' higher velocity means that it shoots a bit flatter, making bullet placement easier.
The advantage of a bigger caliber is that it can burn more powder but you secure that advantage only if you actually do burn more powder. To hit that 1850 fps from a 28" barrel in .54 cal is off the Lyman chart but would probably take about 150 grains of 2f and that is more recoil than I care to stand behind. In practical terms and with realistic loads it is a toss up. And that may be why .50's are so much more common, because they are enough.
I'd like to hear from someone who lost an animal with a well placed .50 roundball. Anyone out there?-- :hmm:

 

[Pittsburghunter]

Where I live .54 is harder to find. Like you said if you want it you will find it.