58cal. muzzel loader

[Shifty]

Can you tell me what you think of a 58cal. muzzel loader,any advantage over a 54?
thanks

 

[biliff]

any advantage over a 54?

Not to be facetious but, it does throw a bigger chunk of lead. If you're punching paper the difference between 'em doesn't matter. If you're shooting deer the difference between 'em doesn't matter. If you're shooting something bigger and/or carnivorous it might matter.

Note: I've got one of each.

 

[roundball]

Can you tell me what you think of a 58cal. muzzel loader,any advantage over a 54?
thanks

IMO, the .54 is a good caliber but the .58 is a great caliber...very powerful and holds energy a long way...if you've already got a .50 and are looking to step up, I'd suggest skip-stepping up to the .58cal instead of just making a little incremental step to the .54cal...my .02cents

 

Dont quote me on this but Ive heard that what you make up for in larger mass you lose in velocity.

 

[tg]

I think it would depend on the type of gun you use and what you use it for, I would not step up to a .58 barrel from a.54 in a long straight barrel as it could get real front heavy, there is definitly a potential for more whallop at the recieving end with the .58, in a smoothbore the larger bore may give a better pattern.

 

[Stubert]

I've got a 54 and a 58, Last deer I got was with the 58, 120 grains 2f and a 268 grain ball, he fell down pretty quick. I like the WOW factor that you get with the 58. get the 58, you won't be sorry. It only uses a little more powder. within 100 yards you can reliably down game with 90-120 grains of powder without beating yourself up. You can hurt someone just throwing a 58 ball at them. imagine 1100 ft per sec.

 

[roundball]

Dont quote me on this but Ive heard that what you make up for in larger mass you lose in velocity.

Well, not sure what the point is there but I suppose that could be said about every next caliber size ball...some real life examples are that I used it for deer season year before last and the 4 bucks I shot with it were all complete passthroughs...devastating powerful caliber...the .58 will take most anything on the NA continent.

 

[Shifty]

Thanks for all the great response I'm leaning toward the 58 . sounds real good so far like to here more.I'm just slow to spend the stuff.

 

[Zonie]

Dont quote me on this but Ive heard that what you make up for in larger mass you lose in velocity.

It's a good thing I don't have to quote you because according to my ballistics program, it isn't true.

Comparing a .530 (.54) and a .570 (.58) ball fired at 1500 FPS here is the velocity at three ranges for the .54:

range, velocity, velocity loss
50 yards, 1114, 386
100 yards, 947, 553
160 yards, 808, 692

Here is the velocity of the .58 at the same distances:
50 yards, 1131, 369
100 yards, 967, 533
160 yards, 832, 668

Not a lot of difference and when considering the increased weight of the ball, and the larger hole it pokes into the game, it looks like the .58 wins all the way around (although it does take a little more powder to get it going as fast as the .54).
zonie

 

[renovato]

The .58 is a good choice if for no other reason than it's versatility. It'll do anything a smaller caliber will do, but it'll also do things best handled only by a larger caliber. In our world of tiny to massive calibers, it's my pick for most useful overall. Well, ok, it might not leave enough squirrel to flavor the soup...

 

[davy]

Too bad Rabbit03 is outta town .. he could fill ya in on his big 58! :hatsoff:

Davy

 

[davy]

Dont quote me on this but Ive heard that what you make up for in larger mass you lose in velocity.

It's a good thing I don't have to quote you because according to my ballistics program, it isn't true.

Comparing a .530 (.54) and a .570 (.58) ball fired at 1500 FPS here is the velocity at three ranges for the .54:

range, velocity, velocity loss
50 yards, 1114, 386
100 yards, 947, 553
160 yards, 808, 692

Here is the velocity of the .58 at the same distances:
50 yards, 1131, 369
100 yards, 967, 533
160 yards, 832, 668

Not a lot of difference and when considering the increased weight of the ball, and the larger hole it pokes into the game, it looks like the .58 wins all the way around (although it does take a little more powder to get it going as fast as the .54).
zonie

We have all seen these same arguments made with modern arms ... such as the 45 auto cal versus the 357mag, fact is size does matter at the smokin end though as we all know! :hatsoff:

Davy[/b]

 

[MikeChapin]

I have both and have taken elk with both calibers. Either one will do the job. I'm a little more partial to the .58 just because it is a flinter and the .54 is a capgun.

Both are good paper punchers. I have not used the .58 on long range silouettes but the .54 will knock down the large silouettes so I imagine the .58 will also work.

 

[jderrick]

"something bigger and/or carnivorous"? Great quote!

 

[Headhunter]

I LUV my 58. Super accurate and hits like a freight train.

"Little Powder, Much Lead, Shoots FER, Kills Dead"

HH

 

:surrender:
I think my next rifle will be a 58 cal.

 

:surrender:
Sorry Roundball,
Wasnt trying to argue.

 

[Shifty]

:hmm: Ok, next question the gun in que. i have found is a ARMI SAN MARCO some response on an earlier thread was neg. mostly about fit an finnish, but the one I am looking at is very very good only visibly flaw is butt plate inletting is not perfect not bad just not perfect. This is an old gun that is stuck in a corner of a local store and has never been sold ,store does not specialize in guns . no rust no scratches on gun. What is your opinion of this guns? I probably need to buy it pretty soon if I am going to tho. Thanks Shifty

 

[roundball]

Didn't think you were...just couldn't figure out the point you were trying to make, so I told about my experiences with it :winking:

 

[paulvallandigham]

As long as you understand that you are shooting a very large ball, no matter how fast you shove it out the muzzle, I think the gun will be fine for you. You can clean up the inletting yourself on that buttplate. I didn't see what price you were being asked to pay. Back in the 1950s, when those guns were first coming into the country, they could be bought for less than $200.00. That would be at least $600.00 in today's money.

I think must of us could get along with a .36 cal rifle for varmints, and target shooting, and a .58 for hunting anything on the continent. If you can buy that rifle for a reasonable price- understanding that while it may not have been shot, it is an older gun, and you are still going to have to find out how it shoots, and if it has any problems-- go ahead and get it.