Best Caliber for Targets, 100 Yards & Less

[BP Addict]

Greetings!

Although I’ve finally learned how to search for topics before posting, this one did not come up in 10 pages of titles.

First, I’m curious about everyone’s personal opinion on the most accurate caliber for Paper Targets, 100 yards and closer with a Patched Round Ball.

Second, the same but for Steel (Gongs & Clangers, swinging and knock over).

Edited: I was thinking mostly Off-hand with an occasional Bench Rested shot at a paper target at 100.

This should be interesting.

Thanks!

Walt

 

[Phil Coffins]

In the book “Recreating the American Longrifle” the authors at the beginning of the book says larger is most accurate. I agree.

 

[Stykbow]

I don’t have a lot of experience with multiple calibers, but for what you describe I guess I’d pick a 50 of some make. Components are everywhere as are rifles in this caliber. It can be loaded down for pleasantly shooting targets and has plenty of oomph to knock over steel. I don’t think caliber size is any indication of accuracy.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I like the 45 calibers, Back in the seventies the 40 calibers were dominate at Friendship. Then as shooting reproductions became more common the 50 calibers were the most common. The best paper shooting rifle I have ever had was my boys 36 caliber T..C. Cherokee but it would not knock down the metal knockdowns at 100 yards.

 

[necchi]

.54

 

[Tom A Hawk]

.54

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

The video above is fun, but doesn't answer the question. I do know that in most competitions I have shot in, the .50 is preferred at 100 yards over the .40 or .45 due to the effect of wind on round balls at black powder velocities.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Greetings!

Although I’ve finally learned how to search for topics before posting, this one did not come up in 10 pages of titles.

First, I’m curious about everyone’s personal opinion on the most accurate caliber for Paper Targets, 100 yards and closer with a Patched Round Ball.

Second, the same but for Steel (Gongs & Clangers, swinging and knock over).

This should be interesting.

Thanks!

Walt

Phil says the authors say large calibers. IMO for off hand shooting 40 cal and up will do you OK at 100 for paper, provided it is a quality barrel. I would not go less than 54 for knock over targets.
Larry

 

[oldwood]

Shot a .50 , for years , at Iron and paper targets. 80 gr. FFFG. Would knock down the cub bear target every time hit , at 200 yds.. Tried a custom built by me.45 , w/ 62gr. FFFG. Could hit the 200 yd. iron bear every time , but the .45 round ball was too light to put the bear target down consistently................oldwood

 

[Grenadier1758]

The question that needs to be asked, is "Are you going to be shooting primarily from a rest or will you be shooting offhand?"

For offhand shooting, @BP Addict will want a rifle that is easy on the shoulder. Reduced recoil generally means reduced flinch. Reduced flinch leads to a more stable follow through keeping the shots on target. That puts the benefit to the 40 or 45 caliber rifle. The 40 caliber rifle will likely be made using a higher quality barrel for the selection of a rate of twist that is suitable for the ball and will have slightly deeper grooves. The 40 caliber is not a common caliber to be found on the shelves of the local gun store. The balls will be custom cast, most often by the shooter. The balls can be selected for consistency and consistency leads to better accuracy on target. The 40 caliber will have a higher bullet velocity and the shorter time of flight will be subject to less drift from the wind.

The 45 caliber barrel can be selected for rate of twist (I like the 1 in 56) and depth of groove. The swaged balls are relatively common and can be screened for consistent weight or cast in the shooter's own mold. I shot my 45 caliber rifle for years at silhouette targets. When I shot the bear, I used 90 grains of 3fg powder and if I hit the bear, it fell over.

Lighter balls are affected by wind and can be blown off target at 100 yards with a slight cross wind.

Shooting of a rest at longer distances can benefit from the heavier ball of a 50 or 54 caliber rifle. When coupled with the slow 1 in 66 to 1 in 70 twist rates, powder charges can be elevated to boost velocities and the ball is subjected to less adverse effects from wind. The heavier ball is more effective on the clanger or knock down targets. When shot at longer ranges the heavier balls have a rainbow-like trajectory. You have to be very familiar with the hold for the different ranges.

 

[BP Addict]

The question that needs to be asked, is "Are you going to be shooting primarily from a rest or will you be shooting offhand?"

For offhand shooting, @BP Addict will want a rifle that is easy on the shoulder. Reduced recoil generally means reduced flinch. Reduced flinch leads to a more stable follow through keeping the shots on target. That puts the benefit to the 40 or 45 caliber rifle. The 40 caliber rifle will likely be made using a higher quality barrel for the selection of a rate of twist that is suitable for the ball and will have slightly deeper grooves. The 40 caliber is not a common caliber to be found on the shelves of the local gun store. The balls will be custom cast, most often by the shooter. The balls can be selected for consistency and consistency leads to better accuracy on target. The 40 caliber will have a higher bullet velocity and the shorter time of flight will be subject to less drift from the wind.

The 45 caliber barrel can be selected for rate of twist (I like the 1 in 56) and depth of groove. The swaged balls are relatively common and can be screened for consistent weight or cast in the shooter's own mold. I shot my 45 caliber rifle for years at silhouette targets. When I shot the bear, I used 90 grains of 3fg powder and if I hit the bear, it fell over.

Lighter balls are affected by wind and can be blown off target at 100 yards with a slight cross wind.

Shooting of a rest at longer distances can benefit from the heavier ball of a 50 or 54 caliber rifle. When coupled with the slow 1 in 66 to 1 in 70 twist rates, powder charges can be elevated to boost velocities and the ball is subjected to less adverse effects from wind. The heavier ball is more effective on the clanger or knock down targets. When shot at longer ranges the heavier balls have a rainbow-like trajectory. You have to be very familiar with the hold for the different ranges.

I edited my original post: I was thinking mostly Off-hand with an occasional Bench Rested shot at a paper target at 100.

Thanks!

Walt

 

[appalichian hunter]

What ever you shoot the most accurate with, as to clangers at 100 yards I would recommend at least a 50 cal, will tread in forbidden land land here, I also shoot long range un-mentionables out to1000 yards unless you have a spotter working with you even the bigger bores are sometimes hard to tell where the bullet strike is. Also the larger bores will carry better if there is a cross breeze

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Shooting 100 yrd targets off hand…

.50 calibre & .54 calibre would be my top two picks. .54 would lead, because it is just so efficient at converting grains of powder into ft/sec…

 

[Fly Navy]

A 3 plate rack. 6", 8", and10" round plates.

 

[AZbpBurner]

My Dad built a .40 cal cap rifle in 1970. It is a tack driver, but is also very fussy to load and maintain accuracy over multiple shots.
My first rifles, both flint & cap, were .50 cal. Easier to maintain accuracy then the .40 cal, but a chore to work up accurate loads.
My first .54 cal was a junk cap rifle I got cheap at a gun show. It has a big, honking' pit near the muzzle, but was a breeze to work up an incredibly accurate load. I decided that .54 cal was my caliber of choice, and have other cap and flint rifles in .54 and all shoot easier and more accurately than any of my other calibers.

 

[Barry Strickland]

At Friendship NMLRA National matches you will find .50 & .54 dominant in the bench rest matches.
For offhand shooting I prefer .40 cal out to 100 yds. and yes, you have to dope the wind.

 

[dave951]

I think the 50cal is probably the best for this purpose.

 

[Mulemauler]

I love .40's but in Oklahoma wind a .45 seems to be better past 50 yards.

 

[Relic shooter]

My Danish .70 cal Jaeger was my favorite. It was least affected by cross winds, shot tight groups & was easier to see hits on paper & metal targets. Almost felt like I was cheating when the wider balls spit on axe heads to bust the clay birds

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My Danish .70 cal Jaeger was my favorite. It was least affected by cross winds, shot tight groups & was easier to see hits on paper & metal targets. Almost felt like I was cheating when the wider balls spit on axe heads to bust the clay birds

That would be an awesome elk rifle