Caliber Opinions. First Build

[Are. M.]

I'm getting close to ordering a kit. Flintlock for sure. Lancaster or Colonial style. I haven't decided which kit or from whom, but that's not the point of this thread.

My question is, .50 or .54.

I'm not too concerned with historically correct calibers, but if I can get close, which one would it be? I'm leaning more toward the .54 because balls/patches are pretty easy to find, and I've never owned a .54, I read that the swamped .54's are lighter and are balanced better than the .50's.

Hit me with the facts.

-RM

 

[Stubert]

A .54 will be lighter than a .50 because the bore is larger which means less weight.

 

[Spikebuck]

lt's hard to recommend a caliber when we don't know what your intended usage is. Can you give a few more details? Hunting deer? Elk? Just target shooting?

 

[1950DAVE]

Just build a .54 and don't look back.
Dave

 

[tnlonghunter]

I'm getting close to ordering a kit. Flintlock for sure. Lancaster or Colonial style. I haven't decided which kit or from whom, but that's not the point of this thread.

My question is, .50 or .54.

I'm not too concerned with historically correct calibers, but if I can get close, which one would it be? I'm leaning more toward the .54 because balls/patches are pretty easy to find, and I've never owned a .54, I read that the swamped .54's are lighter and are balanced better than the .50's.

Hit me with the facts.

-RM

The weight will depend partly on the bore, but also on the outer dimensions. If you get a swamped barrel, a B-weight will go as high as a .50 and will actually weigh less than a .54, since you'll have to bump up to the bigger C-weight barrel.

If you're going for an all-around rifle, I'd go with the .50 in a B-weight (which is what I am doing for my own up-coming build). It's lightweight enough to be very comfortable to carry and shoot for a day hunting or a day at the range. If you're only hunting big game, go .54. If you're only target shooting, adding a little more weight will help with off-hand stability, so maybe a B-weight in .45 or a C-weight in
.50.

 

[Cpt Flint]

There are only two calibers. .54 or .40.
Lancaster .40 because it's a sweet shooter. A .54 ought to be a hunting rifle.
That means you need at least two rifles to get started.

 

[pmccoywss]

There are only two calibers. .54 or .40.

Really? Guess I'd better get rid of my .50, .45, and .32!

 

[Are. M.]

There are only two calibers. .54 or .40.
Lancaster .40 because it's a sweet shooter. A .54 ought to be a hunting rifle.
That means you need at least two rifles to get started.

I'm fully on board with two rifles. I'm getting rid of my .50 Lyman Great Plains Rifle to help fund this big bore build. A .36 or .40 Southern Mountain Rifle is next. In the meantime, I'll keep using my .32 for knocking tree bears in the head.

 

[Are. M.]

lt's hard to recommend a caliber when we don't know what your intended usage is. Can you give a few more details? Hunting deer? Elk? Just target shooting?

I'll be punching way more paper than hunting. If I do take any game it'll be whitetail or hog. I like having options, you see.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I chose .54 but would go with a .58 or preferably a .62.

Bigger is better.

 

[Bearkiller]

Go big or go home!

 

[tenngun]

A 32,36,and maybe .40 are small game only. A 40,45,50 will take deer and a 50 can take elk if it’s legal. A .54 will take most anything, it would be a waste below deer sized but any deer is .54 will do.
On the other hand. If your not going after something bigger then deer do you need extra? A .50 on 60 grains three f is a good gun. A little big for tree rats and thumper but take care and you get pottage.
Howsomever. Never say never. After you build your gun in a year or two or ten you just might be hearing a bugle in your sleep. And a .54 will serve you well.
All and all we see a lot of .54 in early rifles ant then in plains guns, it’s a hard caliber to beat.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

The .54 is a great “middle of the road” caliber.

It can’t compare to the more effective .58 and .62s on big game, but for deer sized and below, it’s a very good round and is way above anything smaller.

 

[tnlonghunter]

I'll be punching way more paper than hunting. If I do take any game it'll be whitetail or hog. I like having options, you see.

Given that, I'd personally go with a .50 in whatever barrel weight you prefer (B or C). A .50 is plenty for whitetails and hogs (as long as you are within 40-50 yards for the pigs). You can load lower charges (around 50-60 grains) for target shooting inside 50 yards and bump up to somewhere in the 75-90ish grain range for hunting and targets out to 100 yards and beyond. All that said, you can't really go wrong with either, especially if you prefer a heavier barrel (C-weight). My recommendation is based as much on rifle weight and handling as on caliber.

Now, what you really need is a .40 to accompany it. And a .45. And a .36. And a .58.

 

[McClura]

I would go .54 and never look back. Most of my rifles are .54 and I hunt anything with them. I'm in the process of building a .62 full stock Hawken but just because I got a great deal on a barrel, Curly Ash stock blank and had a nice L&R Hawken lock laying around.
Somewhat lighter than a .50. Either way you can't go wrong.
Mike

 

[Bob McBride]

I agree. Too many unknown variables that apply to you and not to me. Architecture will often determine barrel weight and therefore to some degree caliber, especially if overall weight is a consideration. Personally, I would settle on the architecture/school I preferred and then the best caliber for my application based on my considerations. After all, in the end you’re going to need a .3x, a .4x, a .5x, a 20 bore, and a .1x bore, so save the little Grey cells for all the other choices you have to make. I prefer .54 to .50 and .58 to .54 but that’s not based on much at all....

 

[toot]

54's RULE!

 

[Sidney Smith]

.54 all the way.

 

[Spikebuck]

My personal reason for shooting is hunting large midwestern deer. I've settled on the .54 as my personal favorite. But I've killed deer with .50, .54, .58. and .62 and one was just as dead as the other.

If my interest was mostly oriented to target shooting, I'd probably be shooting a .50...or maybe a .45. For a mostly target gun and sometimes mid-sized big game gun, a .50 would be hard to beat in terms of economics and yet good hunting effectiveness. Frankly, for plinking at targets, a .40 is a LOT of fun and very economical to shoot, but it's light, in my opinion, for big game, though effective if one understands the limitations and stays within them. If you want to see what a .45 can do in the field, look up the absolute monster Indiana bucks that Skychief has taken with the caliber in the hunting forum!

In the end, caliber is very personal and involves so many variables that might be important to any given shooter. If you've already narrowed it down to .50 or .54, I think that based on your intended usage, either will serve you well.

 

[JCKelly]

The .54 is a great “middle of the road” caliber.

It can’t compare to the more effective .58 and .62s on big game, but for deer sized and below, it’s a very good round and is way above anything smaller.

Sounds like you are a fan of "The Sporting Rifle and its Projectiles, Lieut. James Forsyth, M.A. 1863" He liked 14 gauge (0.708") rifles. For shooting large and/or ill tempered beasties that needed to be thoroughly dead.