Howdy!! (.54 percussions)

[cmr]

Hello there!!
Figured I'd sign up and ask a few questions about muzzleloading.
I have two muzzle loaders, a CVA Plainsman .50 and a T/C Omega .50.
Been looking at some .54 cal percussions, one is a Cabelas and the other is Lyman.
Anybody have an info and input on the .54 percussions and also any input/info on these two rifles.
Thanks!!

 

[jaybeach]

Howdy back at you, cmr -
Welcome to the forum.
My use of BP weapons is very limited (by type, not time involved). But you shold get a lot of info from the guys who have a whole arsenal ::
Again, welcome. You might want to go to the Welcome section and say hello there. :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have had a T/C Renegade cap-gun since 1979 in .54 cal. It does everything from pop squirrels and bunnies with a light 42 gr load to whitetails past 100 yards with 90 gr FFg. A very versitile and accurate caliber.

If I could have but one gun it would be a .54 caliber rifle.

 

[noah]

I've got a Mowery in .54,1 in 30 twist to shoot conicals.I know several .54 owners,TC is a sound investment,but a rifle with a 1 in 66 would be a better round ball only gun.There are exceptions,some 1 in 48's shoot a roundball like a house afire.It's all in how ya talk to her!!!Noah :results:

 

Both,... the Cabela's Hawken, and the Lyman Great Plains Rifle,.... are made by Investarms in Italy. Investarms makes a good solid muzzleloader!!

Once I switched from .50 to .54 I never missed the .50 :m2c:

YMHS
rollingb

 

[BrownBear]

You've zeroed in on a couple of good guns, and you should be happy with either. As for which is the best caliber, that's still being decided here on the forum and will be resolved right after the Democrats and Republicans merge into one party. As for round ball versus conical and the best twist rate, that will be decided about nine years after everyone agrees on the one best caliber. I've voted for the 54, but can't decide whether that makes me a Republican, a Democrat, or a Republicrat.

 

[RussB]

You've zeroed in on a couple of good guns, and you should be happy with either. As for which is the best caliber, that's still being decided here on the forum and will be resolved right after the Democrats and Republicans merge into one party. As for round ball versus conical and the best twist rate, that will be decided about nine years after everyone agrees on the one best caliber. I've voted for the 54, but can't decide whether that makes me a Republican, a Democrat, or a Republicrat.

Well said, BrownBear :redthumb:

Like everybody said, "They are both fine rifles" for the dollar...choice between the rifles is mostly personal. The choice of caliber is something else.

As a rule, "Bigger, is more better", in muzzleloading....how's that for destroying the English language?...but it's easy to reach a PDR real quick. (Point of Dimimishing Returns) Just how big is too big, will depend greatly on the Republicrats, maybe. :master:

Russ

 

[BrownBear]

:master:

 

[bart_anastasi]

CMR

Some one said it right on caliber here.

With BP and the limited pressures BP yields a larger caliber can always be loaded down to shoot bunnies but buying to small a gun it can not as easily be loaded up.

Some of the traditional guns however are available built in such a way that extra barrels can be bought as drop ins.

Green mountain is one good barrel maker that can provide a large selection of drop ins for a Renegade or a T/C Hawken for less than half the price of a whole rifle.

My Renegade 54 I have been shooting a long time and just added a 62 cal smooth bore for birds and a little smooth bore PRB, came from the factory already sighted in to 100 yards.

The also have replacement barrels from 32 to 62 cal which would make anyone go nuts.

Gives you some real chance of adding in the future around a single stock.

 

Question is what are you going to use the gun for.

1. If your useing it for just a gun to shoot at the range then the .50 will cost you a little less per shot.

2. If you are going to use it from a range and hunting deer then the .50 will work fine as will the .54

3. If you plan on hunting big game larger than white tail deer such as elk then the .54 is much better due to the fact of the energy it will have over the .50 at a given distance down range.

4. Now the cost difference in the gun it self , this will not be much at all as usually they are both in the same price range


5. What one would I prefer if I were looking for this type gun..... a .54 because you can lighten the load for range shooting and the recoil will be very little difference noticed over the .50 You can go down in load size on a larger bore... but you are limited as to how far you can go up in a smaller bore.


Hope my opinion helped out.
But then again opinions are like buttholes everyone has one.

Woody

 

[Bob J]

A longrifle-maker friend of mine, who is a "strict purist", allowed recently that the Lyman GPR was a More "original-looking" reproduction than most mass-produced rifles.

 

[harryo]

Been looking at some .54 cal percussions, one is a Cabelas and the other is Lyman.
Anybody have an info and input on the .54 percussions and also any input/info on these two rifles.
Thanks!!

It depends what models of rifles you are considering. Some of the Cabela's percussion rifles are made by Investarms, which is the same company that makes Lyman's rifles. Other Cabela's rifles are made by Pedersoli. Both are very good and established Italian gunmakers that make quality firearms. There are also differences between the models with things such as barrel length and rate of twist. We really need to know specific models to give our best opinions.

Caliber is pretty subjective among individuals. Again, it would help to know what your primary use will be for the rifle and whether you wish to shoot primarily round balls or conicals. I am of the opinion that bigger is better for big game and for target shooting you can go smaller, although the most accurate rifle I own is a .58cal.

Give us some more information and you can get better advice.

 

[Castlewoods]

I have owned and hunted with a Cabela's (Investarm) .54 cal Hawken for around 15 years. I really like the rifle - beautiful wood, well constructed, and shoots both round ball and conicals very well. The sights have always seemed a little flimsy as compared to those on the TC Hawken but they have held up well. All in all a quality rifle. I recommend it.