Most Prevalent Calibers?

[cynthialee]

another vote for a .50 (or a .54 as second choice)

those two calibers seem to be the perfect choices for most anything one may want to shoot

roundball for the white tail and smaller crowd and heavy conicals for the bigger/tougher critters like elk and bear

both are readily available in most sporting goods stores who have a black powder shooters section

 

[jackpine54]

Around my area the .50 is definitely the most common. It's big enough for most hunting situations and still very shootable for lower velocity target work. As others have said, back in the 70s-80's .45 was probably most popular. I shoot a .54 for deer and bear hunting or a 20 gauge fusil. Our bears are plentiful and can be on the larger side. The last 2 killed behind the house both +400lbs.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I think .50 is the most popular with .54 being next in line. The .50 will drop any deer without a problem, and the .54 is good on Larger Muley's or Elk. I do not ever hunt bears, because I do not eat them (had bear once, not the best IMHO). I also have a .62 smoothbore (20 gauge) which can take a ball or shot, so if you feel the need to go really big, a .62 cal ball will get it done!, and you can do shot if you're after birds, small game , turkeys etc. Very versatile within it's range.

 

[Ed Pilkington]

Here in the Northwest Mtns of North Carolina black bear can get pretty big and they love their cubbies.If you see one just walk on by. They are fast so should it decide to have a good meal and charge you, you better respond quick. It's MASSIVE shock that stops him and usually makes him rethink his mission. My rebuild from .50 cal percussion rifle to .62 cal flintlock smooth bore has given me great versatility and complete peace of mind in the Mountain thickets. Prayer helps too and a bit of toilet paper.

 

[tenngun]

I would add as an aside Boone ‘kilt a bar’ on this tree. He is know to have had several rifles. Several at about .47 caliber.
There is tons written on Lewis and Clark rifles. But it remains unknown what caliber gun they had. The US contract rife was .50 minus a bit. And they found it took four to kill a grizz. That said they didn’t go hungry much on the expedition.
But, keep in mind boys in the past don’t seem to have been as worried about one shot quick kills as we are today. They often tried to recover the ball(s) from game.
Eastren white tails tend to run smaller then mule deer.
I like my smoothies for deer hunting here in the Ozarks where rangers are close and most deer are less then a hundred and twenty pounds.
I don’t hunt for a rack and my rule is first deer in my range or closest in a group.

 

[flconch53]

By far and away I sell more 50 cal jags than anything else. Followed by 45 and 62

 

[ShootistJack]

NCHAWKEYE, Did you get a new .40 cal barrel and did you discard the .45 barrel?

HOMESTEADER, I'm going to look into a "poor boy" and thanks for your post.

 

[ShootistJack]

TENNGUN, I know almost nothing about smoothies. How accurate is a smoothbore .62 cal
with a single projectile, and out to how far? I know I've seen modern shotguns with smooth
bores shoot 12 ga. slugs quite well for deer hunters.

FLCONCH53, I really appreciate you sharing that fact about the dominance of the .50 cal. jags
sales. It's a strong indicator, for sure!

 

[ShootistJack]

Wow. You ALL have contributed SO MUCH in Details! I am learning as you all teach! I'm very grateful!!!!!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Museums I have visited show a predominance of 45s for many years. And, until a few years ago it was the favored caliber for us modern day guys. The advent of the inlines caused many newcomers for both roundball and bullets to think that was the best choice. I've killed deer with my 45, no problem. But if you believe you will be getting a black bear in yer sights, the 50 might be the way to go.

 

[cynthialee]

Seen a number of old time hunting guns in displays, museums and virtual museums that ranged from .47 to .53 with .52 being very common

When did gun makers all decide to stop making those calibers and focus on the .50 and .54?

Seems odd we are not using the old calibers when we copy the style of the guns.

 

[MSW]

were i to do it all over (ha ha ha) i would build a .54, then a .60 smooth, then a .40 SMR.

One guy's opinion ... free and no doubt well worth the price ...

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Favorite calibre to shoot all day… .40 calibre, full stock flintlock rifle, second favorite…same gun in .45 calibre.

Favorite calibre to hunt deer, elk, antelope… .54 calibre, I don’t care if it’s half stock, full stock…as long as I can print 2” groups or less at 100 yards, I’m solid.

 

[ShootistJack]

Thanks guys, for the continuing supply of info.
I'm about to look up .40 SMR as it's not registering with me.
Got It! Southern Mountain Rifle

 

[nchawkeye]

NCHAWKEYE, Did you get a new .40 cal barrel and did you discard the .45 barrel?

HOMESTEADER, I'm going to look into a "poor boy" and thanks for your post.

I sent the gun to Ed Rayle and had him build me a .40 to the same profile as the .45...I still have the .45 barrel, it's a 13/16th Douglas, you don't throw them away...

 

[stephenprops1]

You can't go wrong with a .45 or a .50 for either. the .45 is a little cheaper to shoot, but the .50 cal. supplies are available virtually everywhere. I use the .50 for both hunting and target matches at Rondys.

As far as a smoothbore for match shooting, I think I see more .62s than others. I personally think a .50 rifle and .62 smoothbore would set me up for all the hunting and competition I would like to do.

However, I shoot 'em all; 32 to 62. They are all great fun.

ADK Bigfoot

I shoot 45 caliber pistols and rifles. My smoothbore, flintlock is a 16 gauge, AKA 66 caliber.

 

[DuncNZ]

I could not make up my mind so I have a .40 Beck style flinter for rabbits , varmints , hares and plinking , a Lancaster type .50 flinter for target shooting and a English gentleman's .54 flinter for hunting Deer , goats and wild boar , I have a 20 ga Trade gun for both ball and shotgun , a 20ga matchlock for fun, a 16 ga Charleville for competition shooting , and a .54 wheel lock to drive myself insane. If I had to cut back I'd keep the .40 the .54 and the trade gun , If I had to have 2 it would be the Trade gun and the .54 , if I have to have 1 it would be the .54 because of its versatility and accuracy with various charges .

 

[tom_in_vt]

I see more .50 than the others. Coming is closely behind are the .45 and .54

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I have also read that many old firearms back in the day, were "refreshed" from time to time, bored out a bit more to clean them up etc. hence you could end up with a .52 caliber that was originally .50!

 

[Dreamhawk]

TENNGUN, I know almost nothing about smoothies. How accurate is a smoothbore .62 cal
with a single projectile, and out to how far? I know I've seen modern shotguns with smooth
bores shoot 12 ga. slugs quite well for deer hunters.

FLCONCH53, I really appreciate you sharing that fact about the dominance of the .50 cal. jags
sales. It's a strong indicator, for sure!

Smoothbore is only very accurate to 50+|- yards. After that, many things come into play that you don't have to worry about with a rifle until >150 yards.