One Or Two Bores For Everything?

[Walkabout]

A thread from earlier this week got me thinking. Why not have just one or two bore sizes for all of my muzzleloaders. It would make range trips a lot less of a hassle. So I've settled on .54 caliber and 12 bore for everything. I already have both right now, I just want to add a flintlock. What do you think? This doesn't include revolvers, of course. Thanks

 

[andy52]

I would say it's a good choice, .54 will take just about any four-legged critter, and 12 ga will take birds of all kinds and good defense from the two-legged kinds of critters loaded with buck and ball.

 

[tenngun]

Ain’t nothing your .54 can kill your twelve bore won’t

 

[centershot]

Ain’t nothing your .54 can kill your twelve bore won’t

Well said,tenngun! I'm pretty happy with my .58 smoothbore (24 gauge); fine shot, buckshot or round ball, it'll handle whatever come up. I do have a .50 and a .54 also, but, a good smoothbore will get the job done in most cases. I can understand folks needing to depend on a rifle if they're living in more open country, shots are longer, I get that. I grew up shooting deer with a smoothbore 12 pump gun loaded with rifled slugs, 'cuz the law said we had to - it sucked! But that was back in the 60's and we killed deer OK with them. Here, in the heavy woodlands of western NY a smoothbore in my hands is like coming home again! LOL! @andy52, you won't need more than what ya' already got.......but, sometimes "want" wins out over "need"!

 

[deerstalkert]

would make life simpler.
BUT. one always needs a fast twist for conical. then one needs the slow twist for PRB.
then one needs a pair of long rifles in any one caliber.
then one needs a Hawken style for traipsing over hill and dale.
then one needs matching bores, one rifled, one smooth.
then one needs all the above in both flint and cap.
Hi! my name is deerstalker and i am an addict!

 

[chorizo]

A thread from earlier this week got me thinking. Why not have just one or two bore sizes for all of my muzzleloaders. It would make range trips a lot less of a hassle. So I've settled on .54 caliber and 12 bore for everything. I already have both right now, I just want to add a flintlock. What do you think? This doesn't include revolvers, of course. Thanks

HERESY!

You need a gun for every size animal in 50 lb increments and for each mode of movement the animal makes.

Now let me get back to gun safe shopping.

 

[deerstalkert]

been thinking about more gun storage my self

 

[Juice Jaws]

A thread from earlier this week got me thinking. Why not have just one or two bore sizes for all of my muzzleloaders. It would make range trips a lot less of a hassle. So I've settled on .54 caliber and 12 bore for everything. I already have both right now, I just want to add a flintlock. What do you think? This doesn't include revolvers, of course. Thanks

Who just wants to guns

 

[andy52]

you won't need more than what ya' already got.......but, sometimes "want" wins out over "need"!

I'm so gun pour because of that I don't want to talk about it..

 

[R Ellis]

No fun in two gun pun intended

 

[chorizo]

been thinking about more gun storage my self
View attachment 213233

Well, it a good start. Now I need a couple more for my unmentionables.
If they only had old missle silos or ammo bunkers for sale here I would be in the market.

 

[SciAggie]

I’ve settled on a .62 Jaeger and a .40 longrifle - both flintlock. I’m happy. I have other guns but they don’t see much daylight.

 

[longcruise]

I had to give up on home storage and bring NORAD in on it.

 

[HSmithTX]

My plan right now is a 45 rifle for plinking and killing paper and a 62 hunting rifle to bookend my 54 rifle. All flint. I’m a roundball shooter for the most part. Then we will see where it goes from there. Likely a 69 cal rifle.... or maybe a 72...

 

[longcruise]

I could bring it to two. One 40 or 45 for targets and small game and one 54 or 58 for big game......... but no, not going to do it. I need a couple loaners and even though I'm adding a 40, I'm keeping the 45.

 

[nchawkeye]

I started with a .45 in 1975, thought it would be my do all caliber...Ended up making a .54 in the '80s and rebarreled the .45 to a .40...So far, no complaints, although I do have a WoodsRunner ordered, also in .54...Guess I need a fowler but haven't gotten around to one...

 

[chorizo]

I just re-read the title. I am only running three bores...50, 54, 58

What I am not confessing to is HOW MANY I have of each.

 

[Timber Wolf]

For Rendezvous I keep it to two “calibers”. A .45 rifle and pistol and a .62 smoothbore. And a bow, and a knife, and a hawk of course. The rest of the year I am libel to show up at a shoot with most anything.

 

[nkbj]

How can you get by without rifles that shoot revolver bullets?

 

[Sean E Bug]

I would go for a 36 for target, plinking, and small game. Then a 20 gauge for large animals and shooting things that are moving.