Only One Caliber.. What Woulda It Be?

[wattlebuster]

For me it would be my 12 ga flintlock. Shot for the tree rats and longbeards and a good ole 690 ball for deer. Plenty accurate enough for my normal 50 yrds and less killing range :hatsoff:

 

[Stumpkiller]

If it was just one I'd go with the group suggesting the .62 smoothbore.

I figure a man needs two: a 16 bore fowler and a .54 rifle. ;-) If I could take only one when bugging out for whatever reason it would be the 16 bore.

 

[Palmetto Ed]

12g would be top choice.I guess I lean towards 50 for rifle.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I'd sure hate to be limited to just one rifle. I shoot my TC Hawken in 45 the most and could get by with it if I had to, but I also love my 50's, 54, 40 & 36.

 

[Semisane]

You can't restrict me to one gun you low down dirty weasel!

But if I absolutely had to live that way it would be an over/under rifle/smoothbore with a .54 on top and a 12 GA. on bottom. (I'm a retired Federal employee and know how to get around restrictions. :haha: )

 

[BrownBear]

In my terrain I'd hate to be limited to a smoothie, but looking at ALL my shooting all the time, deer shooting range is the least of my needs.

I'd have to settle on a 12 gauge SxS for my all-around gun. I whang a whole lot more ptarmigan ducks and rabbits in a year than big game. I'd just have to face up to getting lots closer to use the SxS for deer. Do-able.

 

[Poor Private]

I got a question. Are we talking about all guns or just muzzleloading guns? Since this is a muzzleloading forum I just assumed it was limited to muzzleloading weapon.

 

[BrownBear]

Me too. My 12 gauge SxS is a muzzleloader.

 

[RevGeo]

If only one rifle, a .50 cal flinter.

 

[David W.]

If only one rifle, then a .40, I guess. It will squeeze by for deer. For squirrel, best to for the head shot.

 

[Walks with fire]

If reduced to one rifle I would choose a 48/1 .50 flinter hopefully with around .006/.008 deep grooves. Good for ball and concial. Not the best for small game but would work and be accurate with light loads. Being restricted to one firearm suggests economy is an issue and smaller would be better but I still would go .50 mostly because it's easy to find factory ball for.

If it's a survival situation then I want traps for small game taking too.

 

[PA.1740]

Mine is a 28/54 smooth bore flint lock. Works for what I need!
Have Fun
Phil

 

[smo]

That's a no brainer for me ,a .62 cal smoothbore! :wink: :thumbsup:

Good idea.. What kind of range/accuracy can yoi get with a RPB or mini/ maxie of of the. 62?

wattlebuster
02/15/13 08:47 PM - Post#1251647
In response to traditional man

For me it would be my 12 ga flintlock. Shot for the tree rats and longbeards and a good ole 690 ball for deer. Plenty accurate enough for my normal 50 yrds and less killing range

Like Allen said, around 50 yards for normal PRB shooting. Thats about the max. range in wooded areas in the South. The only reason I chose the .62 is because I don't own a 12 guage......yet! :shocked2: :shake:

However I did see a target shot by Mr. Tip Curtis with a smoothbore at 50 yards that was one ragged hole. :wink: :bow:

 

[traditional man]

What members said a while back: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/246901[/quote]
Thank you very much for tha link.

 

[FishDFly]

In all honesty, you need to define which part of the country you are asking about, shooting what (paper or targets) and if animals, which are to be shot.

Your question is like asking, "what is the best autombile", a Volkswagon Beetle is not going to haul a 3/4 ton of firewood in 2 feet of snow is it?

What are your requirements for best?

 

[M. De Land]

Richard, I think he means when the (SHTF) where you live! MD

 

[MSW]

for the rifle, i'd stay with my .50, and for a smoothie, the .62 / 20 guage ...


just gotta build me one of those

 

[FishDFly]

Richard, I think he means when the (SHTF) where you live! MD

Okay, where I grew up, no hostiles and the only critter of danger were alligators.

In the swamp, there are no flints for flintlocks, no use for flintlocks at all unless U.P.S. got them a boat for delivery. Do they have boat motors on their trucks now? Poontoons on the trucks would be nice in the shallow water.

Visit Alaska and the rules change, is why I asked my question?

 

[Leatherbark]

Imagine being in a "Walking Dead" situation with all the zombie like walkers roaming around. I would want a bayonet for sure along with a big heavy tomahawk to save on powder and lead. A guy would need a mule to carry all his camping plunder and two guns. Are mules allowed in this scenario? In the "Walking Dead" one of the gals cut the arms off of 2 zombies and cut off their lower jaws and made them into mules to carry her stuff. Of course this is after all of the regular stuff e.g. 223,9mm,22lr has run out. A cap-n-ball would really come in handy then. Till the caps ran out. But with people scrambling to plunder all of the ammo out of the stores. I'd be gathering up all the caps,flints (agate arrgh)and powder (pyro ?) to eventually use. Hey wer'e talking SHTF stuff and zombies are all the rage now! I big sharp heavy machete like sword would be handy. I just remembered all those cars sitting around in the "Walking Dead" have tons of wheelweights.

Bob

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I'd opt for a .54 caliber, grooved or straight rifled barrel. Shoots a single ball farther and straighter at that farther distance than a plain smooth barrel, and shoots shot well too.

LD