Between a .50 and .54 I would have to go with the .54 if any big game hunting at all was involved. I have 3 of them right now, 2 flintlocks and a caplock. Between them they have taken game in size from squirrels to 400 lb+ boar hogs and performed perfectly.
As for target shooting, when I was much younger I put a lot of trophys on the wall with a TC Rengegade in .54, even with the short barrel. Back then it was all I had and I shot it a lot. I didn't know enough to think it was the wrong caliber for target shooting.
Later on I would buy a .50 if you still want one.
But for now a .54 and a .36 or .40 would make a potent arsenal.
I am building a .40 flinter now for turkeys and targets. A .54 puts a little too large a hole in a gobbler.
As for target shooting, when I was much younger I put a lot of trophys on the wall with a TC Rengegade in .54, even with the short barrel. Back then it was all I had and I shot it a lot. I didn't know enough to think it was the wrong caliber for target shooting.
Later on I would buy a .50 if you still want one.
But for now a .54 and a .36 or .40 would make a potent arsenal.
I am building a .40 flinter now for turkeys and targets. A .54 puts a little too large a hole in a gobbler.