Switching to a small caliber

[roundball]

I've carried the .62cal Flint smoothbore deer hunting since November 4th and have been lucky to take a couple bucks and a couple Does with it.

Decided it would be good to hunt with something different for a change...something smaller for the final 3 weeks...so I put away all the big .62cal stuff tonight and broke out the .58cal Flinter.

Actually, in trying to get a crack at another buck before the season ends, I'm shifting to another area for the rest of December where shots could average 75-100 yards instead of the closer shots I've been taking with the smoothbore.

Never having shot the smoothbore past 50yds, I have no idea of it's POI or accuracy at longer ranges so I had to change to something I knew and the .58cal will sure get it done...just hope the buck angels run one out in front of me.

 

[jethro224]

Decided it would be good to hunt with something different for a change...something smaller for the final 3 weeks...so I put away all the big .62cal stuff tonight and broke out the .58cal Flinter.

:rotf: Why do I get the feeling that if GM made a 4-bore barrel for a T/C you would be the first one to order? :rotf:

Good luck with that peashooter! :rotf:

 

[roundball]

Decided it would be good to hunt with something different for a change...something smaller for the final 3 weeks...so I put away all the big .62cal stuff tonight and broke out the .58cal Flinter.

Good luck with that peashooter! :rotf:

:grin: (well, it IS a smaller caliber)

 

[Halftail]

Roundball,
Do you have a picture of that 62cal Flint smoothbore?I don't think I have ever seen one.Also,Good luck with that pea shooter.... :haha:

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I was expecting you to use a 50cal or something like that when I read the topic. That 58cal should clean house. :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[BS]

Been thinking the same way, thought about putting the 73 cal rifle aside and using the smaller 62. :rotf:

 

[roundball]

Roundball,
Do you have a picture of that 62cal Flint smoothbore?I don't think I have ever seen one.Also,Good luck with that pea shooter.... :haha:

It's just a TC Hawken stock with a 1" x 33" GM .62cal drop-in Flint barrel on it...

 

[roundball]

Been thinking the same way, thought about putting the 73 cal rifle aside and using the smaller 62. :rotf:

Yeah, you can't stay with the big calibers ALL the time...too much unfair advantage...so drop down to a .62cal ! :rotf:

 

[pab1]

I have been thinking about getting a .58 caliber barrel for elk. Your posts have me thinking about a .62 barrel instead. How accurate is the smoothbore at 50 yards? How much expansion do you get on deer size game?

 

[ffffg]

i have a .62 rifle.. its a great gun.. a chambers mark silver 42 inch swamped 42 inch barrel longstock.. .58 or .62 for elk will make you very happy you have it, if or when you get too far forward into the shoulder with your shot.. ... a rifle will double your shooting distance over a smoothbore.. you loose about half your energy at 100 yards.. some things to think about.. my opinion only, dave

 

[roundball]

I have been thinking about getting a .58 caliber barrel for elk. Your posts have me thinking about a .62 barrel instead. How accurate is the smoothbore at 50 yards? How much expansion do you get on deer size game?

I'd stay with the .58cal...since it's a rifle instead of a smoothbore it'll be more accurate at distance.
I zeroed the GM Flint smoothbore barrel at 50yds and average 2" groups, often with some holes cutting each other...basically it's as accurate as a rifle at 50yds...have not tried it past that yet.
The 4 deer I shot with the .62 have all been complete passthroughs at less than 50 yds so I've never recovered a ball...(in fact, I rarely recover a ball from any caliber except occasionally the .45cal).

I had absolutely no need for a .62cal to hunt whitetails...it was strictly an element of expanding the hobby to learn more first hand knowledge about calibers...I used it this year and had excellent results.
80grns Goex FFFg (3F)
Oxyoke .018" prelubed pillow ticking
Rush Creek (TOW) .595 balls

But, if I was faced with your particular decision, I'd get the GM .58cal 1:70" RB barrel without even hesitating...it's an outstanding caliber...and a very accurate caliber as well.

I use a mid-range load for whitetails at typical woods distances:
100grns Goex FFg (2F)
Oxyoke Wonderwad
.018" TC prelubed pillow ticking
Hornady .570
Just eats the center of a bullseye right out

 

[pab1]

Thanks for the information. I think I will go with the .58 barrel. I usually have no problem getting within 50 yards, but the added accuracy of a rifle would be nice if I run out of cover at 75 yards.

 

[BS]

Been thinking the same way, thought about putting the 73 cal rifle aside and using the smaller 62. :rotf:

Yeah, you can't stay with the big calibers ALL the time...too much unfair advantage...so drop down to a .62cal ! :rotf:

I used my 7ga. one time :shocked2:

That 7/8" diameter ball looked like a golf ball made the hole..........so I droped down to the 73. :hmm:

 

[Halftail]

Thanks for the great picture......Nice shot on that one too! :thumbsup: