Slamfire, according to the good folks at Hornaday the BC's of roundballs increase with size. The BC of a .440 is .051, a .490 is .056, and a .530 is .061. I won't argue with anyone about killing deer with a .45--I'm not a deer hunter but I know many hunters like Dave who swear by the .45. Loaded with a prb and 70 gr. of powder the .45 has ballistics out to about 100 yds similar to the 30-30 WCF. On the other hand, the ballistics of a .50 or .54 are superior in every way, and if you're willing to use a little more powder and lead with each shot the larger ball will give marginally better performance. I've never understood the "recoil" argument--a .54 loaded with 90 gr. of powder and a prb produces about the same recoil as a .44 mag, and in a rifle neither of them are going to be punishing.
Shooters have been argueing the pros and cons of their favorite weapons since the days of slings and bows. Me, I've never met a good muzzle loader in any calibre that I didn't like and I've owned .40's thru .58's. With any imagination and ingenuity we can think of reasons to own at least three or four.
Shooters have been argueing the pros and cons of their favorite weapons since the days of slings and bows. Me, I've never met a good muzzle loader in any calibre that I didn't like and I've owned .40's thru .58's. With any imagination and ingenuity we can think of reasons to own at least three or four.
