To .50 or to .54 !?

[brentona]

Howdy all!

After a couple weeks or lurking I have reached this question. I have placed an order for my first flinter, and during the wait period, I am allowed one change in order for free. So I had originally gone with 42” swamped .50. But I see many really preferring .54 for versatility. Would the community chime in with the pro’s and con’s for each? After the reading that I have done here, I am beginning to think I should reach out and change that puppy to a .54! Thank you all!!

- Brent

 

[EC121]

Either one will work. With the bigger hole the .54 will be a little lighter.

 

[oldwood]

Brent , More info needed. What will you hunt??? Will it be a target gun ,or combo ????..............oldwood

 

[brentona]

Brent , More info needed. What will you hunt??? Will it be a target gun ,or combo ????..............oldwood

Howdy! This will be a combo paper puncher and food getter. Deer compromising most of the targets but there is plenty of hog options my way as well. .54 might lend itself better for pork blasting.

 

[oldwood]

If you going for moose , .54 would render slightly more destruction. Hogs 'n deer excellent choice. .50 , or .54 equally excellent. Range same , same............oldwood

 

[mooman76]

Sounds like you answered your own question.

 

[FishDFly]

Seems since it is a flintlock, the style of the rifle would dictate the caliber of the rifle would it not?

Larger caliber rifles came along during the percussion time frame.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

.50 will be cheaper, maybe kick less, and get the job done.

.54 might be lighter, kick a bit more, and get the job done.

I want a .54 just to be different.

You could flip a coin.....or how about a 2nd barrel in .54?

 

[tenngun]

Brent , More info needed. What will you hunt??? Will it be a target gun ,or combo ????..............oldwood

A .54 will do in any animal in North America, big bear maybe excepted. Any deer will drop to a .50

 

[Grenadier1758]

There isn't really that much difference in cost of ball and powder. You could get the 50 caliber in a swamped B weight or the 54 in a swamped C weight barrel. Handling would be similar with the B weight barrel being slimmer in cross section, but that would be difficult to see other than up close. A lot would depend on the availability of loading components. You talk of having the options to hunt hogs. Probably the 54.

 

[Jaegermeister]

.54 for the reasons stated above.

 

[Nameless Hunter]

There's also the 58...

 

[Greg Blackburn]

I thought about suggesting a .58 but realized I would be joking. .50 with a good expanding bullet should flatten a hog.

 

[Grenadier1758]

While most of us would agree that the 50 is adequate for hog, the 54 would add confidence that the shot would be successful. So ball size plus added confidence usually means successful hunt.

 

[Glock21user]

.54 for versatility if my opinion should count for anything.

 

[FishDFly]

Of those who say 54 vs 50, how many actually actively hunt and pursue hogs? How many hogs a year do you harvest each year?

 

[Glock21user]

Of those who say 54 vs 50, how many actually actively hunt and pursue hogs? How many hogs a year do you harvest each year?

I do and have shot several with each caliber, if one is all he hunts then that is enough.

 

[Hillbilly Delux]

There seems to be several more choices with .50 cal bullets and sabots than .54 if the barrel option is a tighter twist. In a slow twist barrel there will be little difference between the two calibers in the ammunition cost or accuracy category as I have come to understand. Given a distance of 50 yards+- for dangerous game, I would favor a .54 if having several calibers of ammunition is not a concern. I prefer conicals in a tighter twist barrel which typically are heavier than a ball and carry more energy to the game. With all that being said...hundreds years of harvesting dangerous game with PRB speaks for itself.

 

[longcruise]

There seems to be several more choices with .50 cal bullets and sabots than .54 if the barrel option is a tighter twist. In a slow twist barrel there will be little difference between the two calibers in the ammunition cost or accuracy category as I have come to understand. Given a distance of 50 yards+- for dangerous game, I would favor a .54 if having several calibers of ammunition is not a concern. I prefer conicals in a tighter twist barrel which typically are heavier than a ball and carry more energy to the game. With all that being said...hundreds years of harvesting dangerous game with PRB speaks for itself.

Given that he has ordered a flintlock with a swamped barrel, it's almost certainly a slow twist ball gun. IMO, I would go with the 54. The 50 would be plenty for deer and hogs but if you decide to vist Canada, Alaska or the west you might need a 54 to hunt elk or moose.

 

[Sparkitoff]

Typically the same sized barrel in the larger .54 will weigh a little less because there is less metal (bigger hole). Having had both, I only have .54 now for PRB. I do have one .50 but it is reserved for conicals.