To .50 or to .54 !?

[Griz44Mag]

Ain't a big deal. Actually most of the wild "boar" hogs in the US aren't from the Russian boar. Genetically they are all ex-domesticated pigs. The traits are what happens when selective breeding is ended..there were some Russian introduced, even as late in the 20th Century

"Boar" is not a reference to anything Russian, never has been. It's simply the name used on a male hog of breeding age.

noun

1. 1.
   a tusked Eurasian wild pig from which domestic pigs are descended.
   
   2.
   an uncastrated domestic male pig.
   

 

[Essayons!]

"Boar" is not a reference to anything Russian, never has been. It's simply the name used on a male hog of breeding age.

noun

1. 1.
   a tusked Eurasian wild pig from which domestic pigs are descended.
   
   2.
   an uncastrated domestic male pig.

Uh....tusked Eurasian? Slang, Russian

 

[Griz44Mag]

Uh....tusked Eurasian? Slang, Russian

See meaning #2 - I left #1 in there to be fair on the possible origin - but like all things - even US - started somewhere else.....

 

[hanshi]

Bigger might be "better"; but bigger can't replace marksmanship. The largest thing I've hunted/killed is deer. I used the .45 prb for the majority, and that includes a lot of deer. Also I've never needed more than one shot to drop a deer. I've used the .50, .54 and .62 on deer and didn't see a dimes worth of difference among them; well, maybe the .62 hit harder. My longest kills were with a couple of .50 flintlocks at 100 (+ or -) yards. Second was with a .45 at 75 yards. If you can't shoot well enough - and I'm pretty sure you can shoot well enough - to drop a deer, hog or bear with a .50; then a .54 will be of no help at all. I like both and feel it depends on the style of rifle more than the game hunted. Moose might be a totally different story.

 

[brentona]

Bigger might be "better"; but bigger can't replace marksmanship. The largest thing I've hunted/killed is deer. I used the .45 prb for the majority, and that includes a lot of deer. Also I've never needed more than one shot to drop a deer. I've used the .50, .54 and .62 on deer and didn't see a dimes worth of difference among them; well, maybe the .62 hit harder. My longest kills were with a couple of .50 flintlocks at 100 (+ or -) yards. Second was with a .45 at 75 yards. If you can't shoot well enough - and I'm pretty sure you can shoot well enough - to drop a deer, hog or bear with a .50; then a .54 will be of no help at all. I like both and feel it depends on the style of rifle more than the game hunted. Moose might be a totally different story.

Agreed! A well placed shot is the king in hunting. Really any aspect of the firearms sports! The rifle in question that I am having made is a TVM Poorboy. The reason I asked this question is because I have read a lot of love for the .54 on here! I just want to make sure I’m not missing anything! In terms of “what era am I looking for?” Well heck I don’t know honestly. 18th century typical man with a gun! Haha! I’m pretty basic to be honest!

 

[MSW]

my 'two cenrs worth:'

cent #1 ... get a .54. Bigger hole = lets a lot of air in and a lot of blood out )i think it was Elmer Keith who said that). ... this is not like architecture (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe "less is more") ... this is ballistics - more is more ... get more

cent #2 ... you can hunt squirre;l with a 40mm Oerlikon, but if you marskmanship fails, all you get is a big hole in the air... and some really pi$$ed off neighbors. Get a copy of Dutch Schoultz method : here's a link: Black powder rifle accuracy system -


enjoy your new rifle, and

Make Good Smoke

 

[Essayons!]

Agreed! A well placed shot is the king in hunting. Really any aspect of the firearms sports! The rifle in question that I am having made is a TVM Poorboy. The reason I asked this question is because I have read a lot of love for the .54 on here! I just want to make sure I’m not missing anything! In terms of “what era am I looking for?” Well heck I don’t know honestly. 18th century typical man with a gun! Haha! I’m pretty basic to be honest!

It really depends what you're hunting. Shot placement is always the key, but surprises happen. Larger calibers get through bone better or tough hide(hogs). .45/.50 caliber is great for deer, but for elk .54 would be my vote. Aspire to get a variety of calibers..

 

[brentona]

Thank you everyone!! I’m really thinking I’ll move to .54 for this particular rifle. I’d love to add a .36 sometime as well! This may be the first flinter, but I highly doubt it’ll be the last. I’m actually in the process of “un-modernizing” my firearm collection. I’m super drawn to history along side my weapons mania!

 

[Cowboy]

Thank you everyone!! I’m really thinking I’ll move to .54 for this particular rifle.

As others have already stated. Get what you want my friend.

For what you’re wanting, both the .50 and .54 will suffice.

Like so many others here, I own a number of rifles in both caliber’s.

I usually grab one of my .54’s over the .50’s.

Definitely my favorite caliber is the .54 over any caliber that I own overall.

Think your making the right choice my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[toot]

remember that the animal doesn't know if it was a 50CAL. or a 54CAL. that hit them!

 

[mooman76]

And they don't really care.

 

[Crow-Feather]

Goodness Gracious, do not let the politicals know that. They will for sure accuse the other side of sneaking in the Russians.

Ain't a big deal. Actually most of the wild "boar" hogs in the US aren't from the Russian boar. Genetically they are all ex-domesticated pigs. The traits are what happens when selective breeding is ended..there were some Russian introduced, even as late in the 20th Century

 

[brentona]

As others have already stated. Get what you want my friend.

For what you’re wanting, both the .50 and .54 will suffice.

Like so many others here, I own a number of rifles in both caliber’s.

I usually grab one of my .54’s over the .50’s.

Definitely my favorite caliber is the .54 over any caliber that I own overall.

Think your making the right choice my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

Thank you my friend!

 

[dennyntx]

I use my .50 for pretty much everything if I need something for really big jobs I pull out my 3 band .58 caliber sometimes size does matter

 

[Onojutta]

My first rifle was a Lyman Trade Rifle in 50 cal. Killed many deer with it and shot very well at the range. I then built aN early Lancaster rifle and considered 54 but stayed with 50 because I already had plenty of .490 round balls and jags and at the time I used precut patches and didn’t want to stock up on different sizes or run the risk of driving all the way to camp and discovering that my possibles bag contained the wrong gear.
Also I thought 50 was a wee bit more PC.
Lately I have been regretting not going with 54 because that would have made the gun a little lighter. At 9 lbs, it is a bit of a chore to carry on all day hunts so another half pound lighter would probably make some difference. I also want to hunt black bear this year with it for the first time and while many would probably say 50 is enough for bear, I wouldn’t mind the extra punch of the 54.
Of all the reasons, not wanting to stock different ball and jag sizes was probably the least important as on second thought that wouldn’t be difficult to overcome, and I’ve since switched to cutting patches with strips of pillow ticking.

 

[TerryK]

I always preferred the 54.

 

[brentona]

Thank you everyone for your replies! Yesterday I pulled my one free change with TVM. We will have a .54 coming in the spring!!

 

[Pete G]

and a large, European bore might be a problem

LD

You can say that again, he will put you to sleep espousing the superiority of the EU over anything else.

 

[hanshi]

There is no such thing as "too much gun" in the sense of this discussion. I consider the .45 and .50 to be plenty for deer, black bear and hogs. For elk the .54 is an excellent choice although a .50 prb works fine where legal. You will enjoy your .54 and will never end up wishing you had something bigger.

 

[Max Bowers]

From a strictly hunting perspective -- using only round balls, I find the .54 caliber as my best medium to big big game flintlock. Tremendous knock down power and large wound channels. I shot the buck in the photo today at about 60 yards with a .530 round ball with a .018 patch driven by 80 grains Swiss FFg powder. The shot knocked the deer over and it kicked very briefly and could not rise to its feet. I prefer my .54 flintlock over my .50 flintlock.