What do you think the best roundball caliber is?

[Sharp Shooter]

What do you think the best roundball caliber is? And why? I think the 54cal roundball is the best. On ballistics it beats the 58cal by far but ballistics are NOT EVERYTHING. But they do shot something. I try not to get tied up in ballistics. The 54cal is cheap and popular to. I would take it anywhere in North America and Canada. (I might wan't a conical in Grizzly Country) Shhhh, I did not say that. :redface:

Can't beat the roundball! Happy Hunting :thumbsup:

 

[Dave K]

I don't think there is a true answer to that question. It depends where you live or what you have or intend to hunt. It can be the old Chevy/Ford type of debate.

 

[roundball]

For big game, the .58cal round ball

 

[Stumpkiller]

For me, the .54

I suppose if elk or brown bear was on my menu I'd favor the .58

I can still smack bunnies and squirrel with 1/2 charge loads with the .54 and have something worth cleaning. Not sure with a .58

I like the .50 for deer, but I like the .54 better. Just something reassuring about having that extra 27% of lead weight over a .50

I used to be able to find .530" balls at most sporting goods stores, but that has changed so I can no longer list that as an advantage. :cursing:

 

I go with the crowd on this one--the .54--BUT, it sorta depends on your requirements. If you are not a big game hunter, for example, or if all you hunt is big game...etc. Thankfully I don't have to live with just one rifle. I chose a .50 as my "longhunter period" reenactment rifle because that is the average caliber of rifles back then based on my research. My most accurate rifle is a .45--and if all I did was target shoot, that's the one I'd choose. For big game I have recently acquired a .54--yet to be baptized with blood, but I think it will be my future choice, now that I have sold off my old .58. For small game I have a .32 rifle or a .62 smoothbore. Then there is my stepchild .40, which my current resident state bans for any hunting use!

 

[Headhunter]

The 50 Caliber Hawken is a killer and that is a historical fact. If I could only have one rifle to do it all, it would be the 50.

Headhunter

 

[Plains99]

I recently had a new round ball twist plains rifle built for big game and I chose .58 but it is not as flexible as the .50 or the .54. Still, I like the .58 for round ball hunting - deer size game and larger.

 

[Ron LaClair]

I've killed a bunch of deer with .54 RB's. I've got two .54 rifles and a .54 smooth bore. I like the way my .62 Jaeger rifle put's em down. I've been thinkin lately about gettin a .58 to fill the gap. I had a .50 but sold it, not enough for a RB to suite me.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Since you said North America and Canada the .54 would be better assuming Grizz might turn up.
East of the Mississippi then .50 is plenty big. If hunting big black bears double-ball 'em when the dogs fetch 'em up. "loaded fer bar' is using two prbs.

 

[shmrck1]

Sharp Shooter,
For hittin what I shoot at I
would say my .45. It is a rifle that I just feel
more comfortable shooting. As far as hunting I
would use it on anything from deer and smaller.
Anything larger I would go with either my .54 or
.58. Just my opinion.
snake-eyes :hmm:

 

[playfarmers]

I started with a .45 and went to a .50,14 years ago and have taken many whitetails with great success. I used to hunt with a friend that had a .54 GPR, and was impressed with it's power. So impressed that I just got a new .54 Trade rifle. My vote will have to be for the .54 but the .50 is no slouch either.

 

[yooper]

I hunt deer with a 58 RB...Lotsa mass and energy Small game I prefer a .311 in front of 15 grains of 3f..

 

[Headhunter]

I don't think it really matters. Get a good rifle and shoot the tar out of it. Get confident with it and take it hunting. I like the 50 cal and a PRB a lot. I never had a problem with its killing power.

Headhunter

 

[ryoung14]

If it was PRB for everything, I'd choose .54 in a 1 in 70" twist, hands down.

For maximum flexibility, though, my pet 1 in 48" .50 Greyhawk is hard to beat. PRB for everything from squirrels to deer with terrific accuracy, plus enough twist for minute of bear accuracy with a Maxi on old Yogi. 3 guns in 1.
Bob

 

[jethro224]

What do you think the best roundball caliber is?

The one that fits what gun ya brung! :grin: (somebody had to say it)

OK, I'll vote .54, big enough, easy enough to find stuff for.

 

Depends on what yer a'doin'. For big game, deer and up, I prefer the 54 altho there are no fly's on the 50. I just don't like the 50 as well and haven't owned one in many years.

For match shooting, I like my 45 but would take a 40 in a heartbeat.

Small game, the 36 is my choice. For their uses, I believe all the above are the best.

Vic

 

[highbrow]

I only have a 58 cal long stock Hawken. My small game load is 1 scoop of ffg (300 Win mag case cut off at the shoulder, 70gr). Big game(elk) load is 2 scoops.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I vote for bigger is better= 54 caliber.

 

[ffffg]

accuracy first, bigger caliber second.. as calibers get bigger they are tougher to shoot, to me anyway.. big powerfull round balls do very little damage with a good lung hit ,punching thru. if i hit a shoulder i dont have to worry about an injured large animal so much.. so if you can find an accurate one that is my vote.. but i live in elk,moose, and griz country, dave..

 

[rabbit03]

I am with you Highbrow I will take my Big 58 Hawken. It is an awsome caliber and will take on anything you want to kill with it. Of course shot placement is most important but I sill like the wiehgt and size of the 58.

And besides that, it's the only gun I have!

rabbit03 :blah: