.50 vs. .54 Muzzle Loader
Question:
Common thought is to use the .54 or .58 for anything bigger than Whitetails. I used my .50 this weekend with 90 grains of Pyrodex pushing a 275 grain Remington .44 sabot and hit a ~130 lb Whitetail doe at ~50 yards. She dropped in her tracks with broken back/neck. Had to finish her with a second shot, but the first shot anchored her. If you have to have one gun, I’d get a bigger gun, maybe .54 for more versatility. I’m gonna get me a .54 or .58 to have in addition to the .50. Can’t have too many rifles…..
Response:
>I’m planning on buying a muzzle loader in the near future, but can’t >decide on whether to get the .50 cal. or the .54. I plan on using it >primarily for white tail hunting, but would like to be able to use it if >I’m ever lucky enough to arrange a moose hunt. Any thoughts on which >caliber would be better would be appreciated.
Get the .54, for the reasons you outlined, which are very sound. I hunted with and killed several deer with a .50 for years; but when I bought a new gun went to a .54 in case I get a crack at a moose. There is nothing a .50 will do a .54 won’t, and you can throttle your loads back for whitetails or push them up for moose. BTW, I went with the T/C New Englander because it has an accessory shotgun barrel–and it is terrific. Never used a muzzle-loading shotgun before, and I am HOOKED. If you haven’t got your heart set on a special gun yet, give the New Englander a look-over and you will be very pleased with what you get for what you pay. The basic rifle is $225 at Wal-Mart here, and the shotbarrel is about $150 from local accessory dealers. The Elitist
Response:
> >I’m planning on buying a muzzle loader in the near future, but >decide on whether to get the .50 cal. or the .54. I plan on using >primarily for white tail hunting, but would like to be able to use >I’m ever lucky enough to arrange a moose hunt. Any thoughts on >caliber would be better would be appreciated. > Get the .54, for the reasons you outlined, which are very sound. I > with and killed several deer with a .50 for years; but when I > went to a .54 in case I get a crack at a moose. There is nothing a > do a .54 won’t, and you can throttle your loads back for whitetails > them up for moose.
[snip] A .50 is nice…..GREAT for deer. However, I’m going on a boar hunt this next year with my Ethan Allan, and a .54 is mandatory for one of these Russian monsters that will get to 400lbs. For moose or elk, a 54 has the edge as well. Regards, Fred
Response:
> Common thought is to use the .54 or .58 for anything bigger than > Whitetails. I used my .50 this weekend with 90 grains of Pyrodex pushing a > 275 grain Remington .44 sabot and hit a ~130 lb Whitetail doe at ~50 yards. > She dropped in her tracks with broken back/neck. Had to finish her with a > second shot, but the first shot anchored her.
A patched ball would have provided more expansion. If you prefer conicals, get some 275gr. from Precision Specialties (6300-554-9140), as expansion is BETTER than any other conical I’ve tested (and I don’t think I missed any for testing), and pistol bullets are totally worthless. Interesting that these are the ONLY conicals that will work very well in slow-twist rifles are well as fast-twist. > If you have to have one gun, I’d get a bigger gun, maybe .54 for more > versatility. I’m gonna get me a .54 or .58 to have in addition to the .50. > Can’t have too many rifles.
Right! Getting a new flintlock this next Spring. Fred
Response:
I’m planning on buying a muzzle loader in the near future, but can’t decide on whether to get the .50 cal. or the .54. I plan on using it primarily for white tail hunting, but would like to be able to use it if I’m ever lucky enough to arrange a moose hunt. Any thoughts on which caliber would be better would be appreciated. Thanks, Chuck
