.50 or .54??

Redneck Bowhunter · 12-24-2008, 04:30 PM

Hello all, Im looking at buying a Lyman Deerstalker Percussion. I just don't know whether to get a .50 cal or a .54 cal. What are the advantages and disadvantages to both? And does anyone know anything about these rifles are they good quality? Thanks, Curtis.

nchawkeye · 12-24-2008, 04:35 PM

If you are planning to shoot round balls, a .54...

Semisane · 12-24-2008, 04:36 PM

Since the Deerstalkers have a 1:48 twist, I'd go with the 50 for more variety and greater availability of bullets.

If you decide you want a .54 you should consider thefactory reconditioned Great Plains Hunter available from Lyman at $356 - a pretty good deal.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/store/page191.html

cayugad · 12-24-2008, 04:41 PM

I personally like the .54 caliber. They have more delivery with a roundball, there are lots of conicals to shoot out of them. And if you do want to shoot sabots, there are sabots for them as well.

sabotloader · 12-24-2008, 04:44 PM

Redneck Bowhunter

Do not want to make it sound to simple but NC had it right - if you are going to hunt big gme with it and you are going to shoot strictly PRB's or an occasional Conical - go 54 + you can shoot sabots and projectiles from a 1/48 very successfully.

Other than that the 50 offers a far wider range of opportunities...

Redneck Bowhunter · 12-24-2008, 05:19 PM

Sorry I didn't go into to much depth but I want to shoot conicals to start off with and was hoping to shoot a big bullet with a big powder charge. I was hoping at shooting at least 150 yards accurately. Is that realistic?

cayugad · 12-24-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Redneck Bowhunter

Sorry I didn't go into to much depth but I want to shoot conicals to start off with and was hoping to shoot a big bullet with a big powder charge. I was hoping at shooting at least 150 yards accurately. Is that realistic?

150 yards with open sights is a long way to shoot, as many will tell you. But it can be done. The fact you want to shoot conicals, I might suggest going to a Great Plains Hunter with a 1-32 twist. Then you can get a more conical friendly twist and with the longer barrel, some feel they are better for long range.

I will be blunt.. most people I run into have a hard enough time with open sight shooting 100 yards consistently, that 150 is someone who is a skilled shooter. If you're a skilled shooter it can be done. That is unless you're not concerned about small group sizes..

But with the desire to shoot conicals there are more .50 caliber that have conical options out there then .54 so you decide.

gregrn43 · 12-24-2008, 05:57 PM

I have a TC Hawken that I used for years when I first started MLing in a 54 cal. It shoots well with round balls, but was wicked with buffalo bullets and TC maxi slugs over 90gr of ffg black powder. I switched to the 50 cal when i started shooting inlines because it seemed there were more options for bullets over the 54 cal.

spaniel · 12-24-2008, 06:14 PM

If you want to shoot 150, the sights you choose are more important than the caliber. IMHO you preferably want a good set of peeps with a globe front, if not a good adjustable rear and globe front. A blade front is too wide and hard to aim with, where a globe front gives you a precision aiming point at the top of the circle.

I'd go .54 for what you suggest doing.

MountainDevil54 · 12-24-2008, 06:36 PM

go with the .54 and say goodbye to all of the modern day over prices conicals/sabots.

The .54cal is an outstanding hunting caliber.

As for your question about 150 yard shooting, Yes. My elk this year fell to a .530 round ball and 80gr pyrodex RS @ 140yards.