Can anyone explain the lack of available 54 cal muzzleloaders?

cptnron4 · 02-22-2010, 09:34 AM

I have always been a fan of the 54 cal muzzleloader for elk hunting. I bought an Encore and wanted to put a 54 cal barrel on it and can't find one...you can buy an Encore barrel in just about any imaginable calibre but not 54...anyone know why?

cayugad · 02-22-2010, 10:08 AM

With the introduction of the sabot and modern bullets gun makers were not seeing the demand for the .54 caliber barrel as much. Granted when we were shooting roundball and big conicals, .54 calibers in traditional rifles were very common. Knight and Thompson Center both used to make .54 caliber inline as did CVA and Traditions. But IMO people went to the .50 caliber with the modern projectiles and found they could do the same job as the .54 caliber could with the older style projectiles.

Now there are .54 caliber inlines. I saw a System One on the auction site the other day with a .54 caliber. Still if I were going to hunt elk, I would use my White Rifle in .504 (and White does make a .54 caliber that throws chunks of lead also) and a big conical. Those that have elk hunted with the White claim no problems in planting elk with them.

If you can not find one for your Encore, there is always the chance for another rifles... like a White.

Semisane · 02-22-2010, 10:13 AM

Well cptnron, I suspect it's a matter of perspective from the manufacturers' standpoint. They would envision an Encore muzzle loader as a modern scope sighted sabot shooting gun. That automatically sets the bar at .50 caliber. Fifty-four doesn't really make much sense for saboted bullets. Why shoot a .45 caliber bullet in a 54/45 sabot when you can do it more efficiently in a 50/45 sabot?

The .54 is a dandy round ball caliber. But it really wants a slower twist than the typical 1:28 sabot twist to perform at its best. I may be wrong, but I suspect demand for a ball shooting Encore barrel would be too low to justify production.

cayugad · 02-22-2010, 10:24 AM

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/catalog...nfeatureditems

there is the rifle for you.... I like the stainless model in .54

TNHagies · 02-22-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semisane

Well cptnron, I suspect it's a matter of perspective from the manufacturers' standpoint. They would envision an Encore muzzle loader as a modern scope sighted sabot shooting gun. That automatically sets the bar at .50 caliber. Fifty-four doesn't really make much sense for saboted bullets. Why shoot a .45 caliber bullet in a 54/45 sabot when you can do it more efficiently in a 50/45 sabot?

The .54 is a dandy round ball caliber. But it really wants a slower twist than the typical 1:28 sabot twist to perform at its best. I may be wrong, but I suspect demand for a ball shooting Encore barrel would be too low to justify production.

Semi said it better than I could. It has to do with demand. If they could make money selling them they would.

cptnron4 · 02-23-2010, 08:40 AM

Thanks to all of you that took the time to respond.

I have 54 cal Thunderhawks which I consider a wonderful gun especially when converted to the 209 primer...only problem is the breach plug is not removable for easy cleaning. My favorite load is the Barnes X 50 cal bullet in a 54 cal sabot and 90 grains Pyrodex Pistol powder (FFF)...great elk round everywhere but Colorado where I use the large REAL bullets and the same powder charge...FFF because of the short barrel on the Thunderhawks.

Last year I hunted with a friend who bought a new inline 50 cal mostly because that's all the dealers had on their shelves. We had a hard time finding a decent bullet that met Colorado's bullet restrictions 2x cal and settled on the heaviest powerbelt hollow pt because the aerotip is too long. Two solid hits on a 5x5, first in the shoulder, 2nd in the lungs and we didn't recover the animal. That experience again convinced me the 54 cal is best elk option at least for Colorado or any other state that prohibits saboted bullets.

I agree that if the manufactures thought they could make money they would produce the 54 but think their market analysis is driven primarily by whitetail hunters and it is surprising that some after market barrel maker hasn't given the 54 cal at least a limited production run.

Thanks Again to All

TNHagies · 02-23-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cptnron4

Last year I hunted with a friend who bought a new inline 50 cal mostly because that's all the dealers had on their shelves. We had a hard time finding a decent bullet that met Colorado's bullet restrictions 2x cal and settled on the heaviest powerbelt hollow pt because the aerotip is too long. Two solid hits on a 5x5, first in the shoulder, 2nd in the lungs and we didn't recover the animal. That experience again convinced me the 54 cal is best elk option at least for Colorado or any other state that prohibits saboted bullets.

I think in this case the bullet construction had more to do with the performance than caliber.

Luckily, CO got rid of that crazy rule this year!

builder459 · 02-23-2010, 09:16 AM

I feel it's not only demand,but the companys that make BP rifles have also geared it towards the 50 cal market.the 50 cal is pretty much a all around caliber for big game.a 300gr sabot bullet is great elk medicine.

bigboomer · 02-23-2010, 09:41 AM

You may want to call The TC custom Shop, they may be able to help you out

charlie brown · 02-23-2010, 07:19 PM

I have taken two elk with a .50 caliber ML. One was a 450 lb cow with a 370 TC Maxi Ball and 80 grains of Goex 2f from a CVA Bobcat. The second was a 600 lb cow with a 385 Hornady Great Plains and 90 Grains of Goex 2f from a Traditions Pursuit. The first broke the back and did not exit. The second elk, the bullet penetrated both shoulders and I recovered bullet just under the hide on the far side. Those two bullets will work for elk, and I believe they fall under the 2x rule in Colorado. FYI - The Hornady bullet weighed 375 grains as I recovered it.

Later,

Marcial