First off, I would still get the .54 caliber rifle. When shooting roundball the .54 caliber will out perform the .50 caliber at longer ranges, the ball is 33% bigger, bigger means more thump down range, and I find the .54 caliber roundball is a deadly deer combination out to 100 yards and more.

The longest I had to shoot was 80 yards with a .54 caliber roundball. It had enough powder at that distance to kill the deer I was aiming at in it's tracks, pass through that deer and hit a second deer which made the mistake of sneaking up behind it (I never saw it) in the spine, and took a chunk out of that deer's spine, knocking it to the ground. I had to tags to fill that day, so it was a fast day of hunting you might say. (A long day of dragging..[:@])

As for what twist, if you think there is a chance you want to hunt with conical and even sabots, then the 1-48 is the twist to get. Get a Thompson Center rifle and you are all set. I would suggest a T/CHawkins or Renegade. You can get the larger .54 calibers from Fox Ridge Outfitters (personally I would go with the .58 caliber.. ) they can also be found on the gun auction sites for some very reasonable prices from time to time.

The roundball in the larger bore will work on even bear and elk if you can place it right. If all you wanted to shoot was roundball, for deer and targets then I would suggest a Lyman Great Plains Rifle with a 1-60 twist. They are a real roundball shooter. Or get an Older T/C Renegade .54 caliber and down the road purchase a Green Mountian IBO barrel in .58 caliber that will drop right in there. Now you have the best roundball shooting rifle I have ever owned.

I am not going to say that the .50 caliber will not do the job, because without a doubt it will. All I am saying is I think the .54 caliber in tradition rifles is and always will be a better choice when hunting deer and larger game...