With all the help you can get on this forum I would buy the flintlock if I were you. You have a whole year to get ready. But I suggest that you only go with the flinter if you are willing to put in the time and effort. Shooting a flinter is much much much more satisfying.

As far as caliber, I like the 50 caliber. I know alot of good shooter's on this forum like a 54 caliber. I have always found the 50 caliber hole to be big enough. The 54 caliber may have an advantage in round balls, but you pay for that advantage in recoil.My roundball limit is 125 yards, andthe 50 caliber has never let me down. I think the 54 caliber is a disadvantage when it comes to conicals. IMO the 50 caliber conicals will outshoot the 54 caliber conicals. There is no weight advantage with conicals like there is in round balls when you compare 50 to 54 caliber. I can cast up to a 600 grain bullet in a 50 caliber. And I would surely hope that is big enough. Tom.