A .54 caliber for the most part will handle all your hunting needs, they are accurate, and ball is cheaper. The .58 caliber though has a real charm. When you shoot it, its a whole new experience. Without doubt you are not over gunned hunting with it. It will take out about anything you want from a squirrel to a moose... If I only had one rifle, it would be a .54 caliber. I like the .58 caliber though. It is accurate, and with 110 grains of 2f powder and that 284 grain ball in there, you better know that anything you shoot is in for a real bad day...