50 better than 45? By what measure? Versitality of projectile? Yes. Components available? Yes. Performance? Well, how are you measuring that? Is a 200gr .40cal bullet out of a 50 somehow more lethal than a 45? Nope.

50 is popular by versitality. The 45 has some advantages for special applications -- slightly higher velocity and less sabot around a small caliber bullet.

I actually want my next "inline" to be a .357. Get a .357 1-14" twist barrel with a custom breechplug mounted on a Rem700 short action, and shoot the highest BC .357 bullet available (Nosler Partition, from what I can tell). This would be a legal ML in my state and a heck of a longer-range weapon.

Retired? Hah! Not by a long shot, I'm one of the younger guys here. Independently weathy? Nope, though 10 yrs of college and 3 degrees has left me in a relatively good spot in this economy -- and a healthy student loan payment. I can pay for shooting by being cheap elsewhere -- I drive the oldest car I've seen in the parking lot at work, it's been paid off for 6 years and I'm driving it until it is unreliable.

The sick part is I finally own a farm with a shooting range right out my back door and I shoot less than I did when I had a 2.5 hour drive to shoot. Increasing responsibilities cutting into my playtime.