Originally Posted by
pluckit
I believe the original question was about the effectiveness of a .50 caliber round ball. Some of you are using a .54 and I have little doubt of how lethal that projectile is. As you might already know, I just purchased a .54 caliber rifle to give the .530 cal. round ball a try. But again, with my experience with a .50 caliber round ball, I can not advise anyone to use one to harvest a deer with. As for Daniel Boone and the likes of him, their lives depended on harvesting game and were more than likely much better at hunting and tracking game then the average individual is these days. No doubt they were much better at it then I am. So I don't see how they and what they used then to harvest deer with can be related to the average weekend warrior of today. In the end it will always be each individuals decision as to what load to use to EFFECTIVELY harvest deer with, within the limits of their state and or local laws, and I wish them all the best of luck with what ever bullet or ball and powder load they decide to hunt with.
Sincerely,
pluckit
I think the only time someone mentioned the .54 was to note that it was more effective at longer ranges.
As to giving someone advice with only one hunt, I know I would not have done this. Even though, you still managed to kill the deer. I would call this a success story.
And the subject of weekend warriors, I don't personally know any of these guys that go into the woods with a side lock rifle! This type of person normally would stick with an inline rifle. The idea of them going through the trouble of mastering a sidelock rifle, is foreign to me. When I load up in hunt camp, I can tell you I get a few remarks as to my hunting rifle!!! But I can assure you that if your state would go to a formal traditional hunt, then they would show up with one!
I know I, as do many of my friends, consider primitive hunting rifles a challenge to master. Hence the people that go this extra mile are normally dedicated to the art of this type of hunting.
As usual these are my humble opinions on this matter. Cheers!!!
