.50 or .54??
#11
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 552
RE: .50 or .54??
ORIGINAL: Redneck Bowhunter
Hello all, Im looking at buying a Lyman Deerstalker Percussion. I just don't know whether to get a .50 cal or a .54 cal. What are the advantages and disadvantages to both? And does anyone know anything about these rifles are they good quality? Thanks, Curtis.
Hello all, Im looking at buying a Lyman Deerstalker Percussion. I just don't know whether to get a .50 cal or a .54 cal. What are the advantages and disadvantages to both? And does anyone know anything about these rifles are they good quality? Thanks, Curtis.
I have one in 50 cal and I think the quality is good. I have mostly shot RB out of it. Recently started trying other bullets butothers on this site will be better suited to give you load info or cal preferences than me. I like the rifle. Shoots RB good. With the Lyman peep site I can shoot it real well out to 110 yds or so. I need a good visable target after that. Good eyes will do 150 with no problem but that's far for a RB. I would use something different.
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585
RE: .50 or .54??
A 54 can do quite well with a PRB at 50 yards and will shoot a 300 gr jacketed or unjacketed 50 cal pistol bullet in a purple 54 /50 sabot or you can use a 54/45 0r 44 sabot andsabot or the 54 real bullet or the 54 Maxie ball, I also use the buffalo bullet.
The Bull Shop andNo Excuse bullets or the new Hornady FPB which is the easy one to get to shoot good as most guns like it.
I personally like the PRB in a traditional gun, and nothing else gives the long range performance that a 54 with 110 or 120 gr of powder will with a patch round ball.
Lee
The Bull Shop andNo Excuse bullets or the new Hornady FPB which is the easy one to get to shoot good as most guns like it.
I personally like the PRB in a traditional gun, and nothing else gives the long range performance that a 54 with 110 or 120 gr of powder will with a patch round ball.
Lee
#14
RE: .50 or .54??
ORIGINAL: gleason.chapman
Wow, my hat off to you with open sights and a RB at that distance. Chap
ORIGINAL: MountainDevil54
My elk this year fell to a .530 round ball and 80gr pyrodex RS @ 140yards.
My elk this year fell to a .530 round ball and 80gr pyrodex RS @ 140yards.
#15
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186
RE: .50 or .54??
very little wind. Round ball drifted 2" from POA.
The sights i have on it came standard on the CVA Mountain Rifles and they work excellent. But for deer, i noticed when I tested it out on a few deer, the front blade was to thick so i will be changing out the front sight for a much thinner sight.
The sights i have on it came standard on the CVA Mountain Rifles and they work excellent. But for deer, i noticed when I tested it out on a few deer, the front blade was to thick so i will be changing out the front sight for a much thinner sight.
#16
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chippewa Falls WI
Posts: 914
RE: .50 or .54??
I have a 54 in a flint and a percussion in the Deerstalker I get excellent groups with both guns. I shoot 50 cal bullets in a sabot and 444 gr powerbelts. I get good results with a .530 PRB with a .10 ticking patch I use between 80 and 90 gr of 2 f goex in the flint and Goex Pinicale in the percussion.
#17
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: .50 or .54??
i dont shoot even 100 yds with my hawkins .50 cal.
open sights make it very hard at anything over 100 with a deer.
i shoot roundballs for practice but when it comes to deer, i want CONCIAL like a 370 gr maxi-ball or my favorite, 295/348 powerbelt with 80 grs of 2f geox.
i dont want to wound a deer and in my mind, i feel the powerbelt works better than roundball.
its also i lot easier when its cold, no need for bore butter or patch or freezing ,lot easier to load a second shot if necessary and barrel is clean with not freezing bore butter in barreletc.
but , i like i dea of shooting the gun way it was made for roundball hunting is more of challenge .
in summer i like the bore butter/rd ball a lot.
from what i read too, .54 cal is better if you are using it on deer at long ranges or close with roundball but i like the .50 cal and supplies are avaialble MORE than the .54 cal.
look at my friends company,RMCSPORTS ,he is doing away with a lot of things for the .54 cal because the demand is not there for it.
PERSONELLY, i would get the .50 cal and use a good bullet for deer and save roundballs for the practice at range .
open sights make it very hard at anything over 100 with a deer.
i shoot roundballs for practice but when it comes to deer, i want CONCIAL like a 370 gr maxi-ball or my favorite, 295/348 powerbelt with 80 grs of 2f geox.
i dont want to wound a deer and in my mind, i feel the powerbelt works better than roundball.
its also i lot easier when its cold, no need for bore butter or patch or freezing ,lot easier to load a second shot if necessary and barrel is clean with not freezing bore butter in barreletc.
but , i like i dea of shooting the gun way it was made for roundball hunting is more of challenge .
in summer i like the bore butter/rd ball a lot.
from what i read too, .54 cal is better if you are using it on deer at long ranges or close with roundball but i like the .50 cal and supplies are avaialble MORE than the .54 cal.
look at my friends company,RMCSPORTS ,he is doing away with a lot of things for the .54 cal because the demand is not there for it.
PERSONELLY, i would get the .50 cal and use a good bullet for deer and save roundballs for the practice at range .
#18
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PA.
Posts: 5,195
RE: .50 or .54??
ORIGINAL: MountainDevil54
very little wind. Round ball drifted 2" from POA.
The sights i have on it came standard on the CVA Mountain Rifles and they work excellent. But for deer, i noticed when I tested it out on a few deer, the front blade was to thick so i will be changing out the front sight for a much thinner sight.
very little wind. Round ball drifted 2" from POA.
The sights i have on it came standard on the CVA Mountain Rifles and they work excellent. But for deer, i noticed when I tested it out on a few deer, the front blade was to thick so i will be changing out the front sight for a much thinner sight.
take a look at V-PEEP FROM rmcsports,i like it very much.
i mounted it back just in front of the frizzen ,not up barrel where it is made for it.
had gunsmith drill hole and put it there, so far, its much better there for me and if i dont like it there, i can move it back up barrel.
front sight in the green tube is color i like most, orange i dont.
he sells a pack of 6 tubes in case you break one front bead, you heat them with match.
so far, this is best sight i had on gun for deer hunting.
#19
RE: .50 or .54??
Thanks all, for the advice. I'll have to do some more resaerching but you have given me some good things to think about. What rate of twist would be best for shooting hornady round balls with a plastic patch? Are the plastic patch's any good? Merry Christmas!