.45 or .50 for longer distance shots?
 

I'm looking at buying a CVA Optima, and can't decide on .45 or .50. Which is more accurate at longer ranges? I've heard .45 from some of the locals, but I thought I'd get some "professional" opinions.

Thanks guys.

.50cal more bullet options out there

Accuacy wise, it depends on the specific gun and the shooter. If one has an advantage it is not significant at hunting ranges. So it boils down to what you will be hunting. If elk will never be in you plans, the 45 would be just as good, but if you ever plan on hunting elk, you need to get the 50.

That said, 50 caliber IS the most popular and therefore it is easiest to get bullets for, something to think about in this current bullet buying frenzy.

I have several 45's. I specifically bought a 45 cal Kodiak pro for long range. It wouldn't shoot worth a crap. I bought a 45 cal Accura for long range. It won't shoot as good at long range as my 50 cal Triumph or 50 cal Knight. I would go with the 50 cal. Both my Triumph and Knights will shoot 250 yards. I've taken deer at 223 and 234 yards with them. Just my opinion. A 45 may be flatter shooting but what good is that if it isn't accurate.

oujeff25

I was going to make a comment on my thoughts... but jees! think Chetmark covered it really well.

One thing think about which bullet might be more effected by the wind currents it crosses on the way to long range target.... Also, what remaining energy might you have at long ranges with a 45 bullet or a 50 bullet.

It depends what your goals are, but accuracy is not an inherent characteristic of a caliber. The .45s got a bad reputation a number of years ago when they put them out with a 1:20 twist and they shot badly. However we did not have many of the longer-for-caliber bullets we have today like the 200 Shockwave.

I have taken deer out to 338 yds with a .50cal and the 200 Shockwave, while I got a pass-thru I don't think I'd go past 350 due to the low energy. So for most people the .45 will allow you to use high BC .40cal bullets just fine and shoot long range. My load is very pleasant to shoot.

This past year I switched to the .458 325gr FTX, which of course can only be shot out of a .50. It duplicates the trajectory of the lighter bullet (accurate with more powder in my gun), delivering twice the energy with half the wind drift. However it also kicks like a magnum rifle.

The .45 may give you a small bit of extra oomph with the lighter bullets but you pay for it if there is any wind. The .50 is just as good for everything except wringing the last 30-50 yards out of a .40cal bullet. I'd go .50.

A 45 will shoot flatter that a 50 but If it were me I's stay with the 50cal, more bullet choices and other options. As stated above accuracy wise no ML will make you shoot any better than you already do, they all shoot better than the shooter. A 50Cal ML in the right hands is plenty enough ML to get you where you need to go.
(BP)

Spaniel what ML did you use for that 338yd shot? that's one heck of a shot! I got my ACCURA down to 2"groups at 200 and that's a Poke! Im a great shot and was taught to shoot inbetween heartbeats but even with my shooting skills I seem to limit myself to 200yd ranges with a ML, I know I can shoot further and hit where Im aiming, but what Ft Lbs do you get at those ranges, Im more worried about enough energy than range I guess.
(BP)

Breechplug
These are my long range loads for my Endeavor 50 caliber.
140 gr Blackhorn 200gr 40 caliber SW or Lehigh [ with a turn pointed plastic tip inserted] 50/40 blue MMP sabot .
muzzle 2350 FPS 3" high 100yds 1817 FPE
Minus 7 inches @250 yd
Minus 17 inches at 300 yd, 949 FPE
I can keep my groups down to 4 inches at 250 under good conditions but a gusty wind will tear me up.
Oujeff I like a 45 but don't see much advantage, Mainly because with all the different sabots and bullets it is possible to find a good load for a touchy 50 but that stuff is not available for a 45. Hope this helps

Thank's Lee, since everyone is trying the BH and since Cablea's has got some on sale I just ordered some to try. I just recently got a Triumph and was thinking of trying the 200gr XTP's with the BH. 140gr's of BH seems a little high? what does the BH compare to in that gr with other powders? This will be my long range Coyote ML for this Winter and I need ot to be as accurate as it can be.
(BP)

I Know I keep saying this..........but Cabela's has the ACCURA Realtree/SS ON SALE NOW for $329.00 with $30 off a Purchase of $150 or more, Total on the ACCURA=$299.00 why go with the Optima?
(BP)

I also saw the blued/black Accura for $239. Is it a much better choice than the Optima? Also, I see the $20 off of $100 coupon, but not the $30 off of $150 coupon.

Thanks for the replies guys. This forum is a great source of information. I plan on utilizing it more in the future.

Enough said!

With that being said, I have been tempted to invest in a 45. Just to have 1.

Sorry, mabey the $30 Off is just for Cabela's Club Members. Yes I think the ACCURA is a better choice just for the Bergara Barrel alone, and if you can afford the extra $60 get the Camo/SS version, or at least the SS/BK for $289 with the $20 off it's $269.
I bought 3 of them and paid more for each one and Im not dissapointed at all for what I paid. It's by far the best ML that I have ever owned for the money. 1"groups at 100 and 2" at 200, plus the SS barrel cleans up with just patches, no brushing. I own other Mlers but for what you get the ACCURA beats em all.
(BP)

The first ml I bought was a TC 54cal Renegade, still have it and love it. In the last several years the ml companies have steered all the new technology towards the 50 cal it seems. That is what I will stick with from now on. My Renegade and my TC Hawken are the only ones I have that are not 50cal, both are 54"s.

A thumbhole Omega that I've done some accurizing work on. 100 yd groups are well under an inch. I posted a 500 yd group shot with this rifle back in June or July, but this was with the 325gr FTX as the 200SW is just too light to shoot that far.

The energy is pretty low past 300 yds. I worry a lot more about bullet performance than energy numbers, if the bullet expands I'm not worried. Arrows kill deer fine with tiny energy numbers. However, when the 325gr FTX came out and offered me the ability to duplicate the relatively "flat" trajectory but with better energy and wind drift I jumped on it.

I had shot several deer at increasingly far ranges with the same bullet to evaluate how performance was doing as I pushed it further...I didn't go from say 150 yds to 338. That was the third deer I'd shot at 300+. I lucked out and had this deer in position with a dead calm wind which is the biggest variable.

I'm not recommending people go out and try to duplicate this, there are a lot of specific skills involved in shooting that far and one must be honest with themselves as to their capabilities.

I'm building a .45 right now, but it will be smokeless and push the 200SW to 2700-2900 fps or shoot a .45ca/ 275gr Parker Extreme to 2500-2600 fps (sabotless).

I have CVA's in 45 and 50
Both out shoot me and both kill deer graveyard dead
More choices with the 50 cal for sure

Breach Plug
I do my own pressure testing and set my own limits, I only state what I am doing I do not suggest that others do the same. I will say that since a few guns with poor barrels blew up in some peoples faces some years a go that the powder companies have set there recommended limits so that even poor barrels can hold the pressure.
I will also say that I find Blackhorn to have a longer lower pressure peak that gives higher velocities when you push the pressure to the same levels.
To give you a better handle on what I am saying 100 gr of 777 gives the same peak pressure as 115 gr of BH.
I do not suggest anyone do as I do. I do as I please and except the responsibility only for my own actions. Lee