Anyone carry a flintlock hunting?
12-07-2011 | 09:06 AM
#11
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,918
Likes: 1
From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
I use a .54 because Lyman doesn't make the Great Plains in a .58. 
On a serious note, I think .54 is the perfect ball caliber. There's nothing really wrong with a .50 and it will do you just fine. But the .54 extends the range and whompability factor a bit. My personal philosophy is .50s are for conicals and .54s are for a guy with balls.
On a serious note, I think .54 is the perfect ball caliber. There's nothing really wrong with a .50 and it will do you just fine. But the .54 extends the range and whompability factor a bit. My personal philosophy is .50s are for conicals and .54s are for a guy with balls.
12-07-2011 | 09:48 AM
#12
Dominant Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,193
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
The .54 caliber is almost 1/4th heavier then the .50 caliber. 177 VS 223 grain. That means a lot more down range Whomp when you need it. For instance, I'd hunt elk with a .54 caliber (prefer my .58) but I would be a little cautious with a .50 caliber. For deer the .50 will work just fine. It takes deer all the time. Its just the .54 down range carries more energy when it hits, and that helps plant deer.
I shot a deer with my Lyman .54 caliber Trade Rifle flintlock at 52 yards. She was facing me. I shot her when her neck was down, feeding. The ball went through the neck, through the brisket, the lungs, exited, broke her back leg, and kept going into the woods. She dropped where she stood. I do believe the .50 would have down the same thing. But that .54 is just a great shooting ball caliber.
I have .45, .50, .54, and .58 (sold the .62) and I am proud to say, I can keep track of my .... well you know. The .58 caliber 284 grains are even more dramatic when they are shot. They really ring a steel target.
I shot a deer with my Lyman .54 caliber Trade Rifle flintlock at 52 yards. She was facing me. I shot her when her neck was down, feeding. The ball went through the neck, through the brisket, the lungs, exited, broke her back leg, and kept going into the woods. She dropped where she stood. I do believe the .50 would have down the same thing. But that .54 is just a great shooting ball caliber.
I have .45, .50, .54, and .58 (sold the .62) and I am proud to say, I can keep track of my .... well you know. The .58 caliber 284 grains are even more dramatic when they are shot. They really ring a steel target.
12-07-2011 | 12:07 PM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
Likes: 0
I think the best answer in a round ball gun as to why a .54 over a .50 is that a .50 won't do nothing a .54 won't do... 
I have had some argue or mention that .50 balls are easier to come by...I haven't bought a round ball in over 25 years or so...Buy a mold and go to it, balls are easy to mold...I also buy pillow ticking for patches and make my own lube, so all I'm buying is powder and flints...
btw...The .45 I had, I sent to Ed Rayle back then, he turned it into a .40...Some of the most fun I've had is shooting squirrels with that .40 and 25grs of powder...Dang thing is cute when it goes off...I get 280 shots out of a pound of powder using 25 grains as well...
I have had some argue or mention that .50 balls are easier to come by...I haven't bought a round ball in over 25 years or so...Buy a mold and go to it, balls are easy to mold...I also buy pillow ticking for patches and make my own lube, so all I'm buying is powder and flints...
btw...The .45 I had, I sent to Ed Rayle back then, he turned it into a .40...Some of the most fun I've had is shooting squirrels with that .40 and 25grs of powder...Dang thing is cute when it goes off...I get 280 shots out of a pound of powder using 25 grains as well...
