Caliber choice?

[Captn Jack]

Howdy.
 I have a Hawkins 50 cal. I built from a Thompson Center arms kit back in the '70s. I use it for hunting still to this day. I am retired and was wanting to build a KY rifle as I say my way. I will mostly be shooting targets anywhere from 75, 100,200 yards out to maybe 500 yards. Yes, I get that from a couple of Sharps 1874 rifles in 45-110 and 45-70. So I was wanting to know what would your choice of caliber be in say with a swamped 42" or 44"  barrel for target and gong shooting and maybe do some competition shooting as well. Remember I am 66 years young also with pretty good eyesight still.
Thanks.

[smylee grouch]

IMHO you will need two guns if you plan on shooting at 500 in organized competition. a 50 or 54 cal. out to 200 would be my choice, even a 58 if recoil isn't too much of an issue.

[Daryl]

For shooting long range - out to 500yards, you will need a bullet shooting rifle, with a fast twist barrel.

For shooting trail walks and rendezvous, a .45 to 54 will suffice quite nicely - it's your choice.

[OldMtnMan]

Trail walks sound like more fun.

[Mike Brooks]

I'd go with a ,54 and forget shooting past 100 yards. You'll need a bullet gun to shoot long range well.

[alacran]

I have two favorite calibers, .45 and .54. I have hit gongs with both at 200 yards.

[Dphariss]

Howdy.
 I have a Hawkins 50 cal. I built from a Thompson Center arms kit back in the '70s. I use it for hunting still to this day. I am retired and was wanting to build a KY rifle as I say my way. I will mostly be shooting targets anywhere from 75, 100,200 yards out to maybe 500 yards. Yes, I get that from a couple of Sharps 1874 rifles in 45-110 and 45-70. So I was wanting to know what would your choice of caliber be in say with a swamped 42" or 44"  barrel for target and gong shooting and maybe do some competition shooting as well. Remember I am 66 years young also with pretty good eyesight still.
Thanks.

300 yards is tough with a "Kentucky" rifle, unless is large bore like 69 or larger. 500 is just impossible the balls are falling so fast. Remembering that typical rifle caliber RBs will not travel past 1000 yards. If you want to shoot this far you need a picket bullet and this is a can of worms you don't want to open.
Dan 

[recurve]

Ok this is off the mark But you could get a fast twist barrel for your TC 1-36 or a 1-28 drop in and shoot conicals out past rb ranges .   

[Daryl]

You could if you possessed the skill and knowledge.
It is possible, but should you?

[Joc7651]

For those ranges I'd go with a .62 caliber. You get higher velocity from a .62 than a .58 and the extra weight carries the ball farther. 500 yards with a ball will be tough though even with the heavier balls. Were you going to use bullets, paper patch, or round ball? You can paper patch .45 caliber bullets and get those ranges accurately if you're meticulous with your loading.

[Joc7651]

Joe Williams at Oregon Barrels will build any barrel you like to your specs. The round ball barrel he made for me gives true 2" groups at 100 yards.

[Daryl]

You get higher velocity from a .62 than a .58 and the extra weight carries the ball farther.

Where did those ballistics come from, Joc? Yes - 62 ball is heavier than a .58 ball.

This is contrary to what my chronographs have been telling me since I bought my first one in 1977/8.

[smylee grouch]

I would be skeptical about gettin g more velocity from a 62 over a 58 unless your powder charge was considerably higher in the 62. I own and shoot several guns in both cal. and find the the 58 faster in all cases with all else being equal.

[bgf]

Maybe he means .62 retains velocity longer, so at longer distances it's relatively faster than .58? 

[Daryl]

Quite possibly meant the larger, heavier ball loses velocity more slowly than the smaller .58.

[oldtravler61]

  Me thinks the old peg leg is being pulled again...!  Oldtravler