Caliber selection

[bitterbeer]

I'm going to pick myself up a muzzle loader kit, this will be my first muzzle loader experience. I'm debating on what caliber. The options for the kit I would like are .50, .54 and .58. I'm don't 'expect' to hunt deer with it but one never knows. My main use will be joining a local club and participate in some shoots. I'm wondering what 'most' people use if there is any preferred caliber.

I'm also curious about patches.  Do 'most' cut their own on the firing line, as I often have seen or buy pre cut? I know it's hard to generalize. Just feeling things out here.

Rich

[smylee grouch]

With your intended use I would go with a 50. Go to fabric store and buy 100% cotton denim 20/1000 thick and work up your loades with that for starters.

[Don Steele]

Welcome Rich.
For a FIRST muzzleloading rifle that you plan to use shooting targets and only might hunt deer with, I'm going to suggest you open your caliber selection to include .45.
That said, within the ones you posted, I'd definitely suggest going with a .50.
Here's my story...and I'm sticking to it:
I started out in this without a clue and bought a 50 caliber rifle that has served me well since the middle 70's. Had I known then what I know now, I would have bought a 54 because in those days most of my use (95%) was hunting. The only targets I shot were in preparation for hunting. As I have aged...a smaller caliber rifle (40-45 for example) turns out to be the ideal second rifle for someone who does very little hunting and a LOT of target shooting. A 50 can be "loaded down"  for punching paper and ringing steel gongs to a level that is very pleasant to shoot. When the opportunity presents itself, it can also be "loaded up" for deer and hogs and be a very effective hunting rifle. Some folks shoot the same load regardless of what they're shooting at. Nothing wrong with that but it's not my choice.
As to patches; for every day offhand plinking..I use pre-cut patches that I spray individually with a wet lube just prior to loading.
For those events that require he highest level of precision (e.g.: Table and Chunk shooting where some kind of rest is involved) I use strips of dry-lubed material, cut at the muzzle. If you choose to cut at the muzzle....learn to sharpen a knife so that you're not "Sawing through" the material but slicing it cleanly with a single pass. 
Hope this helps. Again...welcome and as you go forward try to keep an open mind about what you hear and learn. If you ask around, and observe how others enjoy their muzzleloaders you'll see we're a pretty diverse group. As time goes on though, you'll also begin to see that there are a few things that are universal among the folks who are successful and do this well. Figure out what works for YOU and enjoy it.

[Smokey Plainsman]

I’d pick a .54 with roundballs. Longer range and better power than the .50.

[Bigmon]

Near as important as the caliber is going to be the weight of the gun as well as barrel length.  I would suggest you handle more than a few. If you try a 50 cal with 7/8" barrel you may find it just right, or too heavy if it is long.  There are just so many variables.
Most guys like heavier for range shooting, lighter for hunting.
Swamped barrels are another variable.  Bore size vs outside dimensions of the barrel.
Also, be sure and look into the Kibler kits.  I have a 58 cal that is a lot lighter than I expected.  I'd think a 54 would be great in it also.
These are 43"+ barrel length and not at all front heavy.
As for patches, I sit and watch TV as I cut out round patches from pillow ticking.  My buddy just cuts his square, can't tell any difference.  Try to use the same .018 for everything but sometimes have to change a little.
Hope this helps ya

[Frank]

I would go with a 50 caliber if mainly target shooting and a 58 if hunting is in your future. Jim Kibler had both of these available in the Colonial Rifle for quick delivery about a week ago.


https://kiblerslongrifles.com/collections/colonial-rifle-kit

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=52253.0

[Smokey Plainsman]

If you do go .50, make sure to get a good roundball twist. Sadly, many barrels in this caliber come with a twist for modern Maxi bullets.

[bob in the woods]

You mention that the kit you want to purchase is available in .50, .54 and .58     I would presume that the barrel dimensions remain the same [ as is the case with most kits ]  so the .50 will be the heaviest rifle. Depending on barrel length , balance etc , the .50 , although my first choice for want you want to do, may not be the best . Unless you can handle a completed kit, I'd probably get the .54 which is in the middle of the list of offerings. Many of our club members have .54's as their match rifles and do well. 

[bitterbeer]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems the older I get the more fascinating these muzzle loaders are for me. I grew up back east, Rochester NY, and remember being not to interested in early American history. Now I find it so interesting. I wish, at times, I was back east where there is so much living history being acted out, gun builders and activities. I can't get enough of Muzzleloader magazine. I think it would be a hoot to build a gun from scratch in one of the workshops I see offered. I may have to take a short vacation to try one out. The Rockies here in Colorado are beautiful but I miss walking the hardwoods back where I grew up at times.

[WadePatton]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems the older I get the more fascinating these muzzle loaders are for me. I grew up back east, Rochester NY, and remember being not to interested in early American history. Now I find it so interesting. I wish, at times, I was back east where there is so much living history being acted out, gun builders and activities. I can't get enough of Muzzleloader magazine. I think it would be a hoot to build a gun from scratch in one of the workshops I see offered. I may have to take a short vacation to try one out. The Rockies here in Colorado are beautiful but I miss walking the hardwoods back where I grew up at times.

Welcome bitterbeer. Stay a while and look around, perhaps do a search.  We've discussed every caliber from 17 to 80's or 90's  and some cannons too, more than once.  Most all recreational shooting is centered on the 45-50 class, but as they guys have noted if you're looking at kit options, and see now how the 50 will be heaviest of those given a particular outside dimension. 

You might do yourself a favor and contact the kit seller and find out if there are other "non-standard" options.  Sometimes there are.  If these bbls are swamped, then don't fret it.  But if they're straight bbls, you might do yourself a favor by paying more to get a swamped profile in whatever caliber you decide (if that is an option).  There's much more to the handling of a longrifle than static weight.

Enjoy the learning.

[Bob Roller]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems the older I get the more fascinating these muzzle loaders are for me. I grew up back east, Rochester NY, and remember being not to interested in early American history. Now I find it so interesting. I wish, at times, I was back east where there is so much living history being acted out, gun builders and activities. I can't get enough of Muzzleloader magazine. I think it would be a hoot to build a gun from scratch in one of the workshops I see offered. I may have to take a short vacation to try one out. The Rockies here in Colorado are beautiful but I miss walking the hardwoods back where I grew up at times.

Welcome bitterbeer. Stay a while and look around, perhaps do a search.  We've discussed every caliber from 17 to 80's or 90's  and some cannons too, more than once.  Most all recreational shooting is centered on the 45-50 class, but as they guys have noted if you're looking at kit options, and see now how the 50 will be heaviest of those given a particular outside dimension. 

You might do yourself a favor and contact the kit seller and find out if there are other "non-standard" options.  Sometimes there are.  If these bbls are swamped, then don't fret it.  But if they're straight bbls, you might do yourself a favor by paying more to get a swamped profile in whatever caliber you decide (if that is an option).  There's much more to the handling of a longrifle than static weight.

Enjoy the learning.

My first match muzzle loader was a light 58 caliber,walnut half stock.
I made what passed for a  lock and a single set trigger.The reason for 58
caliber was that Bill Large,a famous barrel maker 14 miles from here gave
it to me and said he didn't know it it was any good at all.It was a good
one and a friend used it to win matches in Ohio with it including a record
score of 50-4X offhand at 50 yards.This was in the Fall of 1958.
Enjoy the ride here on this forum,it will be a good one and there are NO
DUMB questions,only unasked ones.

Bob Roller
( Got my 1st muzzle loader from a pawn shop for $20 in 1951 )

[MuskratMike]

First of all welcome to the forum.
 Before selecting caliber I would recommend going to as many club shoots as you can find. The people there will be more than willing to let you handle and maybe shoot their rifles give you a feel for what you like prior to buying one. Do you want a 46-inch Southern Mountain Rifle, a traditional Kentucky, a shorter barrel Jager, a plains rifle or Hawken? Does the butt want to be a crescent, "shotgun" or semi-curved? Do you want a heavy short barrel or a lighter swamped barrel and make sure it is twisted for a patched round ball. If they let you shoot it try out single vs double triggers? Are you going for flint or percussion?
If it is to be flint; in my opinion make sure the maker of the kit will supply you with a quality lock. I will use nothing other than a Chambers. Also make sure it has a vent liner (again I only will accept a White Lightning liner). As to what kit you buy I can not stress enough to buy the best you can possible afford, (look to Kibler, Chambers, or Tennessee Valley).
Finally to your question I shoot more .54 than anything else.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I started with a .50 in 1970 or so.  It was a good choice and served me well until I 'outgrew' it and started making my own rifles.  I don't own that old T/C flint rifle anymore, but still have 3 .50 cal flinters.  For deer, a .50 cal is just fine.  It is also my go to calibre for target work. 

[Robby]

Bitterbeer, I'm about 40 miles south of Rochester and still enjoy walking the hardwood forests. For your intended purpose, I would go with a .45, probably closer to the average caliber of most original guns, pleasant to shoot, and if you decide to hunt deer some day, it is plenty capable. If you choose to hunt small game it's a fine caliber for that as well. The right gun with the right barrel is light and handy for a day in the woods. The Kimber Southern Mountain Rifle is offered in that caliber and has beautiful styling already built in. Good luck in  your search.
Robby

[rfd]

if you have zero inclination for hunting, a kibler SMR .40 kit would be a very good choice for accuracy and thrift of powder and lead.  if yer desires are for playing hawkeye and prefer a "period" colonial gun, then a .54 is a good choice.  whatever you choose, since hunting isn't an issue, they're really all good.

how ya patch balls is purely subjective, but for added speed on a wood's walk it's hard to beat having a ball board.  other than that i cut at the muzzle.

no matter what, having safe fun is the name of the game, go for it and enjoy! 

[RichG]

I'll second the .45. always been my favorite. very little recoil, even with a heavier hunting load. Great on a trail walk or off hand target work. more than enough for deer. Of the calibers you listed I'd take the .50. Style of gun is personnel preference. 

[Daryl]

Technically speaking  the larger the bore  the better the "potential" accuracy will be.
This is due to the greater mass of the ball, having slightly better downrange ballistics.
Where the tradeoff or limitation comes  is from the increased recoil from the normally heavier loads requisite to make them shoot to their.potential.
We have guys who shoot their
54's with amazing accuracy on the trail.  At this time  though  the challenge comes from beating Taylor with any of his guns, .40  to his new .66 cal., as well as big Ron with his equally big and heavy .58 S.Hawken.