Larger calibers for target shooting/big game

[Justin Urbantas]

So, sometime next year I plan on starting my copy of Davy Crockett's first rifle. The original had  a 44" barrel of about C profile in .48 caliber. My issue now is deciding which caliber to build it in.  C weight barrels are available in .32 -.58 cal. I am trying to figure out the best caliber for use as a target rifle for matches, but also to use here in BC for hunting moose, bear, elk. I'm thinking now .54 would be best. Opinions from you guys? Thanks

[rich pierce]

Ask Taylor and Daryl and split the difference!  I don’t hunt big game besides little whitetails but a .54 is very popular among good match shooters.

[smylee grouch]

The 58 is a great hunting cal. but it MIGHT feel a little whippy for targets if you like a little muzzle heft/hang. JMHO

[Keith Zimmerman]

I would go with the best cal for bear and moose and consider target 2nd.  So I would go with the 58.

[snapper]

I have never owned a .58.   I do have several .54's and love them.   Never shot a moose or elk with one however.

Elk can be hard to kill.   Most people dont complain because they killed the moose too much.

224 grain for a .54 or  to 280 grain for a .58.   I think I would build a .58 since hunting seems to be your first priority.

Fleener

[MuskratMike]

In the era of David Crockett the rifles were going to smaller calibers especially east of the "big muddy" so if you were looking for authenticity for a David Crockett rifle I would go with something in the line with .40 caliber. If going for maximum killing power on big game I would go with a .54 caliber. They will in fact if properly loaded shoot clean through a cow elk or a black bear. I have owned a .58 caliber and it also shot fine just need a lot more powder for very little additional "thump" and has a trajectory like a thrown watermelon but dropped everything shot with it basically in their tracks. I just love 54 caliber for everything bigger than coyote.

[Daniel Coats]

I've had the best luck with .54 from moose to ground squirrels to long range gong shoots.

[Jeff Murray]

You mentioned hunting bear as one of your goals but did not mention what kind of bear.  If you are going to hunt grizzly, I would go big or go home. 

[Fyrstyk]

Why not split the difference between the .54 and .58 and have it made in .56.

[Justin Urbantas]

Grizz hunting isn't allowed here anymore, so it would be black bear.  It would be hard getting a mold for a .56

[bob in the woods]

I have a ,54 with a 42 in C weight barrel and have used it on deer and bear.  My preferred rifle for moose is a ,62 cal    Usually, when hunting, I now carry either my 10 bore New England Fowling gun or my 20 bore.  I know that .54 cal has taken all kinds of large game, but I always look at things in terms of what happens when things don't go as planned.  Following a moose for 1/2 a Km then finishing him off and having to drag him back to the shore isn't a fun experience I care to repeat. We used a canoe to drag out the 1/4s walking along side wearing chest waders.
I've never had to track anything I hit with my 10 bore, and if I was doing it over again, I'd build a .69 rifle instead of my .62 

[Daryl]

I appreciate Bob's experience and suggestions.  If I could do it again, I'd likely go 16 bore for a hunting rifle in cap- 1/2 stock.
I a long barreled flinter "C" weight, it would be a .58 or .62, Justin. Taylor really likes his .62 and a .615" 350gr. ball is just fine.
It's not as good as a 482gr. ball (.682") but good enough & better for target shooting. I did OK last year & this with the .69
 though. 

[Ezra]

Too much gun always beats the alternative.

Ez

[Justin Urbantas]

Is the trajectory of a .58 that much worse than a .54? I've only really used my .45 and a 20 ga smoothbore.

[Daryl]

Very similar. A .575" ball weighs 275gr. I did a bunch of shooting my my .58's even with slugs. I've had 4 .58's.  I now have a .69 - HMMMMMMM 

[bob in the woods]

Justin, most who talk about the poor trajectory of a .58, or 62 [ or larger ] compared to a .54 are not using enough powder in my opinion.   I've heard that the .54 shoots flatter etc but if you are loading the .54 with say 90 or 100 gr of FFg and the .58 with the same, that's not a level field.
My 10 bore is more than lethal at 100 yards with a charge of 100 gr FFg ,but with 140 gr it is more accurate and has a better trajectory . I've even tried 160 gr, but the accuracy dropped off.

[alacran]

Really you need two guns.

[rich pierce]

Really you need two guns.

Two???   

[Stoner creek]

Really you need two guns.

Two???   

I’m sure that he means “Of every caliber out there”. Least that’s how I look at it!

[MuskratMike]

The 58 I had shot best with 95 grains of 2F my 54 shoots best with 75 grains of 3F (about equal velocity). I would have shot more in the 58 but 'ya just gotta go with accuracy over speed. That's why I made the comment about trajectory. As a hunting rifle the .58 has few equals I just prefer the performance of my 54.

[flinchrocket]

Really you need two guns.

Two???   

Really, This is just the minimum.

[Daryl]

I was wrong, I've had 5 .58's.
The 48" twist Enfield shot best with 85gr. 2F. GOEX & .562" + 10ounce denim
The 48" twist SxS Kodiak shot equally to 100yards, with either 100gr. or 110gr. 2F GOEX .574" + 10 ounce denim.
The 72" twist Zouave shot best with 120gr. 2F GOEX,  .575" + 10 ounce denim.
The ??"twist Numrich shot best with 120gr. 2f GOEX .575" + 10 ounce denim.
The .66" twist Hawken shot best with 140gr. 2F GOEX + 10 ounce denim.
.58 is a good size for a "C" weight barrel, work just fine for moose, but .62 cal. will do the same for accuracy and be better for moose.
It might or might not need more powder. Either will do well with decent loads, accuracy wise within normal ranges.
Both will give a 6" point blank range (3" over and under LineOfSight) of about 125 to 130yards - with the best zero for that purpose.

[alacran]

Really you need two guns.

Two???   

LOL. Justin is a young man with a family. I assumed that he is just being frugal. However for hunting there is no substitute for cubic inches.
A large bore rifle lets say a 58 will beat you up for serious target shooting. A 58 I would consider minimum for moose. Though I'm sure a 54 would kill a moose, but longer range shots would be iffy.
A 40 or 45 would make an excellent target rifle. So there two guns.

[Justin Urbantas]

Well, I think a .50 may be what I end up doing then. I am building a .62 English rifle this winter, so maybe I'll reserve that for moose/elk , and do the Crockett for targets/deer/bear

[snapper]

Justin

Now your talking some sense.

Fleener