.58 cal

[Vikingson]

Hello.  I met a gentleman today who has a beautiful .58 Kibler Colonial rifle he might sell. I’ve always hunted with .54 and was looking to get a long rifle for hunting in .54, but this .58 might be too good to pass up.  But since I intend to hunt with it, deer and elk, what the advantage vs disadvantages for the .58? 

Thank you
Charley

[rich pierce]

When you go from .54 to .58, you’re going to use more lead and it will take more powder to get a similar trajectory. The Kibler Colonial should be very comfortable.

I’m sure the .58 will give remarkable penetration.

[James Rogers]

If its to be a hunting gun, I would definitely go .58 in the Colonial. 

[Daniel Coats]

For your intended purpose there probably isn't a disadvantage. Lighter weight hunting rifle with more punch and larger wound channel for larger game including elk. The only slight disadvantage and is more trajectory so you'll need to get close but you were planning on doing that anyway! 

[Vikingson]

When you go from .54 to .58, you’re going to use more lead and it will take more powder to get a similar trajectory. The Kibler Colonial should be very comfortable.

I’m sure the .58 will give remarkable penetration.

Yeah I know. But since I shoot a .62 cal trade gun too I figure the 58 might save me some lead and about the same powder for hunting loads. My other concern is never owning anything with a 44" barrel. But the balance on it seems pretty perfect.

Thanks
Charley

[Vikingson]

If its to be a hunting gun, I would definitely go .58 in the Colonial.

Thanks. I’m leaning to seeing if he’s serious and if it’s a good deal.

Charley

[Vikingson]

For your intended purpose there probably isn't a disadvantage. Lighter weight hunting rifle with more punch and larger wound channel for larger game including elk. The only slight disadvantage and is more trajectory so you'll need to get close but you were planning on doing that anyway! 

I’m pretty surprised at how light it feels even with a 44" barrel. Definitely lighter than my old Hawken. And honestly a couple of inches of extra drop at hunting ranges isn’t really a problem if I spend enough time learning how it shoots. And close is the name of the game

Charley

[Nazgul]

Morning. I have a Colonial in 58. It is very handy sized to me, accurate and easy to shoot. I believe you would like it. It seems to be most accurate around 100 grains 2F.

Don

[alacran]

A .58 will have a flatter trajectory than the .54 if both start at the same muzzle velocity. The heavier ball will retain more velocity than the lighter ball.

[smylee grouch]

Over the years I have owned 7 or 8 - 58s and 3 - 54s. The 58s out performed the 54s in every way that mattered to me. The 54s use less lead but I had a large stock of lead on hand and the powder charge difference was not enuf to really matter.

[Brian Jordan]

I have a .58 Colonial with a Rice barrel. It shoots fantastic. My load for everything is 65 grains of FFF goex, .015 patch .570 ball. Easy to load, will swing targets on a woods walk from 10 feet to 200 yards. I'm sighted in dead on at 25 yards.

You will love the .58 caliber

[Vikingson]

Great recommendations from you all. Thank you very much. I confirmed the rifle is mine if I want it.  I just need to schedule the day to go get it.  Thanks everyone.  I’m sold on the .58 now. 

Charley

[Daryl]

Going to a larger bore for hunting large game is NEVER a mistake, as long as you feed it properly, it will perform for you.

[Vikingson]

Going to a larger bore for hunting large game is NEVER a mistake, as long as you feed it properly, it will perform for you.

I think it was Elmer Keith who said big and slow is a better game killer that small and super fast.

Charley.

[Daniel Coats]

Elmer Keith also said you can eat right up to the hole! 

[Vikingson]

Elmer Keith also said you can eat right up to the hole! 

[mgbruch]

I've owned two .58's; and have been shooting that caliber for about thirty years now.  With 70 grains of 3f and a .562 ball, my old 58 was sighted in to be 2" high at 50 yards, and shot 3" low at 100.  Haven't worked up a load for the new one yet, but I'll find a good moderate load for it as well.  And I'll sight it in for 50 yards, because I keep my shots to 60 yards or less these days.

You don't need heavy charges for this caliber to be an absolute thumper on game.

[smylee grouch]

The rate of twist will probably have more to do with what powder charge you have the best accuracy with and he best   to use .

[B.Habermehl]

Kiblers GM barrels are 1 in 70 rifling rate. I’m betting 80 plus grains of FFG. Will shoot best. Super white tail medicine. I don’t have any experience with bigger game. It’s my favorite hunting caliber. BJH

[alacran]

My plinking load for the Rice .58 is 70 grains Goes 2f, hunting load is 110 grains of the same.

[MuskratMike]

I believe it was Elmer Keith who actually said: "The weight of the bullet should approximate the weight of the game being sought, and travel just short of the speed of light".
Oh and for the record I prefer .54 over .58, having never had to put a finishing round in any animal shot with my .54, including elk and black bear.

[Daryl]

I believe Elmer said the weight of the projectile should be "appropriate", not approximate. I've never read where he noted high velocity as being necessary for anything.

[Vikingson]

Thanks folks. Great insight. I’ll play with the .58 and find its sweet spot. Might be picking it up this weekend if the snow isn’t too bad and the crazies stay off the roads. Funny how fast people forget how to drive in anything but sunny weather hahaha
Charley

[alacran]

I believe it was Elmer Keith who actually said: "The weight of the bullet should approximate the weight of the game being sought, and travel just short of the speed of light".
Oh and for the record I prefer .54 over .58, having never had to put a finishing round in any animal shot with my .54, including elk and black bear.

This begs the question. How many animals have you shot with a
.58 caliber rifle that required a finishing shot?

[Pukka Bundook]

Alacran,
To be honest, I can't think of a single critter that needed a finishing shot after being clobbered with the .58.

When I hunted with a .54 I used 120 grs 2F, but going by Jim Chambers advice, I tried 70 grs of 2F in the .58 and it worked, so never changed it.
Very little bloodshot meat, and yes, you can eat right up to the bullet hole.
Very very few balls recovered from deer sized critters.