Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Muzzle Loader Question

I have very limited experience with traditional muzzleloaders, I have never owned one but on a few occasions borrowed a .50 for deer hunting. I am looking at purchasing a used muzzle loader and I have a two that I could get cheap, they are both in the same condition and both the same price. Both are used Hawkens and both a $200 negotiable, my questions is one is .50 cal and one is .54 caliber. I would be using it for deer, black beer and the very occasional feral pig.

Which would you recommend?

54cal easily!

Another vote for .54

My choice would be the 54. Does either have a set trigger?
Cheers NC

I like either, would probably go with a .50 for what you have listed.

IMHO:

.50 cal - found on the shelf in about every sports store, good if you need supplies in a hurry.

.54 not quite as common, can be found, but may not be everywhere you need it in a hurry.

Are those TC ML. I have a Hawkin, 50cal , 1976 era, I'm on my third barrel so inspect them thoroly and run amaxiball down them to see how loose they are. 50 cal. is going to do everything you need to do. If it will kill elk as mine has done on more than few occasions ,I twill sure as heck kill deer and bear.

if they are both in good shape i'd buy both. keep the one you like the best and sell the other. 200 is cheap for a good one. by the time you sell one you will hardly have anything in the other.i'd keep the 50cal.

What kind of bullets would you want to use? If you have any interest in sabots, the .50 will have far more options. If you are using Maxi-Balls, either will have plenty of power for your intended game. If you plan to use lead round balls, I'd lean toward the .54 for bear. But, either will do the job.

If they are T/C, that is an excellent price.

After barrel condition, twist rate is what I would want to know. More than likely, they are both probably 1-48". That is a compromise twist, about halfway between perfect for conicals and round ball. Each barrel will have its own preference on what it likes, like all rifles. Just takes some tinkering to find out.

If you had your heart set on conicals, and ended up with a 1-60ish twist, you may find yourself a little disappointed.

T/C Hawkens should be 1-48. There were occasional round ball barrels ordered, that will be stamped on the barrel if it is a 1-60 or 1-66.

Barrel condition would be my first priority, then find out how they are twisted.

Check the twist. Some are set up for round balls.

Thanks for the advice, when my friend found out I was in the market he was so excited that he gave me a Hawken in 54 caliber, that solved that problem.

Now that is a good friend.

Both calibers are excellent for deer or even something a bit larger.

That said, the .50 caliber is more popular and the .50 caliber rifle balls are more likely to be available in most stores selling ammo and reloading supplies.

Now if you're thinking of mixing elk or moose with your deer and hogs, then I'd go for the .54 caliber rifle even though a .50 caliber rifle will kill elk, too.

Being less than rich, I also look at the amount of powder each caliber needs plus the cost of the lead rifle balls... and, in those areas, the .50 caliber wins hands down.

Without any doubt, the .54 caliber is definitely more expensive per shot to shoot due to it's greater powder requirement plus the greater cost of the .54 caliber rifle balls or the cost of the lead to "roll-yer-own".

Overall, in the final analysis, you really can't go wrong with either caliber.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Bigger balls are always better....54s

what kind of sidelock shooters buys their balls? Cast them yourself rather than pay big store prices. My 58 shoots 90gr 2f black powder and a home cast 278 grain round ball very cheaply. Can't say the same about my inlines.

Yep! It knows it's the Boss too, just as soon as you squeeze that trigger.