Caliber suggestions?

[Forager]

I am very seriously contemplating having a James River Basin style “early Virginia” rifle built.  42-44” swamped barrel, but I’m stuck on caliber.  Looking for advice and thoughts on .54, .58, and possibly .62 for that style rifle.

Edit - intended use is for hunting.  Deer, black bear, and if I am lucky perhaps elk.

Thanks!

[rollingb]

I have all 3,.... and I like the .54 for general purpose shooting.   

[RobD]

I am very seriously contemplating having a James River Basin style “early Virginia” rifle built.  42-44” swamped barrel, but I’m stuck on caliber.  Looking for advice and thoughts on .54, .58, and possibly .62 for that style rifle.

Thanks!

bore choice depends on the primary use of the firearm.  if hunting, what kinda game?  if not, a .54 flinter is one of the finest and yet will still kill most any north American game.

if yer a bit handy, also consider a Jim Kibler Colonial flint rifle kit. 


 

[Bigsmoke]

ALthough I have really liked rifles of larger than normal caliber for the last 20 years or so, they are expensive to shoot.  For general everyday shooting and ample knockdown power for what a person would normally hunt, I feel the .54 caliber is my leading choice.  I have tried .45, and .50 and found them pretty boring.  A .54 never lets you down.
John

[rollingb]

I am very seriously contemplating having a James River Basin style “early Virginia” rifle built.  42-44” swamped barrel, but I’m stuck on caliber.  Looking for advice and thoughts on .54, .58, and possibly .62 for that style rifle.

Thanks!

bore choice depends on the primary use of the firearm.  if hunting, what kinda game?  if not, a .54 flinter is one of the finest and yet will still kill most any north American game.

if yer a bit handy, also consider a Jim Kibler Colonial flint rifle kit. 


 

I took this Alaskan Moose in 1994 with a round ball from a .54 rifle I built.
I've also head-shot rabbits and grouse, and won some competition shoots with a .54 

<img src="http://tradmla.org/tmaf/gallery/254_16_11_19_2_56_44.jpeg" alt="Alaska Moose"/>

[Forager]

Thank y’all!

I should have clarified (and will edit to do so).  Intended use is hunting.  Deer, black bear, and maybe if I’m lucky elk.

[RobD]

Thank y’all!

I should have clarified (and will edit to do so).  Intended use is hunting.  Deer, black bear, and maybe if I’m lucky elk.

you really want the .54 caliber.

[Forager]

Thank y’all!

I should have clarified (and will edit to do so).  Intended use is hunting.  Deer, black bear, and maybe if I’m lucky elk.

you really want the .54 caliber.

Certainly was a top consideration before.  Looks like it might well be the consensus suggestion, too.

[Uncle Russ]

If you are looking for recommendations I would say the .54 too.
I have all the calibers mentioned and although they are each great in their own right, it's the .54 that's my go-to gun for all big game Hunting, including Elk.

BTW: I was recently reading that Virginia has done absolute wonders with their Elk Herd.
VA Conservation seems to have done all the right things to re-introduce a thriving Elk Population and many of us take our Hats off to those that do this kind of work and are successful at it....it's not an easy task!

[Hanshi]

I would get the .54 and never look back.  I don't consider the .45 and .50 to be at all "boring".  I've killed far too many deer with those two calibers, especially the .45, to ever consider them "not up to snuff".  But from what you describe I doubt you can do better than a .54.

[Forager]

If you are looking for recommendations I would say the .54 too.
I have all the calibers mentioned and although they are each great in their own right, it's the .54 that's my go-to gun for all big game Hunting, including Elk.

BTW: I was recently reading that Virginia has done absolute wonders with their Elk Herd.
VA Conservation seems to have done all the right things to re-introduce a thriving Elk Population and many of us take our Hats off to those that do this kind of work and are successful at it....it's not an easy task!

The elk restoration has gone well, but we face the headwind of an insurance conglomerate blocking additional expansion and the anti-hunting crowd wanting to block any seasons.  We can discuss all that stuff at length elsewhere.

[Forager]

I would get the .54 and never look back.  I don't consider the .45 and .50 to be at all "boring".  I've killed far too many deer with those two calibers, especially the .45, to ever consider them "not up to snuff".  But from what you describe I doubt you can do better than a .54.

Oh, it’s not that the .45 or .50 cannot do it.  They can.  When bear are added in, I’m hedging my bets.

[rollingb]

I would get the .54 and never look back.  I don't consider the .45 and .50 to be at all "boring".  I've killed far too many deer with those two calibers, especially the .45, to ever consider them "not up to snuff".  But from what you describe I doubt you can do better than a .54.

Oh, it’s not that the .45 or .50 cannot do it.  They can.  When bear are added in, I’m hedging my bets.

I've taken 3 black bears (1 was actually a 400+lb cinnamon) using a .54 PRB,.... and as with any animal and weapon "shot placement" is important. 

[Uncle Russ]

Forger seez...The elk restoration has gone well, but we face the headwind of an insurance conglomerate blocking additional expansion and the anti-hunting crowd wanting to block any seasons.  We can discuss all that stuff at length elsewhere."

Yep, and then there's that.

Russ...

[dmarsh]

Well I hate to be the dissenter here but I would vote for a 58 caliber flintlock.     My 58 is my personal favorite and go to.  I have shot several bucks with it and one elk.  I do have a 54 Kibler that I really like as well.   Whoops, then there is my 62.  Good Lord the decisions you have to make are quite stressful.  But overall I like a 58 caliber rifle.