.45 or .50

[chuck116]

When strictly used as a hunting weapon, for Whitetail deer. what is the advantage of the .45 caliber ML over a .50. Most shots in my hunting are 150 yrds and under. deer weight run on average of 150lbs to 190lbs live weight. Just curious as to any benefit one has at the other. My current set up is a T/C Impact 50 cal

 

[52Bore]

Based on what you gave, not much at all.
Given same length bullet, 45 will have better BC.

 

[deermanok]

There's a lot more choices in bullets for the 50 caliber.
Unless of course, you're talking about a traditional sidehammer gun, percussion or flintlock. In which case, the patched round ball is pretty much the standard fare.

 

[Matt Smith]

50 calibers will give you more options, but the number of 45 caliber options is plenty for deer.

Personally, I don't think any whitetail in the USA will know the difference at 150 yards in, with you doing your part.

Good luck with your hunting.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

Most of my MLs are 45 but i don't believe that it would make any difference, deer hunting, if they were 45 or 50.

 

[brownisdown]

Next time I shoot a deer I will see if it can tell if it was killed with a 45 or a 50 cal.It is your personal preference.What caliber muzzleloader shot me?I am still dead.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I think .54 would make them MORE dead tho?

 

[rangerod]

I think .54 would make them MORE dead tho?

MORE dead. I like that.

 

[rangerod]

Ultra Lite ready to go. Tez 250grn, 110 grns Black Horn, Federal 209A primer. Early season nine days starting 10/16. Lots of corn being picked. Might go even if it's warm.

 

[deermanok]

I think .54 would make them MORE dead tho?

Yup, graveyard dead!

 

[CatamountRob]

It doesn’t matter, shoot what you like.

 

[Matthew323]

A 126.7 grain, .45 caliber patched ball will kill a whitetail deer deader than a doorknob out to 100 yards. Unless the hunter insists on going for a through the shoulder blade quartering shot.

When it comes to lead conicals weighing far more than a patched ball does, it makes little practical difference between a .45 caliber bullet, and a .50 caliber bullet. The same criteria would apply to .40 caliber bullets in a .45 caliber sabot, compared to .45 caliber bullets in a .50 caliber sabot.

Whatever floats your boat. I always tell new muzzleoading hunters not to get caught up in the minutia of all the possible choices that are currently available.

Any modern scoped inline muzzleloading rifle should be capable of M.O.A. accuracy out to 100 yards with any number of load combinations.

If a hunter had a year of 40 hour weeks at his disposal....

A new, well made, .45 caliber, or .50 caliber, inline muzzleloading rifle without any manufacturing defects....

Said rifle to be topped with 1-8 variable power riflescope containing an illuminated reticle....

Unlimited funds with which to purchase as many different components as he could possibly find....

Excellent record keeping skills....

A 200 yard range to shoot at 5 days a week....

A decent weather station located at the range....

And, a good chronograph....

It is my assertion that by the end of the 52nd week that hunter would have found AT LEAST 20-30 load combinations that would deliver at the very least minute of angle accuracy all the way out to 200 yards.

That's how far along modern CNC manufacturing has brought the muzzleoading industry to, from just 20 years ago. Rifles, bullets, wads, sabots, ramrod tips, everything related to muzzleoading, especially inline muzzleloading, is far improved from even a decade ago.

So, the limiting factor is now, as it always has been; the skills of, the ability of, the quality of the eyesight of, and the willingness to practice of, the individual hunter; not the equipment.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I think .54 would make them MORE dead tho?

kill a whitetail deer deader than a doorknob

Is the proper terminology "deader" or "more dead"?

 

[gregdaws]

I think .54 would make them MORE dead tho?

As apposed to mostly dead. I like your thinking !!

 

[ourway77]

Never shot a door knob are they good to eat

 

[Caniborrowsomeammo]

I guess to be absolute, the term would be "more deader".

 

[gregdaws]

I guess to be absolute, the term would be "more deader".

Deader than a dead thing !!

 

[Jbrown69]

MORE dead. I like that.

How about deader!

 

[Matthew323]

Never shot a door knob are they good to eat

Doorknobs, for those who are aficionados, are best cooked in a pressure cooker, covered with a rich stock; and with carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, black peppercorns, and bay leaves added to make a tasty stew. Served with a loaf of good sourdough bread to mop up the juices.

 

[Matthew323]

Doorknobs, much like the Naughahide, are extremely rare, quite leery of humans; thus making them very hard to hunt.

Quarter M.O.A. accuracy is a necessity from any Doorknob hunter's rifle if they are to have any chance of success.

Large bore rifles are not a requirement, but can come in handy if a Doorknob decides to charge.

A high-quality, 1-6x, variable power riflescope can be helpful for those early morning, and late evening shots when the light becomes marginal.

Of course, open iron sights can't be beat for hunting in the close quarters where the Doorknob is traditionally found.

A mounted Doorknob is a trophy worthy of any sportsman's den.