Only One Caliber.. What Woulda It Be?

Back in the oldin' days didn't most folks, pioneers carry a Black powder rifle and maybe a black powder shotgun.
What would be your choice of caliber as your all around rifle, for hunting smal game, big game.

That's a no brainer for me ,a .62 cal smoothbore! :wink: :thumbsup:

I guess it would depend on where you live...in big game country (Rockies) or whitetail deer country. I've heard of people on here using a .50 for squirrels...but I suppose you could go to a smaller caliber more suited for small game while putting more emphasis on shot placement (and a hotter load) for larger game.

54cal just because my very first muzzleloader was a 54cal renegade kit gun & I loved it.

I would have to say my TC N.E. 12 gauge smoothbore.

What would be your choice of caliber as your all around rifle

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.54.

What members said a while back: http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/246901

I am still not settled on the matter.

If I was forced to make a choice at this moment I would choose a smooth rifle. I figure that the caliber should be big enough to kill anything on the continant, but not so big that it will beat me up or cost me more in lead than I'd feel comfortable throwing down range.
If it was a wild woman situation, living in a cabin and all that primative stuff it would have to be something I could take apart easy and have a minimum amount of parts.

Something between .54-.69 should do the job rather well.

Don't get me wrong I love my 54 Cal's but if I had to grab and run it would be my 36 Cal it will kill anything in the woods from Smallgame to Elk. The maxi bullets smaller and i don't need 80gr of powder to kill.

smo said:

That's a no brainer for me ,a .62 cal smoothbore! :wink: :thumbsup:

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Good idea.. What kind of range/accuracy can yoi get with a RPB or mini/ maxie of of the. 62?

My smoothy, rifle and pistol are .54 flinters.
One .530 ball fits all.

A 50 or 54 rifle. Given plenty of time head shots on small game and birds but enough for bigger game! A half stock precussion with a barrel in the 32 inch range. Geo. T.

I'd choose a .58 caliber smoothbore. That would be a big enough round ball for any game I might want to kill. Also, the .58 woluld be big enough to give me enough shot to take small game or flying birds. Much larger would require more lead for the round balls and more powder. Nope, I think a .58 smoothbore would be about the best choice for me.

I would take a .44 myself. That way I could charge both pistol and longgun.

My .50 TC, good combination of power, versatility, and economy.

If "olde days", probably a .50, mebbe .54. Considering one hunted larger game like buff, griz and elk the bigger would be more effective.
Other considerations, like still today, powder and lead availability could lead me towards the .50 or even a .45.

I'd probably go with a .50 or .54... I'd use my bow for most of the game I didn't want to use powder and lead on

A smoothie in 28g/54 would be my choice. The ball does what I need here in the midwest, and shot loads can take care of squirrels to turkey's.

necchi said:

What would be your choice of caliber as your all around rifle

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.54.

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I would ditto this as I see most of my ussage on deer and larger game.... If I was in squirle country I dont know that .62 smoothy might seem a good idea.?

traditional man said:

Back in the oldin' days didn't most folks, pioneers carry a Black powder rifle and maybe a black powder shotgun.
What would be your choice of caliber as your all around rifle, for hunting smal game, big game.

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Depends on who you call "most folks" in reality unless shooting ducks ect on the water the smoothbore is of limited usefulness unless needed to militia use.
This has been known since colonial times
45 caliber for the east, rifles under 50 were common even in the 1770s. In the prairie/mountain west there is little need for a small game rifle so 50 to 69.

Dan