Best Caliber for Targets, 100 Yards & Less

Since you won't be able to control conditions each time you go out, a heavier projectile stays more "true". That is, bucks the wind better, different humidity, etc.

Work up the most accurate load for the heaviest caliber you feel like handling and go for it. Book learning and ballistic tables can give you a pretty good idea what to expect but only putting holes in targets proves anything.

Rock Home Isle said:

That would be an awesome elk rifle

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Your correct a well placed .70 cal rb was always very effective bringing down deer & elk & packing it's lighter weight in the mountains was also a blessing.
All is 'was' now that I've hit 80 with collapsed vertebrae, now I'm restricted to shooting target with pistols at a nice flat range.
I'm sure many vintage forum members can relate to the old saying old age ain't fer sissies

Just curious; Paper vs Steel Gongs at 100 or less yards?
Why would one caliber be better over another for Paper vs Steel?

Paper you are shooting for center hits, Steel you are just shooting to make noise.
Clearly a larger caliber will make a louder noise, but I don't understand how one caliber would be 'better' then another?

I like the .45 caliber out to 100 yards for paper and it will do on some steel targets but if you are shooting steel out to 100 yards mostly I would pick the .50. You can always down-load it for closer targets - paper or steel.

Mad L said:

Just curious; Paper vs Steel Gongs at 100 or less yards?
Why would one caliber be better over another for Paper vs Steel?

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Your right, your question is a valid one.
With the paper and "X" seeker's, there is a caliber specific measure used by the NMLRA that assists with determining where that line is cut.
Doing so ensures the accuracy of the hit and which is closest for the score.
With steel, what matters is a hit or a knock-over depending on the game,,

Where it matter is in the mass of the projectile with energy, and it's ability to maintain it's target trajectory in adverse conditions.
It's simple math.
Take a .45 cal lead ball at 140grns moving at a conservative 1000fps compared to a .54 at 230grns moving at the same speed,
(the .54 requiring more powder to do so) and subject them to a small 5mph cross wind,, and how hard they hit terminal.

There's no denying that smaller calibers have accuracy and are a lot of fun.
But in the real world a 20mph crosswind happens, the big heavy guy moves sideways less than the little guy.

Ever cut a string with a shot? Or cut a card?
It's all horizontal, you get a .445 width or a .535 width to make the cut.
I like to bank on the wider one,

Mad L said:

Just curious; Paper vs Steel Gongs at 100 or less yards?
Why would one caliber be better over another for Paper vs Steel?

Paper you are shooting for center hits, Steel you are just shooting to make noise.
Clearly a larger caliber will make a louder noise, but I don't understand how one caliber would be 'better' then another?

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Paper vs Steel…at 100 yrds.

Paper, not really any problems…pick your calibre and have a great time.

But when it comes to steel, at 100 yrds, you need some type of an indicator that a hit was scored. Shooting a .32 calibre or a .36 calibre, and often times even a .40 calibre, our club will use a spotter with binoculars, at our shoots, on the gong to see if the target is hit. Using .45 calibre and above, there doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Pretty much anyone can tell when a .45 hits the gong…but those little squirrel rifles don’t always let you know that you hit…

If I’m at the range shooting by myself, I’ll walk down to the gongs and give them a fresh coat of paint, so I tell if my .40 calibre has hit.

Depends on what your shooting at paper or steel

I mostly shoot .40 for paper out to 100yds, but it ain't the best for steel.

All the calibers can be accurate with the right conditions

Gun I am currently building is a .50 to use on steel I shoot. I don't have it dialed in all the way yet.
.495 ball, 020 patch, FFF Goex 60 grains. Here is the last 100yd target I shot off hand

Mad L said:

Just curious; Paper vs Steel Gongs at 100 or less yards?
Why would one caliber be better over another for Paper vs Steel?

Paper you are shooting for center hits, Steel you are just shooting to make noise.
Clearly a larger caliber will make a louder noise, but I don't understand how one caliber would be 'better' then another?

Click to expand...

I’ve heard from many shooters that 40 & 45 caliber are better for target shooting and you need at least 50 for steel. Having said that, 50 caliber is the most common in the industry, at least as far as Factory produced guns.

It would depend on the type of “Steel” targets. The ones we use, swing. A smaller caliber should ring the gong. Most of the folks I shoot with are hard of hearing. I prefer something heavier as I don’t want to rely on others to confirm the hit. I’d rather have the ball be heavy enough to “move” it, so there’s visual confirmation also. However, I’ve shot an NRA-style Silhouette shoot where you had to knock the target off a stand. A smaller caliber would have a tough time accomplishing that, in my opinion.

.40 cal for both. Steel?? Do you have to knock it down or go boing makes a big difference.

Having used the .45, .50 and .54 in competition, shooting patched round ball, I had to give this one some thought.

The .45 is a favorite with me for just plain old shooting but for competition I'd likely choose the .54. This being said I shot a .50 Medina Hawken for a couple years.

I like a .54 because it is less susceptible to wind. I shot a .45 for years but if the wind was blowing as much as 5mph it wreaked havoc on my groups. The .54 not so much.

Off hand I have shot .32, .36, .38, .40, .45, .50 and .54, Light bench and cross sticks .40, .45 .50 and .54. plus shot primitive over the log etc. most ever thing including steel. Probably won more matches with the .40 Douglas barrel I had than any other single rifle I have owned But it was the only rifle I shot for a number of years. Beware the man with only one rifle. I have kind of settled on the .45 as my favorite caliber. The picture is a .45 at 100 yards cross sticks. A .45 can get the job done.

The .45 is by far my favorite for just about everything. Shooting at 100 yards offhand I've consistently shot my best groups with a .45 and a .40. Both are easy on powder & lead as well as the shoulder. From what I gather in your post offhand shooting at 100 yards is the goal. Both the .40 and .45 will do the deed and please you as well. The .40 especially can give amazing velocity. My .40's 100 yard load gave a sizzling 2145 fps, the .45 can give good speeds too.