Talk me into a .54 GPR

[Cowboy2]

I've got a GPR in .50 that I'm really pleased with, but I'm thinking about picking up a .54 as well. Its for targets, deer, and hogs- and heck, who knows, maybe an elk hunt one day.

Now, what I need is for you gentlemen to give me lots of reasons (ahem, excuses) for adding a new caliber to the stable.

 

[hanshi]

Here goes:

1. You can't get into Heaven without a .54
2. A .54 covers anything you'll ever be likely to shoot.
3. It hits with finality.
4. It's popular and easy to find stuff for.
5. Doesn't particularly kick
6. Works well with powder charges similar to a .50.

Will that do it?

 

[BrownBear]

Here's a good one- Just pick up a 54 cal barrel and swap it for the 50 barrel when you feel the urge. Think of the money you're saving! :rotf:

If you're like me, I'm betting the 54 barrel gets lots more use.

 

[Stumpkiller]

My favorite whitetail rifle ball size is .54 cal.

I have never had anything but comlete pass-thoughs.

In the same size barrel profile it will be slightly lighter than a .50

The balls carry 28% more mass than a .50, and so carry energy downrange better.

You can tell folks it's a "30 gauge rifle".

You want one - you know it. ;-)

 

[William O.]

I agree with BB, just get a .54 GPR barrel and have fun. The .54 is lighter than the .50 so you may be more comfortable shooting one or the other but accuracy should be equal. Unless the .54 GPR you are looking at just has a drop dead gorgeous piece of walnut for the stock then save some money.

 

[asbrown]

:thumbsup: I sold a Knight inline .50 to buy the parts to build my Va. .54. Never looked back and never regretted it a single day.

 

[cowpoke1955]

I have four .54 caliber rifles. Just love that caliber! Two of them are GPRs, one percussion and one flint I built from a kit. Why not consider a .54 kit? They go together easily and quickly. Keep your .50 GPR for a loaner rifle or pass it on to the kids. You can always use another rifle. If you just get a .54 barrel, after a while you'll find the only use for that the only use the .50 caliber eill is as a fishing weight. DNR Sports has the .54 GPR flint kit for $394.99: http://www.dnrsports.com/catalog/product/98526c69629eb8559db5c60192d1e10b . Something to think about.

 

[Bear Rider]

IIRC, .54 caliber is more authentic for a Hawken than that puny .50. :grin:

 

[Richard J.]

You have to have a 54 in order to get a 58,then, 69, etc, etc. All the incentive you need. Good luck.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

I wanted a .54 for three reasons:

1). Excellent killing power on large game without need to resort to bullets.

2). To be different.

3). Balls are easier to load than bullets and more accurate.

Greg

 

[61henry]

When you show your friends your muzzle loaders you can say with authority that that one is a .54 instead of saying that it's "just a .50" :wink:

 

[kaintuck]

why get a 54?
because it's there.......

 

[ebiggs1]

There is no reason to get it. :grin:
It is a gun so get it. What's so hard to understand? :shocked2:
It's written, 2nd chapter of Jude, verse 18 says, “Who-so-ever haveth the most guns win.”
Or something close to that. :hmm:

 

[Greg Blackburn]

Like it or not, these days especially, owning a gun is a STATEMENT. Owning something a bit bigger than the normal, amplifies that statement.

Greg

 

[silly goose]

I'm not one for the bigger is better bandwagon. If you want a .54 by all means get one. I've only experience with the .50 and the largest game I hunt is whitetail. The .50 is way more than adequate in my limited experience. Now, I have a .62 smoothbore, haven't shot it yet due to injury. I bought it thinking that it would be my do-all gun from bunnies to deer. But no, I've still got a hankering for a rifle and for me its a toss up between a .45 and .50. If I lived in country with bigger game, I'd go with a .54 over a .50.

If you want one, get one.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Resistance is futile ; you will be assimilated! Buy the .54!

LD

 

[silly goose]

:grin:

 

[Rick G.]

I ordered a .54 from Jim Chambers on Friday. Bigger is better!

 

[Cowboy2]

Thanks for all the input. Last night the .50 zapped through a big hog, and I've about decided she's going to do the job on anything I'm likely to face near term. However, I plan on picking up a TVM Southern Mountain Rifle in the next year of so, and I'll probably get it in .54.

Thanks again.