.52 or .50 knight muzzleloader

[FisherKing]

Hello,
I'm new to muzzle loading and looking to get my first one.  I'm pretty much set on a knight probably a big-horn or disc. My only question is what would be a better caliber.  Is there a problem finding .52 bullets? It seems there has been some talk on the web about lack of availibility. 

Any help would be great appreciated.

thanks!

[Dan-o]

You can get 50 cal stuff EVERYWHERE and you know it will always be available.

a 52 cal would scare me, supply-wise.

[ghosthunter]

50 cal
Lots of stuff for 50. Save yourself the heart ach.

[bobcat]

There's no advantage to the 52 caliber and as Dan said, 50 caliber bullets are much more readily available.

[JimmyHoffa]

My understanding is the bullets situation isn't as difficult to find, mainly because those rifles are set up with the twist rates to use sabots.  You can get different sabots to use a variety of bullets.  So it is more about finding the plastic than the bullets (in most cases).

[Sabotloader]

FisherKing

52 cal sabots are available from Knight, made by MMP...

Any .458 bullet will work, even .475 bullets will work.

It comes with a 1-26 twist, vs. the normal 1-28, for longer bullets and it a really accurate gun.

But, the 50 is more universal.  I have both and I really do like the 52...

[FisherKing]

So...
It sounds like a .52 might not be a good first gun??

[Skillet]

As a first gun, I'd suggest a .50 all day long.  .52 sounds cool, but maybe as a good second gun.

[FisherKing]

thanks guys,
Sounds like the .50 is the way to go....
Anyone here living in the seattle area.  If so where are you practice shooting at???

thanks

[Mongo Hunter]

Ill tell you what happend to my Grandfather in-law, He bought a .54 when they were super big and were "the next thing in muzzle loaders". Well fast forward a few years later and he had the hardest time finding ANYTHING for it. Pretty much everything he needed had to be ordered where I could run down to just about any sporting store and get .50 stuff all day long. .50 is like a 9mm its everywhere and it kills animals all the same.

[bear hunter]

Stick with the .50 cal. bullets ever where.

[fly-by]

FisherKing-

Re: ranges.   Public - Kenmore Shooting Range 1031 228th St in Bothell is good.  If you live on the east side look into the Snoqualmie Valley Rifle Club by Salish Lodge.  Membership is $75/yr plus some work duties.  Good advice from others on sticking with the .50.  Sabots give you a lot of projectile choices. I shoot 180 grain .40 all the way up to 405 grain .458 out of my .50 Knight Disc Extreme.