.45 or .50

[lamar_hunter]

hey guys i have a winchester x150. it came with a .45 barrel and a .50. im comptemplating muzzleloading this year and wondered if any of you guys perfer a .45 caliber over the .50. I know the .50 is much more common. im thinking this is probably for a reason.

[jackelope]

you have to use a .50 cal for elk by law.

45 is ok for deer, but it seems most still use a .50...maybe to eliminate the need for multiple guns.
 

not true...i apologize

[jackelope]

did they change the law?

[boneaddict]

I chose .50  why...bigger IS better.

[lamar_hunter]

yea i was planning on going with a 50 but just wondered what u guys thought

[rasbo]

50 forsure good luck

[lamar_hunter]

50 forsure good luck

yea thanks rasbo. im not for sure if im doing muzzle yet. i talked to a buddy today and he asked me if i would be interested in packing back in the wenahas with mules and horses to deer hunt this year so i might have to do modern. i really wish i could do both!

[rasbo]

50 forsure good luck

yea thanks rasbo. im not for sure if im doing muzzle yet. i talked to a buddy today and he asked me if i would be interested in packing back in the wenahas with mules and horses to deer hunt this year so i might have to do modern. i really wish i could do both!

that would be a blast,I would go for it,go muzzy later

[lamar_hunter]

50 forsure good luck

yea thanks rasbo. im not for sure if im doing muzzle yet. i talked to a buddy today and he asked me if i would be interested in packing back in the wenahas with mules and horses to deer hunt this year so i might have to do modern. i really wish i could do both!

that would be a blast,I would go for it,go muzzy later

yep i just bought my modern tag. im commited. thanks for the input anyways guys.

[hornhunter]

The Big .54 for me 

[Pat/Rick]

.54, hell yes its a sidelock.

[Pathfinder101]

I vote for .50.  Frankly though, I don't know much about the .45
All I do know is that when I was invited to muzzleoader elk camp for the first time, the guys told me that I had better show up with "no less than a .50 cal".
I own a .50 and a .54

[shoot-em-dead]

I have a 50 and have killed one deer with it. Dropped in its tracks. I also have a 58 that shoots a 600 grain bullet  but the origional rear sight were never mounted and the one I put on is too low to sight the gun in.

[Smoke Pole]

I shot a bear with one of my 50s using a 50 cal. slug, she went down in a heap. I shot another bear with the same rifle using a 45 cal. sabot and he also went on the wall. I didn't notice a difference in the wound channel, and neither did they. My advice is to take both barrels to the range and see which one shoots best. Accuracy trumps bullet size any day.  Dry Powder

[Pat/Rick]

  Larger is better because the wound channel/area will not be as large as it is with modern rifle/ammunition, less hydrostatic shock. You will still get bloodshot, but it will not be as much.The wound will be more of a ugly puncture.Whatever you decide,shot placement is still the decision maker.Have fun.