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Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Dirty Mike on March 29, 2011, 07:24:26 PM


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Title: 54 cal
Post by: Dirty Mike on March 29, 2011, 07:24:26 PM
Ok who shoots a 54 cal, I have two 50s and just picked up a 54 tc hawken with 1:48 twist, now I have been shooting round ball out of it but just bought a box of hornady gp 425 conicals  and cant wait to shoot it, now my question to the other loan 54 guys, what do you shoot
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Hangfire on March 29, 2011, 09:35:53 PM
I hunted with a TC .54 New Englander. I used .53 patched roundball, 110 gr. of 2f.  I believe I got  6 elk and one blacktail buck. I never lost a animal. I shot elk from 10 yards to about 90 yards.  I sighted the gun in at 75 yards. It would shoot a 3-4 inch group. I put a peep sight on and took the aperture out. I would still be hunting with it but I can't see iron sights any more. I may put a scope on it this year and hunt the general season.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: bobcat on March 29, 2011, 09:43:14 PM
My muzzleloader is a 54, but I wish it was a 50. But only because the 50's have a much better bullet selection. The only advantage of a 54 caliber is if you shoot round balls.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 29, 2011, 09:43:27 PM
I like the TC Maxiball 430 grain Superior Penetration rounds.  I use 95 grains of Pyrodex loose powder with the felt seals that fit between the bullet and the powder.  For cap, the CCI mags.  Seems to have decent accuracy...and I'm guessing they hit plenty hard on the receiving end, as indicated by my scientific recoil measuring device (shoulder).
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Dirty Mike on March 29, 2011, 10:43:38 PM
Only advantage what about energy vs the 50
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Whitelightning on March 30, 2011, 06:15:51 AM
I have two .540 cal White Bisons. I like them the .540 is accurate as a .504 is and holds some tremendous down range energy. I shoot for target fun 535gr Noexcuse and White conicals then when I get serious I have some 750gr White conicals that go down range. That heavy conical is still accurate and will put a Elephant down.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: arees on March 30, 2011, 06:27:21 AM
I have a T/C Renegade in .54 and have always shot round ball in it.  I am looking at switching over to a conical this year.  I do like the peep sight I added last year.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Wacenturion on March 30, 2011, 04:49:48 PM
I have a T/C Renegade in .54 cal that I bought when they first came out, back in the 70's.  Tried both the round and maxi ball (conical), and preferred conical when I hunted with it.  Very accurate out to 200 plus although I would never shoot beyond 100 yards or so.  Taken some both deer and elk with it years ago.

Now have a Knight Bighorn and Wolverine to go with it.  Been using the Bighorn as of late.  The .54 is a great muzzy caliber.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: huntnfmly on March 30, 2011, 05:21:15 PM
I used to use 425grn hollow point buffalo bullets in my .54 renagade
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: dupedc on April 01, 2011, 08:56:44 PM
I shoot a Remington ML700 .54 cal.  I'm pushing a 348gr copper PowerBelt behind 110gr of Triple 7 ff.  I have to agree on the lack of projectile selection in the .54s and am considering a .50 cal. for more versatility.  By the way, guys, great site!
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: KLRKeith on April 02, 2011, 09:03:29 PM
I have three 54's two rifles and a pistol.  I shoot pathed round ball and now using 3f goex blackpowder.  Both rifles are Lymans; percussion and flintlock and they out shoot me any day.  Max range for me is about 75 yards due to my eyesight.  I've killed two muleys and two coyotes.  Nothing ran past 25yards.  That pistol is pretty accurate too.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: TheHunt on April 02, 2011, 09:33:33 PM
I have a Remington ML700 .54 cal.   It is a great weapon.  I would agree with others that there is a much larger selection of bullets for the 50 then the 54. 
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: whacker1 on April 02, 2011, 10:29:04 PM
Remington 700 .54 - I shoot the Barnes solid Copper Expander in either 275 grain or 325 grain.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Dirty Mike on April 04, 2011, 10:03:10 AM
i took the hawken out yesterday and was shooting prb, i was getting great groups but the only problem is i kept shooting high right, i tryed moving my sight to the left but it still shot high right, i also moved it to the right to see what would happen and nothing. what the heck is going on? :bash:
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Kowsrule30 on April 06, 2011, 03:28:34 PM
i took the hawken out yesterday and was shooting prb, i was getting great groups but the only problem is i kept shooting high right, i tryed moving my sight to the left but it still shot high right, i also moved it to the right to see what would happen and nothing. what the heck is going on? :bash:


A flinch or jerk of the trigger?????
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Hangfire on April 07, 2011, 12:07:57 AM
What type of sights? If you are shooting iron sights and it is a sunny, and the sun behind you and high, it can make your group off to one side or another. Say the sun is on your left side and high behind you. The left side of the front sight is illuminated. You will put the bright side in the center and it will cause you to shoot to the side. People shooting in competition will put "sight black" on the front sight so it is a even black sight. You would not think it would make a difference but it does. Since you were shooting a good group I would look at this or perhaps a consistent jerk or flinch.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: fishcrazy on April 16, 2011, 05:44:30 PM
good to see you shooting that old gun. :P

glad someone is getting some use from it.

Kris
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: Dirty Mike on April 18, 2011, 10:33:30 PM
yeah she kicks like a mule sometime with that brass buttplate
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: boots on April 20, 2011, 04:59:58 PM
.54 maxi-balls
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: funkster on April 20, 2011, 10:43:35 PM
Remington 700 .54 - I shoot the Barnes solid Copper Expander in either 275 grain or 325 grain.

My uncle has the same gun as you and I am trying to get him to switch over to the barnes copper expanders too, how do they shoot? I love the barnes t-ez out of my 50 cal. was shooting 2 inch groups at 80.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: whacker1 on April 21, 2011, 09:29:47 AM
Remington 700 .54 - I shoot the Barnes solid Copper Expander in either 275 grain or 325 grain.

My uncle has the same gun as you and I am trying to get him to switch over to the barnes copper expanders too, how do they shoot? I love the barnes t-ez out of my 50 cal. was shooting 2 inch groups at 80.

I put a scope on mine for the purposes of picking loads and bullet selection.  I had it inside 2 inches at 110 yards, but I can't remember if I was inside an 1.5".  When I reverted back to open sites for the purposes of practicing and hunting, my groups got bigger.  I can't get the groups that tight purely based on my skill level.  I haven't tested the grouping of the 325 grain yet as they were back ordered when I had my scope mounted, but is on my itinerary for this summer at least with open sites.  for clarification I use a Williams Peep site.
Title: Re: 54 cal
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on April 21, 2011, 02:14:06 PM
shot a 54 for years but now you can use jacketed bullets go to the 50 ..it now up endes everything ... :chuckle: :chuckle:
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