.50 vs .54 caliber ?

[bigbore442001]

I would like to pick your intellect on this topic. Given two muzzleloading barrels with identical lengths of 16",using an equal charge of 100 grains of H777 with a conical bullet ( or sabot) of equal weight ; which caliber would be more efficient? Which would provide more kinetic energy? Which would provide the greater velocity?

I would believe that the larger bore would burn more powder in the space of the barrel thus giving the projectile more velocity. Would that be a correct or incorrect deduction?

This particular barrel would be geared towards hunting deer, bear and other such game.

 

[RugerGuy]

Modern .50 rifles provide quite a wallop so if your after velocity go that route. For hunting I prefer .54 or .58 because I'm more concerned with muzzle energy/takedown power. I hunt in Maine and New Hampshire so I don't have to worry about long shots. Might be different where you live. I think its a matter of personal preference.

 

[mykeal]

Good question (or three).

First of all, how do you define or measure "efficiency" in a rifle barrel? I can't come up with a good way to do that.

With respect to the larger diameter barrel burning more powder - well, maybe, but I don't see it being enough to make any significant difference. Since the cavity is larger it seems the pressure would be lower, mitigating any improvement. So I don't believe there would be any significant (or measureable) difference in energy or velocity.

I don't think anyone's tested this since there are no .50 cal bullets that weigh the same as .54 cal bullets. Which pretty much makes the whole thing moot.

I think a .54 cal barrel has an advantage over a .50 cal in that the larger caliber gives you a wider choice of bullets; you can use .54 cal AND .50 cal (with larger sabot) bullets in a .54 cal barrel. But it really is a matter of personal preference.

 

[Misfire99]

I don't think anyone's tested this since there are no .50 cal bullets that weigh the same as .54 cal bullets. Which pretty much makes the whole thing moot.

The first thing I did when I read your question is get out my copy of "Black Power Handbook and Loading Manual" by Sam Fadala. And of course there are no bullets of the same weight for both the fifty and fifty four cal to compare.

But for myself I prefer the fifty four cal over the fifty. But I also prefer the 32 Winchester Special over the 30-30. This doesn't make me wrong only makes me not a member of the majority.

 

[DixieTexian]

This doesn't make me wrong only makes me not a member of the majority.

No, I'm pretty sure it makes you wrong!

 

[AntiqueCollector]

I'd go with the .54 if you'll be hunting bear. You can get bigger, heavier conicals for it, and with these blackpowder guns, that's what you want for killing, muzzleloading BP guns rely more on the mass of the projectile to kill and less on the velocity than modern smokeless guns do. Bigger bullet, better killing power. I'd use a nice heavy conical (425 or 435 grain bullets are more easily found, but you can find bigger ones in the 500 plus grain range though you may have to cast your own for those) on bears, but .54 roundballs should be fine on a deer. Shot placement is very important too of course.

 

[Misfire99]

No, I'm pretty sure it makes you wrong!

This reminds me of when I was in BeiJing tutoring English. Have you ever tried to explain what "pretty ugly" means?

And by the way all the boys tell me you are pretty you don't have to remind me.

 

[Omnivore]

"More efficient" is one thing when discussing muzzle energy for a given powder charge, and it is another if you happen to be discussing downrange energy. Target trauma is yet another subject, and that would favor a bigger bullet.

I will assume you are really not concerned with powder economy, since 5 grains or so of powder here and there is negligible in cost.

For patched ball, the bigger ball will hit downrange with more energy than a smaller ball of equal muzzle velocity.

For conicals, you have more possibilities, and there you find the trend went from big and spherical (horrible atmospheric drag) to small, long and pointy, for low drag and superior long range performance in cartridge guns-- flatter trajectory and more retained energy.

If you want to maximize terminal effect out to 100 or 150 yards, go for the bigger bore and patched ball or medium-weight conical.

If you want to maximize long range retained energy (200 or 300 yards) go for a .45 bore and the heaviest, gas-check conicals with a more spitzer-like shape, and then push them as fast as you safely can. 300 yards would be something of a "hail Mary" shot for most BP shooters, but I understand there are some long range BP shooters out there who would disagree.

And use a long barrel. Sixteen inches, as in your example, is super ultra short for a BP rifle. I thought I had about the shortest .50 in the market, and my barrel is 24 inches. You'll get more velocity with a longer barrel, and in that case it is definitely "more efficient" in that the same powder charge will net you more KE from a longer barrel than from a shorter one.