I drew a cow moose tag and was thinking of using my 54 cal percussion. I can shoot it good. I would rather have a 58 but this is what I own. Has anyone used their 54 on a large elk or moose? I'm wondering on what kind of penetration you got with your prb? I am hoping to get complete pass through out to 50-60 yards?
First, thank you for all of the responses. I was also thinking about casting some balls with wheel weights to help slow down expansion and as I said before, I'd love a bigger bore rifle! As far as buffalo, i am just imagining them out on the open plains where after you shot one and it ran off you were able to track it or just watch it drop. Not so much in the thick crap I'll be in. My hunt isn't a muzzleloader hunt but I haven't been able to draw one of those tags. I just think it would be pretty special to shoot one with a PRB. I'm just trying to decide if it would be worth the risk vs using my 375 knowing that it is the better tool for the job. I'd hate to loose an animal just because I wanted to do something different. I don't seem to find many muzzleloaders for sale up here, especially in a side lock. I'm not interested in an inline.Most of the mountain men used rifles that were .50 to .54 cal.
And they lived on buffalo.
We wouldn't be here if soft lead roundballs weren't effective.First, thank you for all of the responses. I was also thinking about casting some balls with wheel weights to help slow down expansion and as I said before, I'd love a bigger bore rifle! As far as buffalo, i am just imagining them out on the open plains where after you shot one and it ran off you were able to track it or just watch it drop. Not so much in the thick crap I'll be in. My hunt isn't a muzzleloader hunt but I haven't been able to draw one of those tags. I just think it would be pretty special to shoot one with a PRB. I'm just trying to decide if it would be worth the risk vs using my 375 knowing that it is the better tool for the job. I'd hate to loose an animal just because I wanted to do something different. I don't seem to find many muzzleloaders for sale up here, especially in a side lock. I'm not interested in an inline.