Do I need a 45?

[Dak47]

Why yes, yes you need to acquire one! Having fun with GPR .54 capper, my .54 TVM Tennessee Basic Flinter is almost 3 months late and counting, right after I get it and make sure it's sorted a .45 Flinter is on the menu. Have high hopes on the TVM .......

[charlie b]

What are you going to do with it? If hunting what are the state regulations. Then pick.

If you like what you have, keep using it. If not, then buy something new

I would rather have a fast twist .45 sidelock, but, they were a bit more difficult to find.

[GregLaROCHE]

Everyone needs another gun. Especially if it’s a muzzle loader.

[oldracer]

If you want one ready to shoot and win a world championship then buy a Pedersoli Gibbs in 45 caliber. I would suggest buying their drop tube and also their bullet mold. I got mine about 4 years ago and it took me several years to find a used one which I bought from a young fellow in Texas.
John

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

If you want one ready to shoot and win a world championship then buy a Pedersoli Gibbs in 45 caliber. I would suggest buying their drop tube and also their bullet mold. I got mine about 4 years ago and it took me several years to find a used one which I bought from a young fellow in Texas.
John

Could someone explain how a drop tube benefits a muzzleloader? I mean - if you pour the powder in from the muzzle, you pretty much have a drop tube built in.

[smithnframe]

Everyone should have a 45! To quote Elmer Keith…….A heavy chunk of lead where it will do the most good!

[oldracer]

I use the drop tube/funnel combo that Pedersoli sells and mainly it keeps any powder going down the barrel off the sides. When shooting a grease groove bullet it is good not to get any powder that the bullet can run into. This rifle uses a bore diameter bullet with a fiber wad under it so it shoots best with a clean bore. My mentor suggested I use one so initially I made one and there was one that came with the rifle when I bought it. I also wipe between each shot, one damp patch then a dry one used on both sides to dry the bore.
John

[Sixgun Symphony]

Long range?

[Sixgun Symphony]

1,200 yds with paper patched .50 caliber conical bullet from T/C Renegade rifle with Rice drop in barrel.

[Gtrubicon]

You don’t need one, you need as many as you can get! It’s my favorite across the board.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

1,200 yds with paper patched .50 caliber conical bullet from T/C Renegade rifle with Rice drop in barrel.

Very impressive. And you did that without a free floating barrel, Blackhord powder, or a plastic sabot. I guess I'll just try to tweak what I have until I can find something that works.

[Kosh75287]

PART of this response is "analysis" and the rest is inquiry/data gathering for my own purposes, since I know next to nothing about black powder firearms:
1.) You have a .50 caliber rifle, which (I assume) is a VERY effective meat-gatherer on its own. Would a .45 caliber rifle gain you any advantage (flatter trajectory, longer usable range, less recoil, slower powder consumption, better accuracy, easier to carry, etc)?
2.) Would the smaller bore enable you to engage other game, not well attempted with the .50 caliber rifle (perhaps rabbits, squirrel, peccary, etc. with less meat destruction) that could not be attempted by the use of sabots?
3.) Is there high interchangeability of components (primers & powder, though obviously not projectiles) and rifle parts between the two? In a (relatively) civilized world, this consideration seems less important, but it certainly CAN BECOME a factor is things decline more than they have at present.

GENERALLY, I don't see anything sporting or humane about trying the taking of any game with the smallest firearm possible, but the jump down from .50 caliber to .45 isn't much. Additionally, if a shooter shoots the smaller-bore rifle better, especially under time pressure, then the likelihood of taking game humanely and efficiently is actually enhanced.
I should also point out that I've shot muzzle-loaders a grand total of ~200 times in my life (though enjoyed it immensely), so there may be a great deal of the esoterica of this shooting art that I simply don't "get", that others do. But this is the analysis that I would use in the decision process. I would ALSO be willing to let all that careful analysis be untimely "trumped" by the "I just WANT one!" motivation, and smile approvingly at the outcome, no matter what.

[mooman76]

I haven't seen where 40s and 45s are selling more. They are less common, especially 40s and usually need to be custom ordered. The only advantage I see to them are less lead and powder. Not knocking either because all calibers are useful and have their purpose. 50s have allot more options but it's always nice to have other calibers as an option to shot. I started with 45 but wanted bigger for hunting the larger game like elk and moose. After awhile went to 32 for economy and then went up to 36 to shoot economy with a little more umph. And in there somewheres I picked up a 54. Not because I wanted yet another caliber but seen a T/C Scout and a good price and I always wanted one.

[Winger Ed.]

If you insist on using the word 'need'....

I figure not only do you need it, but the very future of Western civilization,
and your survival depends on you getting it.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

Maybe I'm buying into the hype. It looks like CVA is trying to get more speed and energy for longer range hunting. I don't really need it. In the woods where I hunt I'm realistically shooting at 75 yards or less.

[Sixgun Symphony]

Very impressive. And you did that without a free floating barrel, Blackhord powder, or a plastic sabot. I guess I'll just try to tweak what I have until I can find something that works.

That was Idaho Lewis, not me.

[Sixgun Symphony]

I haven't seen where 40s and 45s are selling more. They are less common, especially 40s and usually need to be custom ordered. The only advantage I see to them are less lead and powder. Not knocking either because all calibers are useful and have their purpose. 50s have allot more options but it's always nice to have other calibers as an option to shot. I started with 45 but wanted bigger for hunting the larger game like elk and moose. After awhile went to 32 for economy and then went up to 36 to shoot economy with a little more umph. And in there somewheres I picked up a 54. Not because I wanted yet another caliber but seen a T/C Scout and a good price and I always wanted one.

In these times of inflation and shortages, the smaller calibers make sense for the reasons of economy as you have noted.

[Edward]

Could someone explain how a drop tube benefits a muzzleloader? I mean - if you pour the powder in from the muzzle, you pretty much have a drop tube built in.

My 34 inch tube enables me to get 84 grains in a 45/70 case with a vibrating (old electric shaver) which otherwise is maxed out at 78 grains shooting 530 gr PP Shoot long and you know the difference!/Ed

[Edward]

In these times of inflation and shortages, the smaller calibers make sense for the reasons of economy as you have noted.

You don't need more than 45 (my paper patch ) weights 530 grains and usually gets there faster /farther with less drop than what your talking about .And the boolit isn't the cost ,it's the primer and the powder ,if that's important try golfing /Ed

[Good Cheer]

I've had a TC New Englander refit for off the shelf 45-70 molds since about 2009 or so, .458 bore / .470 groove.
You can shoot the 45-70 molds lubed. Or if you want to paper patch them and run them through a sizer you can do that too.
You can even paper patch hollow based .45 minies, Keith SWC's and .45 Colt round noses when the accuracy of the 45-70 molds becomes monotonous.
The TC barrel length was maintained so it's about like shooting a 45-90 with a 26" barrel. Got another spare left hand barrel so it might become 32". My new glasses are to arrive this week so I'm waiting to see which way to go.

And yes, everyone needs a .45.