Is there a best caliber for a Hawken style black powder rifle?

[DCV]

In the near future I`m planning to buy a Hawken style rifle, in percussion, and learn about shooting patched round balls. (I`ve been shooting cap and ball revolvers for a year or so and would like to expand my black powder shooting)

I`ve always wanted a Lyman Great Plains rifle since I was a kid so that`s the brand and model I`ve decided on.

Lyman offers their rifles in .50 and .54 caliber.

I`m not planning on hunting, just paper and steel targets.

Does one caliber, for my purposes, have an advantage over the other?

 

[BIKER13]

50 caliber for the win.Does it all. Less powder less lead and will do well in hunting and target

 

[10thmountain]

.50 my Hawken is awesome in this caliber

 

[StuP]

.36 can give some extra zip with less powder just for plinking and fun.

 

[handloader]

I like 50 with case minie balls and lee real bullets. Patched balls are way more work.

 

[handloader]

 

[BIKER13]

I like 50 with case minie balls and lee real bullets. Patched balls are way more work.

most sanctioned events you shoot round ball only

 

[handloader]

most sanctioned events you shoot round ball only

That is true, but the pines, oaks, and hickories, are the only spectators to 90% of my muzzleloading.

 

[greg vess]

fity cal is the gold standard.

 

[greg vess]

You can get a 45 in a kentucky rifle and I think in a Hawken to but considering the technology go with the big daddy. I mean they have made imporvements in powder but it's still a black powder gun so get all you can get.