54 or 58 cal Green Mountain replacement barrel

[MikeC]

I have a Lyman Deer Stalker 54 cal flintlock, and a TC Renegade 50 cal percussion.  I would like to get a green mountain 1 in 70 twist drop in barrel for the renegade. My dilema is deciding to get a 54 cal or a 58 cal for PRB.  Getting a 54 cal would let me shoot 54 cal on both guns, while getting a 58 cal would give me the option of shooting 50, 54, and 58. I haven't used either sidelock for deer hunting yet, but want to next year. My deer hunting here in the north-east has never been more than 100 yrds. 
From the reading I have done, it seems that hunting with the 50 cal would need conicals and PRB is not advised, while hunting with the 54 would get it done nicely on a deer, and I assume the 58 would be even harder hitting and bigger hole.

Does anyone hunt with 58 cal PRB?  Are there any problems with it? The only thing that I can think of is that the recoil must extreme.

Thanks,
-Mike

[MikeC]

Well, I ordered the Green Mountain 58 cal drop-in barrel for my Renegade rather than the 54. Once it arrives and weather permits I will take it to the range for a try.  I wish I could have tried one before buying, but I don't know anyone who has one.  I am hoping the recoil isn't so extreme that I won't be able to enjoy it. I ordered some 570 soft lead round balls to start with.  I noticed they sell hard cast round balls as well but I didn't order those. Does anyone use those?

Does anyone shoot conicals (great planes bullet) in a 1 in 70 inch twist barrel?
Thanks for any information,
-Mike

[Dogmann]

Is this the barrel?

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/productdetail.aspx?id=323940


58cal round ball!   Boom baby!!!

[MikeC]

Thats the barrel, but I ordered it from track of the wolf.

[pastorp]

Mike,
I've Deer hunted. With all three calibers with patched RB. I never had a problem killing big mule deer or white tails  with the 50 & RB. For elk I prefer a 58. As long as you use the RB none of them are very abusive unless you go crazy with the charge. 90 grains of black, 3f was always my hunting load. 60 of the same my target load.

Regards,

[Dogmann]

I would think that the longer heavier barrel helps with the recoil too!

[Forestclimber]

You will like the barrel.  Shoot gongs with it sometime.

[MikeC]

My barrel arrived today.

I tried dropping it in, but it wouldn't drop.  I took the tang off the stock and sure enough it didn't fit quite all the way. I got out the calipers and took measurements of the original 50 cal barrel breech hook and compared to the new barrel measurements. The gap between the breech plug and the inside lip of the hook was .04 inches shorter on the new barrel. I gave a few swipes with a file on the inside lip and it fits nicely in the tang.  I replaced the tang and tried installing the barrel. The rail that guides the ramrod was contacting the end of the stock, so I had to put a very small notch in the stock channel, and it now fits nicely. The clip that puts tension on the ramrod was a little low, so I tried bending it a bit so it would contact the ramrod a little more, but as luck would have it a piece broke off.  The piece left still works, but I will try to find a replacement.

The ramrod that came with the barrel sticks out past the muzzle about 1/4 inch because of the length required for a 32 inch barrel. All in all, I like the feel of the gun.  It is well balanced even with the extra length.  I can't wait for the weather and a some free time to get to the range.

I have heard that there is a break-in period where the sharp edges of the rifling have to be worn in.  I ordered some maxiballs to shoot for this purpose but understand it can take up to 100 shots to break-in the barrel.  Has anyone experienced this?  I won't know until I get some time at the range.

The circle on top of the blade front sight has a brass cap and is much easier for me to see than the sights on the original barrel.  I am really happy with this gun so far, can't wait to give it a try.  I will post a range report when I get some time to get out.

Thanks to everyone for the information and help,
-Mike