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Post by mike3132 on Feb 13, 2011 13:36:20 GMT -5
How many of you guys have switched to a .45? How many still shooting the .50?
I personally still shoot the .50 and don't plan on switching. My .50 does everything I want a muzzle loader to do and more. Mike
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Post by fowlplay on Feb 13, 2011 13:47:51 GMT -5
The deer are still dropping and dying very well with my Savage 50.
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Post by hunter on Feb 13, 2011 13:50:14 GMT -5
I shortened my savage to 21" and I like it a lot better for a carry gun since I am a still hunter and move a lot all day. It is no longer a 300 yard gun since shorteneng it but still shoots 2" or less at 100 and opens up to 4-5" at 175 yards. So it still shoots as good as me under feild conditions.
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Post by dannoboone on Feb 13, 2011 13:51:37 GMT -5
Mike, there was a time when I was totally satisfied with a Bushnell
Banner. It did everything I wanted a scope to do, but then got
a 4200. Poor Banner is now a shelf queen.
There was a time when I was pretty much satisfied with the
Encore 209x50 (aside from the smoke obscuring the deer just
shot), but then went to the 10MLII. The 209x50 is now a case
queen.
There was a time when I was tickled pink with the .50 10MLII, but
then got the PN45. The .50 barrel just sits around and is used
only for comparisons.
You probably have already guessed the point being made. If
you are now satisfied, DO NOT get a .45 PacNor barrel!! ;D ;D
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Feb 13, 2011 14:57:05 GMT -5
Other then recoil reduction, there is no reason for someone with a great shooting .50 to switch IMO. The flatness in trajectory is available to both, the bullet/sabot selection is better in the .50, and of course the power is there. They both have everything...the .45 just does it with less powder and recoil....all else being the same. For the OTC guy, a .50 ain't bad.
If you are a hunter, 1/2" groups are great but not needed unless you are hunting mice.
Field conditions still rule the hunting world and 99% of us do not have a shooting house and usually have to hunt deer where they are.
Not one thing wrong with choosing or switching to a .45 but right now, it won't be me.
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Post by dans on Feb 13, 2011 15:05:31 GMT -5
I switched. Not because the 50s I have will not do the trick but just because I wanted to. Both my 50s and the 45 are good to 200 yards and that's about my limit.
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Post by somedaysmokeless on Feb 13, 2011 15:13:10 GMT -5
Well said dannoboone. As I grow older and make a little more money than I did before, things change. I went from used scopes that nobody wanted, to Simmons which I thought were great, to Bosch & Lomb, then Leupold, etc. I've got a 10ML2 that shoots great (best thing since sliced bread) but since I found this d**n forum, I'm putting parts together for a .45 Encore build. I'm a forum junkie... can't get enough reading on a topic that I find interesting. I'm glad I have 2 young sons to pass stuff down to, that way it's easier for me to convince the wife about the new things I need to order!!! Another thing that has really cost me money over the years is messing around with varmint hunting / benchrest shooting. You get used to seeing groups you can cover up with a dime... anything bigger than that makes you start wondering what can I do to improve what I've got.
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Post by shoot2reload on Feb 13, 2011 15:20:53 GMT -5
The vanilla 50 does everything I want. I don't feel a huge compulsion to switch barrels or go sabotless, although I find those particular topics some of the most interesting on the Forum!
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Post by DBinNY on Feb 13, 2011 15:23:30 GMT -5
My .50 barrel shoots great. It is so infinitely superior to shooting a shotgun (which we must use here) I was in heaven. I got the .45 PacNor. I'm thrilled with that too. Both work well and are fun. Isn't that what this is all about?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2011 15:44:00 GMT -5
a very pleased .45 fan. still have some .50s but they are all for sale!
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Feb 13, 2011 15:47:18 GMT -5
I been there also..scopes guns barrels...on and on and on. Necessary?...Not usually But as i attain wisdom(age) I want better of things I can afford. But I did really try to get my stock barrel to shoot. Spent to much money on bullet sabo combo's powder... primer's. Just got to barrels in 2 guns that I never found the "right" combo for. Funny how 2 PacNor .45's later its as simple as 62 gr of h4198 and .40 200gr sst with smooth blue sabot....Moa right out of the gate.But I think that is all PacNor makes is barrels. I am really glad I did
Drop
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nic58
8 Pointer
Posts: 237
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Post by nic58 on Feb 13, 2011 16:37:56 GMT -5
Well, I voted .50 as that is what I'm still shooting at this time. Not that I don't long for a .45 PacNor but the cost is what's holding me back so far. I'm figuring around $1000 for barrel, HS Precision stock, recoil lug, breakdown ramrod, .45 Spinjags, etc.
I'm having a hard time justifying that much money for such a tiny bit of accuracy increase, because I've seen lots of .45 groups posted on here that aren't as good or any better than my .50's best load will do. Plus, I took a deer last November at 290 yards with the .50, so that has kinda quenched my thirst for a new barrel a bit.
But, with that being said, if I had the clams laying around for a new project gun, I'm sure the tinkerer in me would take over and I'd have a .45 too! I enjoy reading all the .45 posts and I am taking notes just in case......... ;D
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Post by tar12 on Feb 13, 2011 16:55:53 GMT -5
I made the switch because I got the itch! Was it necessary to kill deer? NO.
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Feb 13, 2011 17:14:18 GMT -5
Well, I voted .50 as that is what I'm still shooting at this time. Not that I don't long for a .45 PacNor but the cost is what's holding me back so far. I'm figuring around $1000 for barrel, HS Precision stock, recoil lug, breakdown ramrod, .45 Spinjags, etc. I'm having a hard time justifying that much money for such a tiny bit of accuracy increase, because I've seen lots of .45 groups posted on here that aren't as good or any better than my .50's best load will do. Plus, I took a deer last November at 290 yards with the .50, so that has kinda quenched my thirst for a new barrel a bit. But, with that being said, if I had the clams laying around for a new project gun, I'm sure the tinkerer in me would take over and I'd have a .45 too! I enjoy reading all the .45 posts and I am taking notes just in case......... ;D If you are getting that kind of accuracy from your stock savage 50 . Ten there is no reason for you to ghange..other than if you would like to reduce recoil somewhat. If mine had shot like your's is I would have never looked further. Drop |
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Post by DHinMN on Feb 14, 2011 1:04:04 GMT -5
The 50 shoots good enough for me to take my one deer a year. Mines plenty accurate. But you know if a Rem ML came accross my path, ah well, you never know.
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Post by ET on Feb 14, 2011 2:51:24 GMT -5
The 50 provides for all my needs so no desire to look further for now.
Ed
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Post by sw on Feb 14, 2011 8:02:04 GMT -5
I think there is not much, if any, accuracy difference with the 45'S s accuracy and what I got from my firelapped 50 cal. Additionally, though I primarily shoot the 200SST, the 300SST or 250 TMZ seems to put larger deer down more quickly. The 195B seems to kill better but is a little less accurate and has less BC in comparison to the 200SST/SW. If recoil is not a factor, and 200 yds is max range, I think the 50 will serve well and put deer down very well. The 45 can equal the capabilities of the 50, if a 195B is used, IMO. If a person will really work with sabotless in the 45, I think the 45 can have accuracy and range advantages over the 50. The 40 can have all the advantages of all the above and none of the disadvantages. If legal, it still is my choice. This next year, I will be hunting more grown up areas with not much over 100 yds range generally and I plan to hunt with 45 sabotless/300SST or 40 195B depending on the day.
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Post by 10ga on Feb 14, 2011 8:29:45 GMT -5
The ballot was a bit short! I went the Encore conversion route. Needed a lighter, shorter, handier rifle and just another barrel on the Savage wasn't gonna do that. I use different rifles depending on the hunting situation. Heck, I still use my smokey guns sometime(love that 58 with prb). Soooo, it's MLII, Encore, etc... Guns, like wimmen, everybody has different taste and preferences, you pays your money and takes your chances. Guns, just easier to trade off than the wimmen if you don't have a good one, and if you don't use them or pay them any attention they don't complain. 10 ga
PS: I didn't vote, does that make me a bad citizen?
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Post by bigmoose on Feb 14, 2011 9:48:30 GMT -5
I have both, and plan to use them for different applications. My .45 is super accurate. but as with every thing its has its limits, can it shoot a 400gr. bullet at over 2100FPS, I think not. but maybe.
Richard made a point that a 195gr. Barnes will take all horned animals in No. America, after testing the bullet I agree, but does that mean it should be your go to bullet.
For sure not all of us are marksmen in Richards class[ if any are] and I think all would agree bullet placement is number one. I always go to back the the tomb stone in Alaska, about the hunter who [done kilt 11 Brown Boars with a 22 Savage, till number 12 done evened the score forever] Its not for nothing that guides carry big bommer in Moose and Brownie camps.
And all I meet where excellent shooters.
If they made a .54 Smokless rifle, I'd be in line for one
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Post by mike3132 on Feb 14, 2011 10:07:42 GMT -5
I like the .45's just as good as the .50's. Since I mostly shoot the ML-1 and it has such a smooth factory barrel I don't see the need to swap it out for a Pac Nor. Plus, I have a .454 Casull and all the bullets I use in my ML-1 will shoot in the Casull and I have probably over 1500 .452 bullets and sabots. I would really hate to buy a big stock of .400 bullets to shoot in the .45 at todays bullet prices as all my bullets were purchased pre-gouge, before the bullet companies decided they could charge like big oil companies for their product. h.h.
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Post by herman on Feb 14, 2011 10:44:43 GMT -5
I like both,as far as groups go I have shot just as small a group with either one.
Neither has let me down hunting.Last year I took 1 at 222yds and 200 yds with the 45 and let my younger brother use the 50 and he got one at 200 yds.
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Feb 14, 2011 10:51:03 GMT -5
The ballot was a bit short! I went the Encore conversion route. Needed a lighter, shorter, handier rifle and just another barrel on the Savage wasn't gonna do that. I use different rifles depending on the hunting situation. Heck, I still use my smokey guns sometime(love that 58 with prb). Soooo, it's MLII, Encore, etc... Guns, like wimmen, everybody has different taste and preferences, you pays your money and takes your chances. Guns, just easier to trade off than the wimmen if you don't have a good one, and if you don't use them or pay them any attention they don't complain. 10 ga PS: I didn't vote, does that make me a bad citizen? ;D ;D ROFLMAO !!! now that is some funny stuff..."wimmen" ;D ;D |
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Post by 153 on Feb 14, 2011 13:43:15 GMT -5
I had two 50s and both would shoot 1.5-2" three shot groups but not consistently. I have one Pac 45 with another barrel on order. I hunt mostly out of box stands over food plants and the edges of newer cut-over, many of my shots will be 200-250 yards and the 50s could not pass the test. I would hate for the buck of a lifetime to come out at 250 yards and that would be the time the 50 would shoot that 4-6" group. My Pac45 will average around an inch with me shooting, just as many below 1" as above 1" ,to less than .3 but I have shot only one group over 1.5" at 100 yards. My first two shots in that group were one hole, I got a cell phone call and only loaded my booster charge of 11 grs of N110, I saw the bullet impact in the dirt before it hit the target but still ricochet off the frozen ground and hit the paper to make a 3" group, although the bullet did impact the paper sideways.
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Post by bloodtrailer on Feb 16, 2011 11:32:54 GMT -5
As long as I get great groups I'll stay a .50 guy   even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then ****153 WITNESS MARK ****- IT COULD HAD BEEN THE OTHER WAY-DOUBLE LOAD- NEVER GET DISTRACTED WHEN LOADING OR PUSH/ POUR IT OUT AND START OVER SAFETY FIRST! |
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Post by 153 on Feb 16, 2011 16:00:47 GMT -5
As long as I get great groups I'll stay a .50 guy even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then ****153 WITNESS MARK ****- IT COULD HAD BEEN THE OTHER WAY-DOUBLE LOAD- NEVER GET DISTRACTED WHEN LOADING OR PUSH/ POUR IT OUT AND START OVER SAFETY FIRST! Thanks for the advise Bloodtrailer. I package all my loads seperate in a small plastic zippy. One primer, one sabot, one bullet and one load of powder. Use the same methood when hunting. Yes I still have witness marks I just missed this time. I will always error on safe side. I figure with the witness marks and only one load in each zippy I have a double safety. |
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Post by DBinNY on Feb 16, 2011 22:49:25 GMT -5
Based upon what I have observed from bigmoose and bloodtrailer I think we can definitively say that the .45 is slightly more accurate than the .50. blood trailer always seem to miss the coins on his targets by a narrow margin but bigmoose, on the other hand, is often right on the money (forgive me  ) with his shots ;D ;D ;D. |
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Post by tar12 on Feb 17, 2011 0:13:50 GMT -5
Based upon what I have observed from bigmoose and bloodtrailer I think we can definitively say that the .45 is slightly more accurate than the .50. blood trailer always seem to miss the coins on his targets by a narrow margin but bigmoose, on the other hand, is often right on the money (forgive me ) with his shots ;D ;D ;D. ;D ;D |
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Post by rjhans53 on Feb 17, 2011 5:45:54 GMT -5
I've went the 45 route, but I've decided that 50's do all I want them to do. I really plan on getting a 50 cal mcgowen for my rems, but I think I'm back to the 50
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Post by mountainam on Feb 17, 2011 7:47:38 GMT -5
My Savage .50 worked O.K. and it got me through the learning curve of smokeless. I have Remington's in all of their calibers. The .45 is my preference now for whitetail. A lot less effort to attain accuracy. I now see why most are going smaller when they do a hands-on comparision. I done the same with CF's. I want to be consistent. After all we're talking smokeless.
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Post by Chris Champion on Feb 17, 2011 8:10:13 GMT -5
I originally went 45 cause I was planning on shooting sabotless. I probably never gave it a fair shot but never could get where I wanted to be accuracy wise shooting the 250g TEZ. My 45 shoots both the 200SST & 195 Barnes MOA or a little better if I do my part. 200SST on average is more consistent. My 45 day in / day out is more consistently accurate then my 50 was and my 50 shot pretty decent. Is the 50 just as capable of killing deer at 300 yds? Sure it is. The 45 shooting 195 or 200g bullets just does it with a flatter trajectory and less recoil.
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) with his shots ;D ;D ;D.