Which caliber

[Randy E.]

Go with the 50 cal. It was the easiest to get to shooting of all my rifles exept the 45-70. Dental fillings are overated anyway Seriously get what you want,as was said before,you will have them all eventually anyway

[MikeR]

Either caliber uses about 100 gains of powder and about a 500 grain bullet. Both have noticeable recoil. Probably more important than caliber is rifle weight. The .45 will do well out to 1200 yards with a 500 grain bullet. The .50 would do best with 600+ grain bullets at extended ranges.

Currently I have 4 .45-2 7/8 SS's. They weight 9 1/2, 10 1/2, 12 1/2, and 13 1/2 pounds. I hunted elk with the 12 1/2 pound rifle in 2004 and the next year I had the 9 1/2 pound rifle which has been my hunting rifle every since. I've shot several cases of powder through it and banged a lot of steel in practice but the recoil is lively to say the least. For banging steel the 12 1/2 pound rifle is much less distracting but it's not nearly as good a hunting rifle. After carrying it for 3 days I was beat. I have carried the 10 1/2 pound rifle for some serious hunting and it is not bad to carry. I've shot probably less than 1000 rounds through it though. But if I get to go to the Quigley, it is one of the rifles I would consider using.

[J.B.]

If you've got a 'Big 50' itch...or a longing for the 'long 45' ..then its likely you wont be satisfied till you've given one... or more likely both... a chance. We've just held our annual shoot and once again were well and truly outclassed by a fellow wielding a 45/70. I've owned a 45 x 2 7/8 ..and currently move between a 44/77 ( love it ) and a 50 x 2 1/2. I'm with Randy.E. on the ease of getting the .50 to shoot. It is very forgiving of loading..or was for me at any rate. Perhaps not so forgiving on the recoil. The 45 loaded with 550 grain bullets and 105 grains of powder is really little different to the 50 loaded with a 470 gn but one can certainly squeeze more powder into the 50 if they so desire. When the .50 bullet weight climbs up closer to to 700 gns...then they certainly change their demeanour. The larger the case..then generally the more difficult it is to load down. Paper patching a 45/90..or even a 45/70 for that matter allows quite a jump in powder volume if you so desire. This can also be achieved by custom gg bullets that seat further out. I rarely hunt with my rifles so this mostly relates to target work. My 50 is a Saddle rifle and runs a 1/22 twist. I had a recoil tube added as much for weight as anything else. It weighs about 12 1/2 lbs and when I touch off a 695 gn bullet with 114 gns of Swiss 1.5....I'm very glad its no lighter . I also later had a pistol grip fitted as it allowed far better control and consistency for any follow up shots. The 44/77 is a great cartridge but the question mark over reliable cartridge case supply has to be considered. hth.