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caliber vs accuracy

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jayman448:
im not a black powder shooter but i plan on becoming one in the near future. I hope to get something in a 32 or 45 cal thinking that less lead equals greater velocity and range and accuracy. is this the case or is my thinking flawed?

ksnow:
Less lead means less moving mass. My 32 is a tack driver at 25 yards, but a light breeze blows that little pill all over at 50 yards. I have seen great accuracy at 50 yards from 36 to 62 caliber rifles. The 50s and 54s are great out to 100, provided you spend the time to find load, patch, ball combo that works.
Also depends what you are planning on using it for. 40 would be a minimum for deer. 54 for elk. 32s are great small game guns.

Hawkdancer:
Sort of depends on what you want to do with it.  .40 cal will stop a deer, you can load down for smaller game,  .50 cal will stop an elk with a heavy load (minimum elk caliber in Colorado) and larger calibers will take down most anything with a heavy load.  Shot placement is still key.  I hunt mostly with either my .50 or .58 cal. with round balls, or Minie bullets, Buffalo bullet, etc.  every black powder shooter has their favorite cal. And preference, and most think that is the only best way :).  For target and small game, .40 (or .45) would probably do you nicely.  Have fun, shoot straight and keep your powder dry!
Hawkdancer

PEARL DRUMS:
Get a .32 for hares and squirrels and get a .50 for deer. There isn't one caliber that is more accurate than the next. Accuracy comes from experimenting with charges and rounds, as Ksnow mentioned.

BowEd:
You can bark shot squirrels with a .54.No damage and a dead squirrel.Actually I had a.36 full stock Hatfield once.It was'nt as accurate as my .54 I thought.Maybe I shot my .54 more that's why.

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