It's just a whim, but I'd like an Uberti 1855, high or low wall. Even a Martini Henry, though the Ubertis are pretty cheap here, and a Martini could be tricky to get in good condition. I have tracked down a Greener MH in .22lr for a reasonable price, but in rough condition and possibly shot out.

What would be the most appropriate caliber?
I am mostly interested in shooting gongs paper and the occasional game animal, pigs or deer.

They offer the following calibers:

30/30, 32/20, .30/40Krag, 38/40, 38/55 ,44SP, 44MAG, 45LC, 44/40, .40/65, .348 Win, 45/70, .45/90 .45/120

I'm after a rifle that will be pleasant to shoot, so I'm not really interested in the .45-70/90/120 more like the smaller rifles (.32-20, .38-40, .44-40) and the pistol calibers interst me too.

Is any one known to be more accurate than the others and what kind of accuracy could I expect from such a rifle?


Availiability of the ammo isn't a concern, nor are bp loads.

I think the 38-40 is really supposed to be 32-40. The .32-40 and .38-55 are among the two most accurate blackpowder cartridges ever made and premier among the Schuetzen crowd. I like the .38-55 and will use it for antelope as well as competition. Accuracy with either one should be in the 1 MOA range with bp. Though I'm not there yet with my .38-55.

They make it in .348? How surprising indeed! But that's an entirely smokeless cartridge. Not my cup of tea.

Brent

My choice would be 38/55. I have a custom target rifle with 25x scope and 1:15" barrel in this chamber that will shoot 300gn cast bullets to average moa. The Uberti has I believe a 1:18" twist which would mean that bullets up to 260gn could be used.
With 16gn 2400, it is very cheap to shoot and will still hit steel pigs at 300yds.