Fellas, Need some input here to help me decide which caliber (.45 or .50) would be the best choice for whitetails. Anyone out there have any experience with either?

thanks for any suggestions. Bgood

I recently bought a CVA Firebolt 209 Ultra Mag in 50 caliber. I like it alot. I had a hard time choosing between the 45 and 50. I finally went with the 50. It does kick quite a bit with 300 grain saboted bullets. I am thinking that this gives me a reason to buy a 45 in a year or so. I am new to muzzle loading and really like it. I am using the new Hodgdon 777. It really cleans up nice. ... Oscar

In my CVA bolt, I added some weight into the butt-stock which balanced the rifle better and helps on recoil. I've only shot 240 gr. bullets with two 50/50 pellets of Pyrodex and recoil management is fine.

I have a Hunter Bolt CVA 50 and like it a lot, especially the light weight. Unless you try three pellets of pyrodex or something like it behind a 295 gr. PowerBelt. I have a fair amount of experience shooting large rifles...I was braced and ready for the comeback...My scope has a decent amount of relief...And the scope still tagged me a bit, not enough to leave a mark though.

I shoot a .45/70 with a 400 grain bullet loaded so it produces 55 Ft. Lb. of recoil, yet none of the scopes I use on it, a Leupold 2.5 X 8 and a Leup. 4X Compact, has ever hit me, even when shooting from a benchrest!!

A Leupold, with their very good eye relief, would be the way to go with all heavy kickers. I've got a 2.5x8 Vari X III sitting idle that I could put on it, but I'm saving it for my 416 Taylor when I get it going this year.