k...
I'll try to help with what I can on what I know about BPCR long big guns...
the 50-95 is a wonderful round, however, I having a bad left shoulder am very glad I'm right handed. Get my drift?
the gun will be a bit lighter, not too much a difference though going between any like barrel .45 to .50. Honestly, they're a BIG GUN, and there's no way around that.
for long distance, say 500+ yards/meters, .45 in blackpowder is a better way to go in the long run. Yes, the .50s get there, but the .45 has much better BC. It's like my personal preference of the .338 Lapua vs the .50BMG.
now beyond that, honestly, what's your budget and how often are you going to shoot? are you going to cast your own bullets for example?
even in home-casting, a .50 and her amount of sheer mass is quite a bit bigger amount out of that pound of lead than a .45-90 to get the same BC.
Then there's the brass too to consider.
beyond that, in a 22" barrel, get the best balanced and heaviest barrel that's comfy for you off-hand. I know that makes it a crap-shoot when ordering, but you're ordering a mighty-fine piece that's mighty expensive. It helps to hold someone else's. Offer up ammo, whiskey after, or coffee then and there, and I'll bet they'll let you check them out.
For example, I saw at a recent gun show a beautiful 45-70 Remington Rolling block with a single-set trigger made by Pedersoli... with a Green Mountain Performance BULL barrel!
she was only maybe 4 feet length overall! from the stock to the muzzle (she seemed as small as some 92s honest to God!)! She was a great handling piece too, but I didn't get her because
A) not actually a fan of the rolling block
B) it scared the bajesus out of my Lady, versus say ironically a Sharps 50-90 with a 34" barrel made by Shiloh that was also there...
yep.
it's because it was so small. the balance was very different. Like a carbine-sized personal hand-cannon!
I loved the concept, and may get a Sharps in that very configuration. Definitely looking at a new barrel for my Hawken, but that's besides the point.
just trying to help you out pard. Check to see if there's any BPCR (Black Powder Cartridge Rifle) or Traditional Muzzleloaders in your area, even if it's two hours out of the way.
trust me it's worth it, and will only help grow that appetite.
thanks to those fine gents, I now know I like
a 32" barrelled 45-90 with a 14lb bull barrel for prone or bench. But a 34" heavy octagon/round for all around in a 1874 sharps. never knew that until I got out there and the pards were kind enough to let me see them. However, that 34" she pointed grandly off-hand, but because of the weight difference in barrel, I could shoot the 14lber all day and into the next. After just the one with the 34" off-hand, yeah... you could tell she was a mini-howitzer.
Honestly, I can only imagine a Winchester in the big rounds... and it's a dream thinking about it. Honestly I think a 44-40 73 with 30" barrel, 44-40 66 in 24", a 76 in 45-60, and a 1874 Sharps in 45-90 is about where I'd want to be in my "ultimate dream gun cabinet" lol
... and might as well throw in the Henry and a Spencer Carbine while I'm at it right?!
but beyond that, it helps looking at the full picture. If you're going to shoot her alot, like I will mine, it helps knowing 7000 grains in a pound. And subs actually cost less because there's more per volume vs per grain in there. I've noticed about a 40% increase in amount of a 1lb tub of 777 over 3F goex. Seriously. Loaded them both up in .45 colt, and went till they were empty. Got tons more out of Trip7.
but it'll give you a good guestimate on how much $$ you'll spend to throw 50 rounds a month in her.