.50 cal prb on elk

[mountaintrash58]

Howdy Fellers/Gals
I'm new to this muzzleloading. Been shooting a Hawken style Jonathon Browning Mountain rifle in .50 cal for a little over a year now. I just can't get enough!
Hunted all my life in Wyoming (alas w/ centerfire rifles). Just harvested my mule deer with "Caitlin". I'm shooting poker chips all day long at 25yds. and putting 'em in a softball size circle at 100yds....all offhand.
Got a late season (Nov.) cow elk tag and was wonderin'???????
Anybody out there hunt elk exclusively w/ a .50 cal prb? I know there's them that say .50's too light for elk but I'm a good hunter...able to injun up close. Any pointers?
Thanks for anything

 

[Plains99]

I think a .50 is too light with a patched round ball and usually opt for a .54 (conical) or .58 (roundball and conical). I'd think you'd have to be close and your shot placement precise but it can be done effectively. I prefer a little more horsepower. I shoot pretty well too but in the field you just never know what can happen... my fault, it's fault, nothing's fault. I think of larger calibers as added insurance.

 

[Hiparoo]

I've seen/heard this discussion off and on for years.....you've got the right attitude, you seem to know your gun.....all I can add is shot placement,shot placement, shot placement.....my grandaddy killed many deer with a .22 and I know some old-timers who've killed elk with a .32special mod94.....I use a .50 as my big game rifle....haven't killed an elk with it yet, but know folks who use a .50 for elk and are successful....bigger cal/more powder isn't always the answer....shot placement, knowing your gun and you own limitations are far more important factors in my world....hope this helps...good hunting..Mitch
PS-what's a conical? :rotf:

 

[renovato]

Shot placement is always the key to a successful hunt, but to my way of thinking, I'd rather have a bit too much gun than a bit too little gun. I know a lot of deer have been taken successfully with .22 LR, but a lot of them have been wounded too. Even with the best of shot placement, sometimes things just don't go right. .50 PRB is used successfully on elk all the time, so I can't knock it. Personally, I'm just comfy with a bit more gun for larger animals like that.

 

[Old Ironsights]

.50 PRB is used successfully on elk all the time, so I can't knock it. Personally, I'm just comfy with a bit more gun for larger animals like that.

I think that for anything that regularly exceeds twice my weight, I'll stick to the 360gr minnie.

I have an accurate load for it, and it doubles the mass of the PRB.

 

[ladysmithtrading]

I personally know of 7 elk in 3 years all taken with a 50 prb,from myself and others in our hunting crew from 50 yards to 125 yards, 90 to 110 grains, depends whos rifle it is, 50's work if you can shoot!

 

[Old Ironsights]

I personally know of 7 elk in 3 years all taken with a 50 prb,from myself and others in our hunting crew from 50 yards to 125 yards, 90 to 110 grains, depends whos rifle it is, 50's work if you can shoot!

Yep. Don't doubt it. Still think I'll use a minnie in my .50 if I try for an elk though.

 

[MikeChapin]

I generally use a .54 or .58 but that's just me. I know a lot of people who have used a .50 with a PRB to consistantly bring home elk meat. Just do it like you would any other BP rifle. Get in within 100 yards and place the shot into the heart/lung area.

 

[mountaintrash58]

I figured as much, Mike2005. Think I'll get plum handy with this gun then maybe get a .54, .58 cal drop-in barrel if I can find one OR.....another gun! Anyway, I REALLY like this gun and can hit what I'm looking at w/i 100 yards so if off to hunt in Nov.
Got it down to .14 patch over 80 grains of FFG.
Thanks for all the comments
Mike2005...are you going to be at the Winter shoot in Casper...let me know.

 

[MikeChapin]

...
Got it down to .14 patch over 80 grains of FFG.
Thanks for all the comments
Mike2005...are you going to be at the Winter shoot in Casper...let me know.

That should do fine. I use 80 grains FFg in my Santa Fe for a hunting load and it will go though an elk at about 75 yards. I don't doubt the .50 will too.

Dunno about the winter challenge yet. Was going to go last year but my wife managed to bring home a case of the flu so I was down during that time.