Elk hunting

[travisc406]

hello everyone, long time reader first time poster here. I am going hunting with my cousin who has been shooting his 50 cal hawk. for a couple of months. He is currently shooting round balls and is planning on trying to harvest an elk. I not knowing a whole lot about killing animals with round balls, i just shoot for fun at mountain man conventions. He told me that he can group in a pie plate off sticks inside a pie plate at 150 yards and will not be afraid to shoot at an elk at that distance. Is that possible to kill an elk with a roundball at that distance? Is conical a better way to go? I am shooting a 385 grain buffalo bullet conical with 80 grains of pyro behind it and feel comfortable to 100 yards. Idon't know how effective roundballs are. Any help would be great. Travis

 

[rabjr]

Shooting a target and harvesting an animal at that range is two very different things.

With a .50 cal roundball you should keep your shots under 75 yards as a rule.

 

[boar]

I knew a man Tom Pike,deceased, that killed a deer over 200yrds witha RB. But he also won the shoot at Friendship one year. He used a Lymans stock with a Green Mt 54 barrel,110grs 2ff,bore size ball with.10 patch drove in with mallet. He knew what to do. I have killed two deer at a little over 100 yrds with RB. I kinda think a little luck was involved.These were in the open. 80&90 grs .54. Dilly

 

An elk is a tough animal. My experience with them has been with modern firearms, but I also know BP MLer ballistics--and in my humble opinion with the .50 I'd keep the shots at 75 +/- yds for Elk--a well placed shot should work even at 100, but energies are not impressive at 100 or beyond...

 

[tg]

I would keep the shot at 75 yds max with ball or conical on Elk with a .50 the conical is not a great fix all, shoot farther, kills better projectile in the ML world, many veteran ML Elk hunters go back to the RB after trying them.Practice on an Elk sized cutout to judge distance they are decieving in how close they are compared to deer. the .50 ball will do well if used within its limits.go thru the lungs don't try to break down the shoulder.

 

[sidelock]

travis, a 100yd PRB BP shot is a stretch---- but it can be done---- but not often and a wounded elk left to die is not a good thing. Try keeping it under 100, and good luck, By the way, where are you located in MT? :thumbsup:

 

[travisc406]

billings montana, thanx for all the info guys, iwill have to show him this.

 

[BRUN]

I shot an elk yesterday at 100 yards with a 54 cal. roundball 90 grains 3f and it passed through both lungs and out the other side.She went 20 yards and died.Same thing with the doe I got yesterday morning.75 yards same gun and load,she went 10 yards and died.

 

[rabjr]

Lies! No pic's, no proof! :blah:

 

[BRUN]

OK I'll get ya some pics in a minute. :grin:

 

[Slamfire]

A 35 year old has to be in really good shape to kill and dress an elk one day, and still have energy enough to go huntin' agin the next. :shake:

 

[BRUN]

Got both of these yesterday.Got the doe yesterday mornin and the elk yesterday evening about an hour and a half before dark.

 

[Slamfire]

My apologies, sir. I guess it's reasonable shootin' the deer first. Bet you was stiff the next mornin' though. :thumbsup:

 

[RC]

A 35 year old has to be in really good shape to kill and dress an elk one day, and still have energy enough to go huntin' agin the next. :shake:

that's easy! he's a self employed self selling works with his wife fence seller/installer! probably why he don't play forum much anymore...his wife tires him out! :rotf: nice hunt Brun!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[BRUN]

Could hardly believe it myself.My brother got a nice buck with his bow so we might have to get another freezer if he gets his elk also.

 

[rabjr]

Ok, well we need to learn ya to take better pics but this will do for now. :haha:

Grats Brun, nice meat there. :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

My apologies, sir. I guess it's reasonable shootin' the deer first. Bet you was stiff the next mornin' though. :thumbsup:

Nah! Did ya see how skinny them critters wuz? Nothin' but skin & hair... I betcha could drag out both of 'em at the same time and hardly break a sweat.
BRUN, you really oughta set out some game feeders.

:blah: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[RC]

bet behind this success story is a short story about a set trigger.. jus a feelin i have :hmm:

 

[Roy]

Nice shootin :thumbsup:
Building fence all day keeps ya fit, don't it? :haha:

 

[BRUN]

bet behind this success story is a short story about a set trigger.. jus a feelin i have :hmm:

I dont know what yer talkin about. Thats my story and I'm stickin to it. :grin: :blah: