Hello all. Long time reader, first time poster. Like most here the passion of muzzleloaders has rooted itself deep. I glean lots of information here and so I thought I might contribute a little something.
I have built and rebuilt and number of guns including muzzleloaders and though never shooting an elk with one (though I've come close), I wanted a dedicated big big game rifle. I decided to go with a .54 Kibler Woodsrunner and it was a blast. I tried carving for the first time. Much different than checkering and it was intimidating at first. I feel like I nailed it, at least for me that is. After a few months between newborn, toddler, and mommy time the project was finished and it was ready for the field. I got my uncle to engrave all the brass. I wanted to have him scratch the lock but he didn't for some reason. I was happy to get what I got. Here are some photos of the build.
The gun shoots great. Ignition is top notch. I've shot Goex my whole life so I wasn't going to change for this one. I'm shooting 95gr 3F in the pipe and 3F in the pan. Love turning heads at the range slamming 6" gongs at 100 on the regular. I felt very confident going into the season and my family needed fed.
I had some early success. Two deer with the Woodsrunner was great and all, but i needed more. I headed to the ol Bob Marshall where a cow was legal and i knew i could get that “good” meat. I set out early which was a mistake. I soon happened on 30 sets of eyes in the dark. Kicking myself i quietly dove into a deep creek draw. Loaded a ball down the pipe and waited. When day break came I searched for them making elevation only to see 80 head still low and in the creek. After repositioning three times I was in em good. I weaseled my way into a quake of aspens and had some at 60. I set the gun on the perfect limb rest of an aspen, but my lane wasn’t working out. I watched one after the other filter through and the shot was junk. I reassessed and crawled a little further in. Another window popped up and i saw two cow walk through it and i knew the shot would be cleared. I quickly got my gun on my knee and said the next cow walking past that lane is getting it. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but this time was story book. A nice fat cow steps into the lane, stops, broadside, and no one in front or back of her. Boom! The wind was blowing so hard i even got to see what happened immediately after. I saw a mark behind her shoulder. All the elk run. Thunder of gun created thunder of hooves. None look hit. Im waiting and watching. Then one straggler in the back appears. Shes got blood running down from her shoulder and I knew immediately it was over. She stopped and toppled. What glory!
She went down at 8:30. I had the meat all packaged up by 11:30. It was tough out. 25 degrees and 30mph plus winds. The fire did nothing. 14 total miles. 7 meat miles. I got 268 lbs of elk out. Heart, hide, and all. What and epic day!
I have built and rebuilt and number of guns including muzzleloaders and though never shooting an elk with one (though I've come close), I wanted a dedicated big big game rifle. I decided to go with a .54 Kibler Woodsrunner and it was a blast. I tried carving for the first time. Much different than checkering and it was intimidating at first. I feel like I nailed it, at least for me that is. After a few months between newborn, toddler, and mommy time the project was finished and it was ready for the field. I got my uncle to engrave all the brass. I wanted to have him scratch the lock but he didn't for some reason. I was happy to get what I got. Here are some photos of the build.
The gun shoots great. Ignition is top notch. I've shot Goex my whole life so I wasn't going to change for this one. I'm shooting 95gr 3F in the pipe and 3F in the pan. Love turning heads at the range slamming 6" gongs at 100 on the regular. I felt very confident going into the season and my family needed fed.
I had some early success. Two deer with the Woodsrunner was great and all, but i needed more. I headed to the ol Bob Marshall where a cow was legal and i knew i could get that “good” meat. I set out early which was a mistake. I soon happened on 30 sets of eyes in the dark. Kicking myself i quietly dove into a deep creek draw. Loaded a ball down the pipe and waited. When day break came I searched for them making elevation only to see 80 head still low and in the creek. After repositioning three times I was in em good. I weaseled my way into a quake of aspens and had some at 60. I set the gun on the perfect limb rest of an aspen, but my lane wasn’t working out. I watched one after the other filter through and the shot was junk. I reassessed and crawled a little further in. Another window popped up and i saw two cow walk through it and i knew the shot would be cleared. I quickly got my gun on my knee and said the next cow walking past that lane is getting it. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but this time was story book. A nice fat cow steps into the lane, stops, broadside, and no one in front or back of her. Boom! The wind was blowing so hard i even got to see what happened immediately after. I saw a mark behind her shoulder. All the elk run. Thunder of gun created thunder of hooves. None look hit. Im waiting and watching. Then one straggler in the back appears. Shes got blood running down from her shoulder and I knew immediately it was over. She stopped and toppled. What glory!
She went down at 8:30. I had the meat all packaged up by 11:30. It was tough out. 25 degrees and 30mph plus winds. The fire did nothing. 14 total miles. 7 meat miles. I got 268 lbs of elk out. Heart, hide, and all. What and epic day!
