Hunting load for my GPR

[FRJ]

I have a load I like for my GPR and its 110 gr 2F with a felt over powder wad pillow ticking patch lubed with mink oil and a home cast 54 cal pure lead ball.
I shot a 5 shot group with it and it went into 1.110" at 55 yards. I'm figuring that should be good for Roosevelts elk but would appreciate any comments especially from those that hunt these elk with a M/L. I have never killed a elk with a M/L so I need all the info I can get. FRJ

 

[jdkerstetter]

That load is enough to kill anything that walks in North America....and most other continents.

Impressive accuracy too. Keep up the good work.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Sounds like a good load. Glad to hear you have not gone with the wimp loads so offen reported here, by the computer hunters!

 

[roundball]

Never hunted elk, but from my years of hunting the smaller whitetail I'm already a firm believer in big game loads for big game...wouldn't use anything less than your 110grn load for the larger elk...and knowing me, I'd use 120grns...LOL
Good luck this fall !

 

[Bob J]

My .54 GPR shot great groups with 110 grains 2f but finally settled on 100. The only thing I killed with the 110 grain charge was on my first hunting trip with the GPR: a doe at about 15 yards...full pass-thru both shoulders, of course. Maybe someone who have actually hunted elk will chime in, but I certainly would feel confident with a fuull-power load like that for elk, especially when combined with the excellent groups you are getting.

 

[BrownBear]

Looks as though we're all "ballparking" each other. My 54 is especially fond of 90 grains of 3f with PRB, roughly the equivalent of 100 grains of 2f. Mine shows a decided preference for 3f, and I figger 90 is plenty hot pressure-wise. In any case, it shoots as flat as I need, hitting an inch high at 50 and 3" low at 100 with a 75 yard sight-in. If I was stretching any further, I'd sure as shooting revisit the 2f and sneak right on by 100 grains.

 

[robtattoo]

Me too. My .54 GPR shoots by far the best groups with 90gn of FFFG, a .530 ball & .018 patch. I dropped 2 (yes, two) antelope with one shot a couple of years ago with this load at 75 yds. The shot took out 3 shoulder blades & a foreleg. Ball was not recovered. Poor shot judgement on my part, no doubt (although I did have the tags) but it really showed me just what the load was capable of.
I wouldn't hesitate to use this load on Elk.

 

[410-er]

Close enough. :thumbsup:

 

[Carl Aldridge]

.54 GPR's just plain shoot, and they do it with heavy doses of 2f or 3f.

 

[FRJ]

My thanks to all you guys. Guess my rifle is good to go but now I have another problem in that I'm getting a knee replacement and that may be keeping me out of hunting this year. First time in 50 years. FRJ

 

[BrownBear]

...a knee replacement and that may be keeping me out of hunting this year....

Sounds like time for lots of gear work at home. Here's hoping your range is set up in a way that allows you to get in a lot of range time too, even if the new knee isn't ready for the hills.

Good wishes for a full and fast recovery on the knee. In the meantime we'll be looking for lots of new stuff you turn out and range reports! :wink:

 

[cynthialee]

Wii should make a new game:
'Muzzel Loader: the battle at the Alamo' or 'Muzzel Loader: American Revolution 1776'

Would be great for when folks are laid up at home.

 

[smokymountainmike]

I've never hunted elk but I have shot some large hogs with my Pedersoli 54 cal Rocky Mt Hawken. Hogs are tough critters and sometimes take a heap of killin before they get the message. I use 110 grs of Goex ffg behind a 530 ball with good results. Last year I shot a big boar with this load that went clean through the critter. 54 calibers rule!

 

[robertdale]

When you get ready to do this hunt be sure and study a "kill zone" target. these show the 2-3 best shot placement areas.
a elk is very similar to deer. the heart rides low in chest area.I have killed 2 elk with rifles.
and processed both.
too old for it now, damn.

 

[FRJ]

I've killed lots of elk with both longbow and rifle just never a M/L. Hope to solve that deficency soon as my leg is good to go. Wont be this year though as the surgery is in September. Since I can't walk with it the way it is now its a no brainer. FRJ