hunting loads

[Dphar]

Just to throw something out there as we sit around the fire, anyone use PRB on elk? I am due to get back from the sandbox soon, and should be able to hit up CO's ML elk season, and would love to use my 50 cal Hawken with a PRB on em, and just wanted to know what peoples experience was.

Broadside lung shot only (well a head shot is OK) AVOID heavy bones. Bigger bores are better but the 50 will work.
Shot placement is the key.
54 is better 62 better yet, etc etc :grin:

Dan

 

[Dphar]

So long as velocity is sufficient to provide adequate penetration and the ball is of sufficient size for the game kinetic energy is meaningless. Low velocity, large bore rifles/guns do not kill via energy.
Conicals increase penetration but not necessarily killing power. In ML arms especially the most reliable way to increase killing power is to increase ball size.
Modern small bore firearms need high velocity (and thus high energy levels for the bullet weight) to produce killing power via bullet expansion, otherwise they provide .
Note the disparity between a 45-70-400 grain BP load and a .243 for example.

Dan

 

[tg]

I would not heitate to take a .50 out for Elk again with PRB, just think archery for max range and wait for a side or slightly quartered away for a hear/lung shot load up as hot as the gun can take and still keep max. accuracy and the result will be a lot of cutting and packing.Some shoot Elk out to 100 yds with PRB and they do well with this load but for the first time out I think a closer shot will be a better choice, I don't know how much you have been around Elk, practicing on Elk size cuttout made from refrigerator cartons will help in judging distance and shot placement(don't put a bullseye of reference mark on the cutout) and try to get a tight group in the kill zone, this will really hone your shooting skill.

 

[Tom Compton]

Took one 5X5 at 60 yards when I had the .338 WM in hand and wished for my .50. Later hunted elk using my .50 (.495 over 90 gr FFg)and did not feel under gunned if inside 100 yards and proper shot presented itself.

Now have a .54 flintlock so my son can use the .50 poplock.

Thanks for your service and good luck!

TC
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club '69

 

[jmac]

I am curious as to your conical and powder charge. I have used a couple of Renegades, a .50 and a .54 for several years with much success. In the .54 I've used a .530 RB and 70 gr FFF. In the .50 I have tried several diffrent combinations. I've used sabots, lead conicals, cast minies, 295 grain power belts and .490 PRB all with 70-75 gr FFF. With the exception of the sabot [man was that a disaster] and the powerbelt all had an exit wound. The one time the power belt failed to exit was on a 160 class buck which went 75 yards and dropped. The sabot was with a .44 cal .240 grain bullet on a small whitetail doe. She took a single shot in the shoulder and left a blood trail which I followed for two days before it dried up and the doe went unrecovered. True my shot placemant was poor but I have taken several deer using both RB and 300 + grain conicals with similar shot placement and saw short blood trails and quick recoveries. In my experience a sabot is NOT your answer. Unless your shot placement is suspect or you are hitting square into the opposite shoulder I don't understand why you are not seeing exit channels using a heavy soft lead conical.

John

 

[Rafsob]

Welcome to the fire. Sorry you got bushwacked by the stuffed shirts. They think that PRB's were the only bullet used in these old guns.

Like some have said, sabots are not your answer. These are many fine conicals that will do a great job of a through and through shot. But you must give us an idea of what your set up was for these shots of yours. Just don't pay those old fuddy duddies no mine.