Need Advice on a Elk Muzzleloader

[Hiker]

I will be mainly hunting Elk with this weapon and have been looking at the .50 Cal. Stainless/Synthetic NEF (NESPS050- New England Firearms Sidekick 50Cal 24 inch) Stainless, Synthetic Stock that's on sale for $176. @ Dallas Tactical Supplies.
My questions, what MZ do you think is the best buy for the money? for Elk .50 or .54? I plan on hunting out of state with this MZ too, not just Colorado. How far could I expect to harvest a elk with a well placed shot? with sabots and powerbelts? the NEF Sidekick has a 26" barrell @ a additional $50 is the extra money worth it? any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[roundball]

If it was me and I had to buy a new rifle anyway, of those two choices you mentioned, I'd get the larger .54cal. Given a greater choice overall, I'd personally use a .58cal patched round ball.
One example would be to call TC's Fox Ridge at 800-243-4570 and buy a TC Hawken in .58caliber.

If you're dead set on an inline, however, I'm afraid you'll need to check around with some other ML sites for inline dteails as this site is pretty well limited to discussions about the traditional styled muzzleloaders.

(But consider the .58cal Hawken...I'll bet that you'll never regret it :thumbsup: )

 

[tg]

I would also go with a conventional type sidelock in .54 or .58 with RB, the experience will be very much worthwhile and open up an entire new world of hunting to you....and you will do well to put aside any info from mainstream sports mags dealing with ML hunting, heavy on opinion and promotion, light on facts..good luck.

 

[ffffg]

grey beard has a modern ml discussion forum.. [url] http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpnuke/index.php[/url] i just made a .62 cal for round ball, great elk gun.. .. the bigger the projectile the more energy down range, the longer the projectile, the more energy retained downrange,, hence the bullet and the rest is history.. dave

 

[Hiker]

Thanks for the advice. Like I said I'm brand new to Black Powder, so I'll keep reading and who knows, I might go the traditional route. The only experience I've had with MZ hunting when I was in High School. I beat the bush all day for my friends dad and after we were finished hunting for the day he couldn't get his gun to fire, so all those scrapes and rips in my flesh were for nothing. I just want to make sure when I hunt my tail off and hike 10 miles per day and get close enough to a shooter bull my gun fires and hits where I'm holding.
How about a White MZ that shoots percussion caps? My family lives on wild meat and I want to make sure I do my best in choosing the best firearm to fill my freezer.
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Slenk]

Thanks for the advice. Like I said I'm brand new to Black Powder, so I'll keep reading and who knows, I might go the traditional route. The only experience I've had with MZ hunting when I was in High School. I beat the bush all day for my friends dad and after we were finished hunting for the day he couldn't get his gun to fire, so all those scrapes and rips in my flesh were for nothing. I just want to make sure when I hunt my tail off and hike 10 miles per day and get close enough to a shooter bull my gun fires and hits where I'm holding.
How about a White MZ that shoots percussion caps? My family lives on wild meat and I want to make sure I do my best in choosing the best firearm to fill my freezer.
Thanks,
Jeff

Hiker
Inlines are no more reliable than the side locks flint or percussion .
A few years ago I let my youngest son talk me into useing an inline :cursing: Short Story . My son had a shot at a nice bull his gun want pop , and then I hear sh-- and then Dad had to shot the Bull ( spike) and I had a cow tag too , well there went my cow tag. Any way what I am saying is you have to do your part for your gun to shoot . Wheather it a inline or side lock . By the way we booth sold the inlines and I will not own another.Went back to Flintlocks.
Slenk
went back to my flintlocks .

 

[BillinOregon]

Another reason to go traditional is that if you want to hunt out of state, some states such as Oregon now require that you use a traditional weapon during muzzleloader seasons: no in-lines, no fiber-optic sights. Try traditional. You'll like it. For elk, go .54 or larger in a roundball gun.

 

[dwarvenchef]

This thread makes me glad I am working on a 58 PC(pre-40) Hawken. Been reading lots of great articles here :thumbsup:

 

[BS]

Read this article on choosing a muzzleloader:
Link to firstgun

 

[Gleason.Chapman]

Forget the PowerBelts for elk. They don't penetrate. I did a lot of testing on this subject last year, see:
[url] http://www.the-gleasons.com/bullets_penetration_tests_for_mu.htm[/url]

Chap Gleason

 

[tg]

I read the article and the quote below was the only thing that really stood out as being baloney, most of the article was fairly well done and could be helpfull to someone choosing a ML.

"when the rifle is thoroughly cleaned after each shooting session, it will have to be cleaned with the barrel in place. This presents a multitude of problems, from the cleaning being an awkward procedure because the gun is so long, to the possibility of getting water between the gun stock and the metal parts of the gun.'

 

[Stumpkiller]

When the rifle is thoroughly cleaned after each shooting session, it will have to be cleaned with the barrel in place. This presents a multitude of problems, from the cleaning being an awkward procedure because the gun is so long, to the possibility of getting water between the gun stock and the metal parts of the gun.

All true, but nothing that can't be overcome with a toothpick/feather and either a small funnel or a turkey baster if you have a low ceiling.

 

[Hiker]

Good article. Insightful thoughts, Thanks.

 

[Hiker]

Thanks, Did you run any tests on the .50?

 

[Hiker]

Slenk,
Thanks for your imput. That feeling that your son had is why I'm researching this. I don't want to repeat it.

 

[Hiker]

Bill,

I appreciate your advice and will have to look at that if I go to states like OR.

 

[pennsyltucky]

doubt ull be huntin here any time soon but pennsylvania is flintlock long guns only. if u want to go high power, the t/c firestorm is a flinter that takes the magnum charges and saboted bullets.

if i were going to go on an elk hunt, id definately be lookin into a rifled .62 gun to take. ballistic products sells a lot of 20 gauge sabots and slugs that would be pretty deadly in a rifled barrel.... even a smooth bore .62 if im in more brushy country.

a t/c renegade with a rifled .58 drop in barrel would be good too

all my opinions of course....

 

[BS]

I will be mainly hunting Elk with this weapon and have been looking at the .50 Cal. Stainless/Synthetic NEF (NESPS050- New England Firearms Sidekick 50Cal 24 inch) Stainless, Synthetic Stock that's on sale for $176. @ Dallas Tactical Supplies.
My questions, what MZ do you think is the best buy for the money? for Elk .50 or .54? I plan on hunting out of state with this MZ too, not just Colorado. How far could I expect to harvest a elk with a well placed shot? with sabots and powerbelts? the NEF Sidekick has a 26" barrell @ a additional $50 is the extra money worth it? any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Jeff

Hiker,

Time to look on my webpage, these are all "ELK" guns!

Well maybe not the double, but most are!

Link to MY Black Powder Page

 

[Idaho Elk Hunter]

Definately go with 54 or 58 caliber and use patched roundball instead of the many types of bullets out there. My opinion anyway. Have hunted elk for over 30 yrs with black powder rifles and I only use traditional. In-lines will not fire just as easy as traditional rifles. I shoot 54 caliber Great Plains with 1-66 twist and deep groove for patch and roundball. Deadly accurate and superb knockdown. I would buy a 58 over 54 next time though.

 

[Bill41]

Like some have already said it depends on where you will be hunting.
Some states are traditional only.
Any ML you have to keep clean or you will have trouble.
If you are going to go whole hog and really get into it then I would buy a .62 cal. More knock down power with PRB. One thing to keep in mind though is that you will probably have to cast your own ball. Yes you can order them from TOW or other places, but that takes time. Most sporting good stores carry round ball up to .58, along with other required shooting supplies, so you may want to consider that.