Newbie Elk questions

[Russ Vernon]

Hi all! This is my first post! I am excited about learning new stuff on this list. Here in Idaho, there is a "traditional" hunt where a muzzleloader can be used, but must be loaded with the traditional projectiles. Either patched round ball or lead conical. No sabot, etc. I plan on using my 50 cal on cow elk and wondered if the 385 grain Hornady is sufficient out to 100 yards or so. I wont try for one further than 150 yards. My rife is the Traditions Panther and it really gives me a push back with heavier loads, but will use what you guys deem best. Is the 385 OK or should I go heavier? If so, what should I use?

Thanks much!

Russ

 

[roundball]

Hi all! This is my first post! I am excited about learning new stuff on this list. Here in Idaho, there is a "traditional" hunt where a muzzleloader can be used, but must be loaded with the traditional projectiles. Either patched round ball or lead conical. No sabot, etc. I plan on using my 50 cal on cow elk and wondered if the 385 grain Hornady is sufficient out to 100 yards or so. I wont try for one further than 150 yards. My rife is the Traditions Panther and it really gives me a push back with heavier loads, but will use what you guys deem best. Is the 385 OK or should I go heavier? If so, what should I use?
Thanks much!
Russ

I've never shot anything larger than a whitetail in the 150-200 pound range...a couple with the .45cal/285grn and a couple with the .50cal/385grn Hornady Great Plains bullets, but all were 40-50 yards and the 50cal was just over-kill for a whitetail at that distance.

Knowing what round balls weighing only 128, 180, 230, and 279grns do to a whitetail, surely that 385grn projectile will do the job on an Elk.

PS: 150yds is a long way...you'll probably want to work hard at figuring out a good zero and really, really know your trajectory well at distance, get a rock solid rest, etc...that big slug will do the job if it hits the boiler room, you just have to be sure you can get it in the boiler room at 150yds every time...(a paper plate, etc).

Enjoy!
:front:

 

[BS]

The 385 is a hollow point , you should try the 410 with a MMP-sub base. Also look at the No-Excuses 460. You need penitration, not expansion.

Also search wads
putting a felt or card under your lead bullet will keep the gasses from cutting the base and ruining accuracy! [sometimes]

Also do a search on elk
you should get about 357 itms to look at. Or about 4 pages back is 'perfect elk and moose rifle' or something simular.

 

[silverfox]

Rusteydust: I'm not and Elk hunter so not much help there but I shoot both the Hornaday 385 and the Buffalo bullets 385. Both give good 100 yd groups so accuracy is good. Now I have shot deer out to 135 steps and have always had complete pass through with less than 50 yards trail to downed animal. I also shot a large Auodad quartering at 95 yards shot front shoulder recovered the bullet under hide on oposite rear quarter. IMHO that bullet is good enough for cow elk at the ranges you are talking about.
Have a good hunt: Fox :thumbsup:

 

[finaddict]

Hey Rusteydust welcome to the forum. I live in CO and am going after cow elk during muzzloading season here.

I have a CVA Kodiak .50 and will be using a 348gr. Powerbelt Aerotip bullet over 100 gr. Pyrodex RS.

I also have a .54 Lyman GPR that I will also use (maybe more than the inline) that will be shooting a PRB (patched round ball) over 90gr. Goex BP.

That being said here in CO it's roundball or conical only. No sabots and also no scopes. It's open sights only. I have sighted both rifles to hit a 100 yd. zero and feel comfortable with that range. I honestly believe the shot I end up taking will be less than 100yds. This is only my second year hunting big game and have never dropped anything large to date. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I hope this info helps give you some ideas. I wish you the best in your hunt. Good luck. eace:

 

[canyonman]

Check out www.prbullet.com they have a ton of choices also. I like as heavy of a bullet that will shoot accurately out of my gun for elk, that being said, if the 385 grain Hornady was the one I would be fine with that. Aim for the chest and try to keep it 100 yds. or less and you'll be eating elk steak this winter. ::

Larry

 

[peeweet]

Hey Rusty are you going for that cow hunt in unit 39? I thought about that one myself. :front:

 

[tg]

With whatever modern or period conical you choose keep the shot at 75-80 yds max with the .50 cal. I have used a .50 rb with good results but limited the shot to 50yds or less, I believe the biggest problem with ML hunting whether it be rb or modern bullets is shooting to far.

 

[blackhorse]

Muzzleloading elk season is coming quick here in Colorado. I pulled a bull tag in GMU 501 I also pulled a buck tag for the same unit with the additional units attached, deer and elk ML is at the same time.. Last weekend, we scouted the area and I sighted my Mortimer flintlock rifle in at 75 yds with roundball.

 

[Russ Vernon]

Hi Vern

I think that is where we are planning on going. Between Horseshoe Bend and Idaho city. Have you ever hunted there? My buddy got a nice cow there last year. I sure would like a nice fat cow for my freezer this year.

 

[peeweet]

I am embaressed to say that I don't have my regs right here with me :crackup: I usually hunt up above Anderson ranch dam. We have taken a few nice cows out of there.I am running out of buddies who want to use sidelocks,so if you ever want someone else to hunt these traditional hunts with call me Russ. Vern