Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Which muzzleloader bullet?

What do you all recommend for elk? This is for Colorado, so sabots are out.

JV

I use a .54cal 430 gr T/C Maxibullet that a friend casts for me. I bought the mould 30+ yrs ago and it shoots 3" or less at 100yds. 120 grs of pyrodex in my Renegade and I have a great 150 yd Colorado setup.
John

I asked that a couple months ago and opinions were widely varied. Although I've never shot an animal with one, I have been impressed with the 300gr Thor solid copper bullet in my backyard. I plan to use them this fall in front of 100 or 110 grs of BH 209.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/3809444/1

If I can get them to shoot well, I will be using the 300 gr thor also next fall.

that said, I have killed an elk the last two years with the 350 gr Hornady FPB. Great bullet, accurate, and cheaper than thors or powerbelts.

I also like BH 209, of couse not every gun will shoot it. What gun will you be shooting.

Only shot one elk with BP. It was a traditional hunt, no optics, sabots or the like. Used a 50 cal. with a 320 grain T/C mini Ball. Broke a front shoulder with the first shot, second went through both lungs and exited. Elk only went 30 feet or so.
I am for sure no BP expert, but like most hunting do think shot placement is far more important that what bullet.

I'm shooting factory open sights so I'm not going to talk about my group size but, last week my brother shot 300gr Thors and 300gr fpb's out of a scoped Knight disc at 100 yds. They were ALL in the same 2 1/2" group.

Jester,

Your brother must practice a lot!

Folks.....if you go the lead route you are doing yourself a great injustice if you don't strongly consider No Excuses Bullets. They are simply the best conical I have ever shot, and it appears that I am not alone in that judgment. Take a serious look at them...they shoot great groups and knock a hell of a hole in the animal.

http://www.muzzleloading-bullets.com/

What rifle?

I agree as long as your rifle will shoot them. Chances are a T/C with a QLA won't. My omega shoots no excuses at 5-8 inch groups at 25 yards! That is NOT the bullets fault. But it will shoot thors, FPBs, and powerbelts OK due to the rear bell skirt that locks the gasses in. But then, the Omega is not designed for conicals, only sabots. Yes, some of them will shoot conicals OK, but you have to be lucky to get one that does.

If my gun shot no excuses well, I would seriously think about using them. I have heard only praises from terminal performance.

I have a Traditions in-line I bought from Bass Pro Shops in 2002 that is almost identical to the E-Bolt. I don't remember the model name, but I think it was sold exclusively through Bass Pro. I used it that season in Virginia, but moved west in 2003 and have not drawn a muzzleloader tag since then. I'm thinking about picking up a new muzzleloader though, one that's easier to clean, and more accurate. I'm looking at the CVA Accura and a few others.

I picked up some 270 grain Platinum Powebelt bullets and some 325 grain TC Maxi-Balls on sale. I'm sure the latter would be good for elk, but I wonder if the Powerbelts would open up too soon.

JV

The Platinum Powerbelts work great, much more controlled expansion versus the traditional Powerbelts. I still prefer the Hornady FPB, however, given the cost of the Platinums.

If you're serious about that Accura, check out Midway USA right now. Heck of a deal going on.

I have had the 54 348G aero-tip not exit on the broadside shot of a 180lb deer. Rifle was a Lyman deerstalker 1/48 twist. I just do not have confidence in these bullets for big stuff. With a 54 cal. hole I am looking for more penetration than this on an elk.

I am going to be trying the No-Excuse conicals as I just drew a bull tag for unit 43.

I'm loaded with a round ball in the Mortimer, a 540 grain (can't get 'em any more?)TC Maxi-hunter in the .54 (used to use a Precision Rifle "Ultimate 1 Colorado Conical"), and a Cabela's 450 grain "x-tended range conical in the 50 cal. Any of them will kill an elk, some closer, some farther away. But I've only killed a couple of elk with a muzzleloader, so heck if I know what's best for you to use.

I shot these heah 54 cal. bullets into soaking-wet newspaper. I forget exactly how fast they were going, but I usually use modest loads of around 100 grains of FFg for conicals and more for round balls;
left-to-right: round ball, 460 grain round-nose flat-base Buffalo Bullet, 425 grain hollow-point hollow-base Buff bullet, 425 grain Hornady Great Plains, and 540 grain Maxi-Hunter.

Nice picture. I have never understood the "need" for a hollowpoint in soft lead either.

I really like the looks of that 460 grain round-nose flat-base Buffalo Bullet. Decent expansion and short profile for a 1/48 twist. Where did you get those?

djb....give that guy an email and he will be glad to give you suggested loads that work for the bullet chosen, etc. He was such a nice guy in his email....just asked me what I needed and said "Its in the mail...send me a check when you receive it." The customer service aspect (along with the bullet performance of course) really sold me on his product.

I am not surprised they didn't shoot in some guns....I get the feeling that they are designed for "traditional" muzzleloaders, but am not sure on that.

Umm..I don't know. I'm afraid that most of the stuff I shoot is unavailable/outdated these days. I think they shut down some time ago.... Its lucky that I buy in bulk.

Thanks. I will take your advice.

I have become a "hoarder" of late when I find something I like. Those bullets look a lot like a lengthened Ball-et I have tried before.

I had a gentleman cast some Lee REAL's for me and they shoot well, problem is they are so undersized that I can literally shake them out of the bore.

i've killed several elk with the same ml, a 50 cal tc black diamond shooting 100gr of pyrodex and 348gr hollow point powerbelts. all were one shot kills and all were braodside at less than 100 yards except for one cow coming head on and shot at a distance of 8 steps. i gave that gun away and now use my old 54cal tc renegade. a couple elk killed at less than 100 yards, one using great plains bullet and maybe 2 using the maxi hunter.