Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders .50 or .54 for elk?

preference?

It's Idaho so prolly stuck shooting power Belts. Thanks

Inline or percussion with iron sights only?

.50 cal no excuses bullets with Pyrodex . YOu didn't mention rifle but they come in .500 or 503. I used them in a White super 91 many moons ago and it body slammed a muledeer buck and a nice bull. Good Luck

I doubt there is an elk anywhere that will comment on the difference.

inline thompson. iron sights

Like OEH stated, No Excuse bullets in either 50 or 54 cal wont leave you lacking, easy to load, AND reload and accurate as hell, I shoot the 535 grainers from my old 54 cal. Knight Predator.

They hit like freight trains . The snow surround the muley buck looked like someone sprayed Blood out of a garden hose for a few minutes.

Nice to hear OEH, that's the very reason I keep that old 54 cal Knight MK-85 around, in case I have to hunt a spot that allows iron sights and full bore bullets I wont have to break down a good scoped rig.

Mine has a peep sight, with it you can load and shoot palm and a half sized groups at 100 yards with those No Excuse bullets till you're tired of shooting, clean the thing when your done and put it away.

Fine bullets IMHO.

remember , no 209 ignition in ID. unless its any weapon season

I remember my guide telling me to reload the white after I shot the Mulie LOL. I told him already done. The timex of muzzleloaders it was that fast to reload.

RWS percussion caps don't care if Pyrodex or regular Goex was used.

Are RWS caps known to be hotter than others? I have no experience shooting caps is why I ask.

I believe they are a little hotter, never had an issue with them ever

I tested several brands of #11 caps and nipple combinations, and the combo that works best for me is the RWS #11 cap with hot shot nipples. Sitting in the dark, popping caps, the RWS cap threw much more fire out the muzzle, than any other. Not even close. Combined with Pyrodex "P" powder, and shooting Hornady 425 grain great plains bullets, my .54's crack more like a centerfire rifle....with much less smoke, after the shot....and are scary accurate. To me, this is an indicator of a very complete burn and consistent velocity. I've shot many 3 shot groups under 2" at 100 yds, using peep sights. I've killed several mule deer, alot of whitetails, a couple cow elk, and a huge bodied bull with that combination. All had instant reactions to the shot......even the bull at 135 yds. The only thing I don't like about the load, is the soft lead bullets, we have to use here in Idaho. I'd much rather use a hard cast/flat nose bullet in a sabot.....but we can't. BTW, the two rifles I use are a Remington 700 ml (with XS ghost ring peep) and a Lyman great plains hunter (with the Lyman 57 tang peep and front globe). Same load out of each rifle.
Andy3

Try those no excuses bullets if you have not already.

Oldelkhunter, I have tried them, on paper only. Couldn't get the same accuracy as the hornady bullets. They shot around 3-4" at 100 yds (there was I time I would of been really happy with that!). I believe the soft, concave bases of the hornady bullets make them accurate.....sealing against the bore, like a frog's ass. It's the same softness that I don't like for penetration. BUT, as long as I keep them in the rib cage, and avoid shoulders/leg bones/raking shots, they kill elk just fine.
Andy3

Since you have decided to go with conicals I recommend going with a 50 cal. The only real advantage with a 54 is if you are shooting a round ball. You have plenty of knockdown power with either a 50 or 54 conical. The last elk I got with a soft lead 50 cal conical mushroomed to nearly twice its diameter. With a 50 you have a much greater availability and selection of bullets, sabots, etc. If you want pellets in stead of powder, almost all are 50 cal.

LEGAL IN MUZZLELOADER-ONLY SEASONS
A muzzle loading rifle or musket which:

Is capable of being loaded ONLY from the muzzle.
Is equipped with a single or double-barrel.
Is loaded ONLY with loose black powder OR other loose synthetic black powder.
Is loaded with a patched round ball OR a conical, unjacketed projectile comprised wholly of lead or lead alloy. No sabots.
Is loaded with a projectile that is within .010 of an inch of the bore diameter.
Is equipped ONLY with a flint OR a percussion cap OR a musket cap. 209 primers are prohibited.
Is equipped with an ignition system in which any portion of the cap is clearly exposed and visible when the hammer of the weapon is cocked and ready to fire.
Has no scope, only open or peep sights. Fiber optic open sites are permitted.
Is free of any electronic devices.
Is at least forty-five (.45) caliber for deer, antelope, or mountain lion.
Is at least fifty (.50) caliber for elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or black bear.

https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/weapons/muzzleloader

Like OEH stated, No Excuse bullets in either 50 or 54 cal wont leave you lacking, easy to load, AND reload and accurate as hell, I shoot the 535 grainers from my old 54 cal. Knight Predator.[/quote]

They hit like freight trains . The snow surround the muley buck looked like someone sprayed Blood out of a garden hose for a few minutes.[/quote]

Nice to hear OEH, that's the very reason I keep that old 54 cal Knight MK-85 around, in case I have to hunt a spot that allows iron sights and full bore bullets I wont have to break down a good scoped rig.

Mine has a peep sight, with it you can load and shoot palm and a half sized groups at 100 yards with those No Excuse bullets till you're tired of shooting, clean the thing when your done and put it away.

Fine bullets IMHO.[/quote]

I remember my guide telling me to reload the white after I shot the Mulie LOL. I told him already done. The timex of muzzleloaders it was that fast to reload.[/quote]




LOL, you bet OEH, that's another reason I like the No Excuse bullets, I can actually ram another one home with ease without wiping the bore, they're also soft enough to bump up plenty sealing the bore after being kicked in the tail by 120 gr FFG Blackpowder and an RWS mag cap.

Muzzleloader regs are always interesting. In Idaho, you have to use an exposed cap, but it can be double-barreled!!