Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk muzzleloading

Been trying to decide what to do with my Colorado elk points (7 pts). I can get a decent tag in a couple of units I'm familiar with. It might be time to burn them.....

Which brings me to muzzleliading rifles and bullets. What do you guys use - rifle, caliber, bullet, powder for elk?

Thanks.

I haven’t hunted CO muzzleloader yet but if/when I do it will be with Thor bullets and BH209 in my TC muzzy.

50 caliber minimum for elk in CO, and you'll have the best selection of bullets in 50 cal. so that's what I'd recommend unless you want to shoot round balls, then something bigger would be better. If you don't know the regs, no scopes allowed, fiber optic sights are OK, no sabots, pelleted powder, or smokeless.

I use a T/C Triumph, light and handles good. I use 348 grain powerbelt bullets because they're accurate and easy to load. You'll have people tell you they're no good for elk but I think I've killed 8 or 10 with that bullet and none got away. Saddlesore uses 'em too I think. I think some have had less than optimal performance with lighter weight PBs.

I use Blackhorn 209, great stuff and not nearly as hard on the bore as some other powders. You need a hot primer for it though, 209 only. Hope this helps.

Ditto what Smokepole said.I have probably killed 10-12 elk with them. I also use 370 gr Maxiballs in my side lock and black power too when I feel like plugging a heavier rifle around.

Push the Powerbelts too fast and you will have problems similar to any other pure lead bullet.If you like to stuff 150 grains of powder in your ML then you probably better find a tougher bullet.
Muzzle Loader hunting is just like center ire rifle hunting. It is more important as to where you place the bullet in the animal than what type. Even more so since you don't have a follow up shot if you screw up the first one. You can't go wrong with the heavier bullets

Hmmm guess I'm set. I have a TC Omega, it likes 348 PB, and I dont shoot 150 grains powder. Bonus! I've not tried Blackhorn powder but will give it a whirl.

Now about this open sight thing.......

TC Bone Collector (fancy triumph), peep site, 120 grains Blackhorn 209, 250 grain Thor (muzzy version of Barnes Triple Shock), CCI 209 primer. Just do it. Killed good bulls this year and last year with this combo. Both one shot kills. It just works. I'm sure there are other good choices but after playing around with muzzleloaders for over 30 years this is what I came up with.

PS this 50 cal combo is very flat and knocks the snot out of them. I found both bullets just inside the hide on the off side. 147 yds. last year and 191 yds. this year both with good rests. Drops about a foot at 200 yds. from a bench at the range which is my limit. I have shot the platinum power belts also and in my rifles they are more accurate with less powder. I started with a 54 Renegade w. 100 grains of Pyrodex and a 435 grain Buffalo Bullet years ago and this is light years from there. Almost cheating. Ha.

6 or 7 elk with tc omega, 348gr power belts, 90 or 100gr 777. All one shot kills, broadside except one which was head on at 8 feet. Easy, peasy....

147 yds on the left and 191 yds on the right.

I have the Thor bullet sizing sample pack in the garage, never got around to trying them. I'll give them a try.

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New for 2018, if you want to shoot round balls you must use a .54 or greater...

I use Triple 7 FFFG. 50 caliber. My new beast uses musket caps. 80 grains powder is my set.

The trigger pull on the beach blows....

460 grain No Excuses conical are the pills I prefer.

I use an old Knight MK85 with a Lyman peep sight. Really like this rifle. Shooting 295 Powerbelt bullets and 90 grains Pyrodex. This load shoots really well in my rifle, and the bull I shot with it was pretty impressed too.

Good catch Bean man. I've never used RBs on elk but if I did I think I'd go 58.

Im thinkin’ this one ought to work. Throws a .610 RB pretty good.

610, even better!!

My thinkin’ too! Also like szihn’s advice of using a bit harder(lead) ball in this calibre of rifle for elk. Works good for him.

Stunt shooter here, going .530 RB if I ever get a crack at another. Mostly I wander around the elk woods enjoying the scenery lately lol.

I liked using a no excuses 460 grain .50 with 90 grains of pyrodex.

My Wife’s first muzzloader elk was with a .54 roundball. At 230 grains I think it is a little small but try telling your Wife that.