Yes the shape of the platinum does help quite a bit, but its not bullet proof. Theres only so much a pure lead conical can take, especially with a deep hollow point. I saw a fellow over on my place take the 270gr platinum mule deer hunting with 90gr T7. He shot a big 200lb muley and that platinum turned into a round ball shape when i recovered it. If anything, the 338gr platinum might be the best powerbelt for elk, but again, under 100gr charges. Even the harvester sabertooth bullets suffer from the same issue. Lead, hollow point, high velocity, pan cake / fragment.
Yes the shape of the platinum does help quite a bit, but its not bullet proof. Theres only so much a pure lead conical can take, especially with a deep hollow point. I saw a fellow over on my place take the 270gr platinum mule deer hunting with 90gr T7. He shot a big 200lb muley and that platinum turned into a round ball shape when i recovered it. If anything, the 338gr platinum might be the best powerbelt for elk, but again, under 100gr charges. Even the harvester sabertooth bullets suffer from the same issue. Lead, hollow point, high velocity, pan cake / fragment.
I have killed more than a few elk with the 348 grPB, 80 0r 90 gr of 209 but I fill the HP with a 17 cal air rifle pellet.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
I am really considering using the .54 Lyman flinter with .530" PRB. I have fired hundreds of round balls through this rifle and harvested numerous deer. I really know this rifle. I use a rear aperture peep sight and can consistently swing a 10" gong, off sticks, at 75 yards. I figure that's my maximum elk range even on a broadside shot.
My question is, how fast do I push them for adequate penetration? Obviously elk are larger and wider than whitetails. My go-to round ball load for deer is 100 gr (volume) Goex FFG, 0.015 patch and .530 RB.
Anyone with real-life experience successfully launching round balls at elk?
I wanted to share my recent Colorado elk experience. We saw and heard numerous different bulls. My guide was great. On day 1, he called a beautiful 6x5 in to 85 yards. However, I passed on the shot due to my poor eyesight. On day 5, he called in a very respectable 5x5 satellite bull to 42 yards. God blessed me and I double lunged him with a 365-grain, .54 cal T/C Maxi Ball sitting atop 100 grains of 3F Goex. He's not a B&C record but I am very happy. I recovered the bullet just inside the hide on the off-site. The MaxiBall performed very well; expanded to about 0.60 and still weighed 360 grains.
