Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Hawken for elk hunt

Correction, nipple and drum.

The only warning is about not being able to clean out the powder channel on a sidelock. Its perfectly safe to use in a sidelock. Years ago, Western Powders even Ok'd me on using 5g 3fg down the bore first to light it off with a #11 cap. A 209 adapter is even better.

I only hunted a half day or two of our Mountaineer Heritage season. Removed the 209 primer from the Mag Spark, then some days (weeks?) later took it to my club along with my clays shotgun, replaced the primer, pointed it downrange and let ‘er rip. Much easier than pulling the bullet and digging the powder out, and a couple of patches with solvent had it clean. I check it now and then and it remains spotless.

Oh yeah, that emptying shot was just as fast and strong as the ones I fired to sight in pre-season. For me, the concept is proven sound, and gives me another choice in these troubled times of hit and miss supplies.

Lyman gph flintlock, using the platinum 300 (1650fps) and 338 (1630fps) exclusively about 15yrs. Interchangeable for deer because for practical purposes point of impact is the same, never change the sight between them. Elk was with the 338, bullet found as a bump under hide on far shoulder.

Thank you for the information. Just what I was looking for.

I had a chance to shoot the Hornady 290gr Bore Driver and the Powerbelt 338 platinum this morning for my bullet test. I shot both into 1/2" plywood backed up by gallon jugs filled with water. The Hornady at 1650 fps was caught in the 4th jug. The jacket had curled back onto itself and lost the lead core. There was two small pieces of lead and a third that was about 40 gr. The powerbelt went through the plywood and the five jugs of water. Didn't catch anything. I guess I should have had a few more jugs of water. The target was a 50 yards away.

How did the elk hunt go?

Prying minds.....

LHS