Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders What bullet and propellant for elk in Hawken 50 traditional.

I will be after a cow elk in unit 61 Colorado. Not sure what improvements have been made in components.
What weight bullets to use? What brand bullet? How much propellant and what load. I guess regular shotgun primers are still the best.
Would a 285 gr bullet be better than a heavier one?
I want as much internal damage as possible and an exit hole.
Aero tip? Hollow point? No sabots allowed.
Any tips appreciated. 100 yards maximum shot, I hope.
Probably my last hunt in area 61. Hit 73 this year.

Thanks to all.

You could try this and see how it works for ya...holdin less than an inch for 4 shots @100

Jimbob: First, hope you're doing well, and if I'm hunting elk in 61 at 73, I'll consider myself one lucky man. This was last year, did I ever show you this one:



My .50 Hawken always shot the 385 (hollow point) and 410 grain (flat point) Hornady Great Plains bullets very well with 80-90 grains of Pyrodex.

If the shots are 100 or less, I'd use a bullet in the 350-450 grain range, no need to go lighter.

Edited to add: That Harvester 300 looks pretty good too!!

Can your Hawken use a shotgun primer? Never seen one so adapted.

If you have a chance try all theabove. Here is my 2 bits PRB.

Since it's a traditional gun, I'd use as much Goex 3f behind a patched round ball that would still give me good accuracy.

How many elk you killed with that load, swampy?

20 or 30 at least....

The point being......

It's the only load I'd shoot in a .50 traditional rifle on something as big as an elk.....

That you have no experience with your recommended load on elk.

That's all the original poster needs to know.

The fact that it's "the only load you'd shoot at something as big as an elk" (if you ever did actually hunt elk) further illuminates the quality of your information, thanks for that.

I've actually lost count of the number of elk I've harvested with that load.

.50cal sidelock i'd go with a conical over the patched round ball. Now if it were a 54 thats another story.

What brand of hawken?

Thompson Center Hawken purchased in 1978 with adapter to allow shotgun primers.

Yes, smokepole you did show me that photo of the big bull. Great animal. And with archery WOW!!! Is that the one the big bear came so close to you?
Thanks to all for the recommendations.

deg967
Are you using a shotgun primer?
Hard for me to read all the info on your tight grouped target. Please send me the exact load. Powder and how much,primer# and what bullet and where to find it.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

hes also using sabots in that group.

Lets see some pics of these Elk...Dare ya....

Maybe hundreds.....

460 gn. no excuse bullet w/90 gns. FFF black set off w/ a musket cap.

Gunner

My TC Hawkin is about a 78 vintage.I have always used the Maxi Ball.I think it is in the 385 gr weight class. Just can't remember at present. Several elk have fllen to it.
The photo posted above,doesn't mean much as you can't use a scope in CO and typically the Hawkins don't digest Power Belts and those type of bullets well.

My load is 90 gr of 777 and a TC Maxiball

Saddle, 370gr tc maxi ball perhaps?

Yep!!