Best muzzleloader bullet for elk

C

chasingAZelk

New Member
Jun 3, 2013
14
0
Phoenix AZ
TC Black Diamond with Nikon scope for ML. 130g pyrodex pellets with lead power belts. Have killed multiple animals with this setup ( elk antelope deer). Live and hunt in Arizona
 
CoHiCntry

CoHiCntry

Veteran member
Mar 31, 2011
1,390
21
Colorado Mountains
Got my sizing pack. I was a little surprised to be able to get all of them down the barrel without to much problem. Guess I'll be going with the .503. Terry (I think that's his name) recommended the 250gr. bullet when I told him I wanted it for all western big game from antelope up to Elk. I asked why he didn't recommend the larger 300gr. and he stated that Thor (Barnes) have 25-30% more penetration so the 250 would be more than enough. His only comment on the 300gr. was "some people just like bigger bullets". Looking forward to shooting them now...
 
FrontierMuzzleloading

FrontierMuzzleloading

Member
Apr 7, 2011
62
0
Boncarbo Colorado
www.FrontierMuzzleloadin.Powerguild.net
CoHiCntry said:
Got my sizing pack. I was a little surprised to be able to get all of them down the barrel without to much problem. Guess I'll be going with the .503. Terry (I think that's his name) recommended the 250gr. bullet when I told him I wanted it for all western big game from antelope up to Elk. I asked why he didn't recommend the larger 300gr. and he stated that Thor (Barnes) have 25-30% more penetration so the 250 would be more than enough. His only comment on the 300gr. was "some people just like bigger bullets". Looking forward to shooting them now...
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What gun are you shooting?
 
CoHiCntry

CoHiCntry

Veteran member
Mar 31, 2011
1,390
21
Colorado Mountains
FrontierMuzzleloading said:
What gun are you shooting?
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Thompson Center Omega .50 cal. He's going to send me a split pack of .502 and .503 so I can try them at the range. Both went down stiff but I could get them down easy enough with my "in the field" ramrod. Both showed rifling marks on the base of the bullet, .503 was just a little more pronounced. I just figured when I got to the bigger one's I'd eventually not be able to get it down or get it down but it would be to hard for hunting applications.
 
O

Orion/CO

New Member
Jul 12, 2013
42
0
Giving my input to the original subject, I shot a bull moose and a cow elk last year with my TC 50cal Hawken using 100gr Triple 7 and 460gr No Excuses slugs. The No Excuses slugs are about the largest you can shoot here in CO with a 50 cal (length cannot exceed twice the diameter, and no pelletized powder or sabots, and iron sights only). The No Excuses slugs shot very well, although with that heavy of a slug and with a full powder load it packed a hefty kick (Triple 7 supposedly burns 20% hotter than black powder or Pyrodex, so I was told not to exceed 100gr). The bottom line is that I dropped my bull moose in his tracks with a 120 yard shot, and then a follow up shot at 20 feet, but BOTH slugs did not pass through. Two days later I shot a cow elk at about 50 yards, and dropped it in its tracks, but again the slug did not fully pass through. In the end I was glad that both animals dropped in their tracks, but I would have preferred a pass through shot to ensure that the lungs deflate and the animal will not go far. Here are pics of the No Excuses 460 gr slug I recovered from my moose.Moose slugs.jpg
 
Old Hunter

Old Hunter

Banned
Dec 28, 2011
1,104
0
Buena Vista, Co.
Orion/CO said:
Giving my input to the original subject, I shot a bull moose and a cow elk last year with my TC 50cal Hawken using 100gr Triple 7 and 460gr No Excuses slugs. The No Excuses slugs are about the largest you can shoot here in CO with a 50 cal (length cannot exceed twice the diameter, and no pelletized powder or sabots, and iron sights only). The No Excuses slugs shot very well, although with that heavy of a slug and with a full powder load it packed a hefty kick (Triple 7 supposedly burns 20% hotter than black powder or Pyrodex, so I was told not to exceed 100gr). The bottom line is that I dropped my bull moose in his tracks with a 120 yard shot, and then a follow up shot at 20 feet, but BOTH slugs did not pass through. Two days later I shot a cow elk at about 50 yards, and dropped it in its tracks, but again the slug did not fully pass through. In the end I was glad that both animals dropped in their tracks, but I would have preferred a pass through shot to ensure that the lungs deflate and the animal will not go far. Here are pics of the No Excuses 460 gr slug I recovered from my moose.View attachment 6126
Click to expand...
The length law on the bullet doesn't apply anymore in Colorado anymore. It hasn't for a couple of years.
 
Umpqua Hunter

Umpqua Hunter

Veteran member
May 26, 2011
3,576
88
61
North Umpqua, Oregon
Orion/CO said:
Giving my input to the original subject, I shot a bull moose and a cow elk last year with my TC 50cal Hawken using 100gr Triple 7 and 460gr No Excuses slugs. The No Excuses slugs are about the largest you can shoot here in CO with a 50 cal (length cannot exceed twice the diameter, and no pelletized powder or sabots, and iron sights only). The No Excuses slugs shot very well, although with that heavy of a slug and with a full powder load it packed a hefty kick (Triple 7 supposedly burns 20% hotter than black powder or Pyrodex, so I was told not to exceed 100gr). The bottom line is that I dropped my bull moose in his tracks with a 120 yard shot, and then a follow up shot at 20 feet, but BOTH slugs did not pass through. Two days later I shot a cow elk at about 50 yards, and dropped it in its tracks, but again the slug did not fully pass through. In the end I was glad that both animals dropped in their tracks, but I would have preferred a pass through shot to ensure that the lungs deflate and the animal will not go far. Here are pics of the No Excuses 460 gr slug I recovered from my moose.View attachment 6126
Click to expand...
Orion, welcome to the forum. Thanks for the good input. I like that bullet and use it in Oregon where only all lead conicals are legal. I may use it in Colorado as well when the time comes.
 
J

jarheadhunter

Member
Jun 11, 2013
56
0
Does anyone see a difference in the Tipped Thor bullets vs the Hollow points? Just wondering if it makes that much of a difference.
 
J

jarheadhunter

Member
Jun 11, 2013
56
0
Ok another question for you if you don't mind. I just ordered 50 of the Tipped 300 gr bullets. Is the little attachment needed to push them in? I would think they would be fine without it?
 
J

jarheadhunter

Member
Jun 11, 2013
56
0
FrontierMuzzleloading said:
as long as you have a loading jag that doesnt bite into the bullet tip and booger it up. I use a regular barnes loading jag since thors are basically a full bore diameter barnes.

Did you get the sample kit so you know which size you need?
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Yes sir I decided to go with the .501 I believe. The .500 went in easy and the .502 were a struggle. So decided to go with the .501.
 
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