Best muzzleloader bullet for elk

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

OH, on your Wolf, did you ever have any issues with the trigger not wanting to go, when you pulled it? 2 or 3 times now, I've had to REALLY squeeze to get the gun to go off. 50 pound trigger pull is not the best for accurate shooting.

That sounds like it could be a rust issue inside or something with the sear. I'd email CVA for info on how to send the gun in for inspection/repair/replacement.

 

[smokepole]

290 gr. Barnes

 

[Drhorsepower]

290 gr. Barnes

What Barnes bullet? Do you have first hand experience?

 

[Kevin Root]

290 gr. Barnes

Welcome to the Eastman's forum smokepole.

 

[smokepole]

What Barnes bullet? Do you have first hand experience?

TMZ, .451 Boat Tail. As a matter of fact I do have a little first hand experience. Over a decade worth. One thing I won't respond to is someone calling me out over a response to a question. We all have different experiences and likes. I don't have to justify what and why I like what I like to you.

 

[CoHiCntry]

TMZ, .451 Boat Tail. As a matter of fact I do have a little first hand experience. Over a decade worth. One thing I won't respond to is someone calling me out over a response to a question. We all have different experiences and likes. I don't have to justify what and why I like what I like to you.

Welcome to the forum... I might be wrong but I don't think he was trying to "call you out". I think he was actually interested to hear your specific experiences.

 

[smokepole]

After re-reading the question I agree, CoHiCntry. Please accept my apology, Drhorsepower and forum members, for being rude and blunt. I am sorry.

I like this bullet because of the ballistic coefficient, terminal performance and the retained bullet weight. Especially on larger big game animals. I believe there's always more than one good bullet to choose from. Another one I have had success with is the Dead Center 300 grain bullet. It too has the attributes as mentioned above.

Both of these bullets are excellent performers. I use Triple 7, FF and FFF for these bullets as well as Blackhorn 209. My rifle is a T/C Omega .50 cal with a Leupold Vari-x II.

 

[Drhorsepower]

After re-reading the question I agree, CoHiCntry. Please accept my apology, Drhorsepower and forum members, for being rude and blunt. I am sorry.

I like this bullet because of the ballistic coefficient, terminal performance and the retained bullet weight. Especially on larger big game animals. I believe there's always more than one good bullet to choose from. Another one I have had success with is the Dead Center 300 grain bullet. It too has the attributes as mentioned above.

Both of these bullets are excellent performers. I use Triple 7, FF and FFF for these bullets as well as Blackhorn 209. My rifle is a T/C Omega .50 cal with a Leupold Vari-x II.

No smokepole, I'm sorry, I can see my previous post taken out of context.

What state do you live in?
I have been playing with the tmz, and the expander mz in my knight. Heading to the shooting range today with my old man, hope to report back better results than before. I'm using 777ffg and trying some mmp sabots.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

TMZ, .451 Boat Tail. As a matter of fact I do have a little first hand experience. Over a decade worth. One thing I won't respond to is someone calling me out over a response to a question. We all have different experiences and likes. I don't have to justify what and why I like what I like to you.

Smokepole.....I don't think DRH was "calling you out"! He's a good guy, a friend, and has been a contributor on this forum for years.

DRH originally started this thread because he is new to muzzleloading this year and he is wanting to sort out which bullet to use for elk hunting. We later asked that people share from there own experience. There are a lot of bullets that shoot accurately from a muzzleloader, but are specifically looking for first hand performance on elk. I'm very much interested in this subject too, with 21 points in Colorado that will most likely be used on a muzzleloader elk hunt in the next year or two.

I don't believe his clarifying questions is "calling you out". When he asked "what barnes bullet" there are several varieties of Barnes bullets. By asking "do you have first hand experience" he's only asking if you have taken elk with that bullet, and maybe you could share your experience.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Little late with my last post. Takes a good man to apologize. Welcome Smokepole!

 

[Old Hunter]

The answer is the Barnes bullets all perform well, and have no problem killing elk. That also includes the Thor which is just a full bore Barnes. Put them in the kill zone, and you have a dead elk.

 

[Eric Bailey]

I finally had a chance to shoot my CVA Wolf compact this past weekend. It is my first muzzleloader. What fun it is! I was shocked at how consistent modern muzzleloaders shoot.

I tried Hornady FPB's and Thor 300 grain bullets and between 80 - 100 grains of BH 209. I had good luck with both bullets but I'm pretty sure I'll be using 100 grains and the Thor bullet as my elk medicine in Colorado this September. You can see a little fire coming out of the 24" barrel at 100 grains, so I didn't figure that adding more powder would do that much. And, the gun weighs a little under 7 lbs, so there is already plenty of excitement at 100 grains. I sighted it in ~1" high at 100 yards with that load and am getting ~3" groups of 5 shots with open sights. I will definitely practice with it more in the weeks ahead, but I would be very confident taking a shot at that distance if the season opened tomorrow. Sure wish it was Sept. 14 already!

 

[Elkoholic307]

I want to hear from experience on this one! What bullet and grain have you had luck with on elk?

I don't have any experience but I'm sure I could find a link of someone else having good results with something. Interested?

 

[ThreeTikkas]

This is a load I worked up for my Disc Extreme .50 a couple years ago for Colorado elk. I haven't drawn a tag as of yet,but this is a shooting sumitch. It's a Bull Shops 430gr UC short over Blackhorn. No after market breech plug. Shot with a scope for load development. The fiber optics are back on waiting for the tag I want. I had them sized .503. Another slug that shot just as well (no target on record) was the 460gr NEx. I just flat love these full bore conicals.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Wow, that a great group!

 

[jarheadhunter]

I have been following this post and I have sent an email to Thor bullets to get a sizing pack. Here is my question though. I have been shooting the Powerbelts in 245 and 290 gr. They shoot and load great in my rifle. If I get the Thor bullets and they don't shoot as well as the powerbelts for whatever reason would you take the accuracy over the solid copper Thor?

Here is my 100 yd group with the Powerbelts. The 3 touching were my last 3 shots after sighting in.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The only problem I've found is that Powerbelts with their plastic cup, tend to leave a plastic buildup in the bore. If you try to use another bullet (like Thor) without a real good bore clean, they don't want to go down the bore. I shoot BP in all my Cowboy shooting and if you use plastic wads in your shotgun, you get the same buildup. Thats why I only use fiber wads. BP (and subs) burns super hot for a longer time when compared to smokeless, hence the melting of the plastic. The plastic is harder to get out of a rifled barrel than a smoothbore shotgun barrel.

Next time you shoot a bullet with a plastic cup on the base, check out your bore and you'll see what I am talking about.

 

[jarheadhunter]

I have looked and all I can really see is a little bit of powder. I shot 20 shots with the powerbelts without cleaning and they were still shooting and loading great.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

As long as you stay with PB's (which are a smaller bullet dia than solids w/o the plastic cup ), you probably won't have a problem. Also when you clean it, you should find some green plastic residue.

Just saying............

 

[jarheadhunter]

Yeah I am sure there was some there just didn't pay that close attention. I am still going to try the Thor if they send me the sizing pack.