Elk Muzzleloader

[mustang8]

Any thoughts or suggestions on a 50 cal round for elk? Have shot alot of deer in Wisconsin with the muzzleloader but never an elk. Typically shoot about 110 grains of powder and a saboted down bullet. But need to figure out a 50 cal round for Colorado and not sure on just how big i need to go. Would a 270 grain be good? Too light? Id like to be shooting really good out to around 150 yds. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or direction to start. Luke

 

[JimP]

I used a 300 grain Thor bullet on my last muzzle loader bull elk and 90 grains of Pyrodex. He was at 120 yards and I hit him 3 out of 4 shots. I only recovered one bullet that broke ribs going in and out lodging on the far side hide.

All the shots were killing shots, but a lot of people asked me why I shot him 3 times. I just tell them that with a elk you keep shooting until he is either out of sight or down on the ground.

Here is the recovered Thor bullet and one next to it for a comparison.

 

[Winchester]

FYI from the 2023 CO Big Game Brochure, HUNTING LAWS:

MUZZLELOADING RIFLES & SMOOTHBORE MUSKETS
a. Only legal muzzleloaders allowed in muzzleloading seasons.
b. In-line muzzleloaders are legal.
c. Must be a single barrel that fires a single round ball or conical projectile.
d. To hunt deer, pronghorn or bear, conical bullets must be a minimum of .40 caliber, and round-ball bullets must be a minimum of .50 caliber.
e. To hunt elk or moose, conical bullets must be a minimum of .50 caliber, and round-ball bullets must be a minimum of .54 caliber.
f. From .40 caliber to .50 caliber, bullets must weigh a minimum of 170 grains.
g. If greater than .50 caliber, bullets must weigh a minimum of 210 grains.
h. Shotshell primers and B.O.R. Lock MZ System bullets are legal.
i. Pelletized powder systems are prohibited during muzzleloading seasons.
j. Cannot be loaded from the breech during muzzleloading seasons.
k. Only open or iron sights allowed in muzzleloading seasons. Fiber optics and fluorescent paint incorporated into or on open or iron sights are legal. Scopes or any sighting device using artificial light, batteries and electronic gear are prohibited during muzzleloading seasons.
l. Sabots are prohibited during muzzleloading seasons. Cloth patches are not sabots.
m. Smokeless powder is prohibited in muzzleloading seasons. Black powder and black-powder substitutes are legal.
n. Electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to muzzleloader during muzzleloading seasons

 

[idcwby]

Does conical projectile mean lead only?

 

[JimP]

Does conical projectile mean lead only?

No, Powerbelts and Thor's are legal and some of the Barnes that don't include a sabot. There may be some others out there but those are the only three that I know of that also. The Thor's are manufactured by Barnes.

 

[idcwby]

No, Powerbelts and Thor's are legal and some of the Barnes that don't include a sabot. There may be some others out there but those are the only three that I know of that also. The Thor's are manufactured by Barnes.

Hornady has a new one that would qualify than, bore-rider or something like that.

 

[RICMIC]

Having the advantage of my own rifle range (200yds.) allowed me to spend the time to find what works best for my 50 cal. TC Omega. Most inlines are rated for a max of 150 grains of powder, but that should never be your starting point. I started at 100 gr. of Shockey Gold, and over several months shot for group size and measured velocity with a chrono. It is difficult to do this without close access to a range because of the time involved, as I only shot 5 to 10 rounds per session. Generally speaking, as you try different loads you will find a point that more powder adds a lot more smoke, flash, and recoil, with a corresponding loss of accuracy. Fastest isn't always bestest.
I found my sweet spot using Blackhorn 209 powder with 300 grain Thor bullets, at .501 diameter. Using this load in CO, I shot a 4x4 mule deer at 204 yards, and a 5x5 elk at 128 yards. The elk ran out of sight before I was able to complete a reload, but we found it DOA a short time later. Your results may well be different with your rifle.

 

[RICMIC]

I forgot to post that I used 110 gr. of #209 powder. I also use sabot bullets for deer in Minnesota, and would continue to do so if we still had any deer left in the NE part of the state. I found that I could shoot more accurately at longer distances with them, but that's not an option in CO. A huge upgrade is installing a peep sight.

 

[mustang8]

Yeah Williams has a pretty slick looking peep sight optic setup. Probably going to go that route. Well thanks for all of the input fellas! Looks my initial thoughts weren't terribly far off, probably going to start in that 110 grain area and also try 100 grain of powder. Then probably around that 300 grain bullet size also, probably Thor. I've heard good things! Thanks. Luke

 

[RICMIC]

I had also changed my front sight to a "Globe" sight. There were various inserts that you could change out. I had shot the mule deer at 204 yds., and the factory fiber optic front sight totally blocked out the deer at that distance....but it did the job. On a later deer hunt in CO, I found that tho the insert was a big improvement at the range, it was a detriment in the woods because it was often hard to see. I switched back to the FO for the elk that I shot a couple years later.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

I will be heading to Colorado for Muzzleloader Elk this year as well. (Assuming that I draw that is.)
I will be taking my TC Renegade .50 cal with a 1-28'' twist Green Mountain Barrel.
I am shooting a 460 gr Bullshop conical on top of a dry wool wad pushed by 85 weighed grains of Swiss 2F powder. I have a Lyman 57 SML rear peep sight along with a .040 green fiber optic front sight.
With this set up I am able to hit a target the size of a bread toaster at 200 yards.(Elk vitals MOA)
I tried using the front globe sights with the inserts. But like many others have said, they are difficult to see in a lot of real time hunting situations. Hence the reason I am using the green fiber optic front sight. It is much easier for your eyes to pick up.

 

[DRUSS]

Yeah Williams has a pretty slick looking peep sight optic setup. Probably going to go that route. Well thanks for all of the input fellas! Looks my initial thoughts weren't terribly far off, probably going to start in that 110 grain area and also try 100 grain of powder. Then probably around that 300 grain bullet size also, probably Thor. I've heard good things! Thanks. Luke

I am curious if you ended up trying the Williams sights or not? I bought some for my knight and like them. even got a couple extra cards cera-coted to see if visibility was much different.

 

[mustang8]

I did not end up going with the williams. My hunting buddy did and he thought it was ok, but in low light he didnt like it at all. Hard to see.

 

[RICMIC]

The Globe inserts would be just the ticket for a deer or elk on an open hillside. But, it is a whole different situation when you are trying to see it in the brush or timber. If you are happy with it on the range, be sure to do some sighting in on a decoy that is a ways away & in some brush.

 

[mallardsx2]

Now that I see Colorado has officially made a statement about the SEEALL sights not being legal (which blows my mind btw) do they make a globe sight with a fiber optic in it?

 

[JimP]

Now that I see Colorado has officially made a statement about the SEEALL sights not being legal (which blows my mind btw) do they make a globe sight with a fiber optic in it?

Where did you see this at?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'd like to know too as I have one on my M/L and have for 10 years. I called CP&W before i BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LEGAL.

 

[JimP]

Even reading the description of legal sights in the guide book they are legal.

k. Only open or iron sights allowed in muzzleloading seasons. Fiber optics and fluorescent paint incorporated into or on open or iron sights are legal. Scopes or any sighting device using artificial light, batteries and electronic gear are prohibited during muzzleloading seasons.

 

[mallardsx2]

Where did you see this at?

Illl have to track it down but I saw a memo a few months back from the cpw specifically stating they were illegal.

 

[mallardsx2]

In 2016, I called and they said it was legal and I hunted with one in Colorado. But years later this letter says something different.