Colorado elk

goldhunter · Jul 20, 2016

I'm headed to Colorado this year. I shot the Barnes TEZ bullet last year, obviously won't work this year. So I was looking at the Hornady FPB's.

Optima rifle, probably go with 100 gr BH 209.

Anybody using these bullets or have any thoughts?

txhunter58 · Jul 20, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jul-21-16 AT 05:59AM (MST)[p]
Between my brother and I we have killed 4 elk with FPBs. They have performed very well. My elk load is 90-95 gr BH 209 and the 350 gr bullet. It flies flat out to 150 yds so don't see any reason to use the 300 for elk

If you want to stick with a Barnes type bullet you can try Thor bullets. great bullets but have to be sized to you specific gun and he sometimes runs out of bullets in the fall.

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

goldhunter · Jul 21, 2016

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

I was not impressed with the Barnes bullets I used last year. And I don't like to tinker around with loads include sizing if I can get away with it so probably not going to try the Thor option.

littlebull209338 · Jul 21, 2016

I have tried several different bullets in my Encores and had problems with accuracy. After spending a bunch I finally settled on Power Belt Platnums 338 grain with 90 grains of Blackthorn and Remington primers. This does well out to 150 yards which is my self imposed maximum range. As with any shot, shot placement is critical. Elk are big and can be tough but if you place the shot where it needs to be; end of story. My friend Freddy Dodge has taken 6-or-7 moose with his ML so elk are certainly a doable deal.

txhunter58 · Jul 21, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jul-21-16 AT 01:07PM (MST)[p]

There is a learning curve with FPBs. The rear bell is oversized and the actual bullet I believe is .499. You will need a short bullet starter with a spire point starting jag. However, I have heard some people with CVA rifles say that the FPB was too small for their barrel You may have to ask someone who has tried them in an optima.

Also, I would not just start with 100 gr of BH 209 powder. 90 gr is more than adequate to take down any bull walking and is equivalent to around 104 gr of regular black powder. I would start at 90, shoot 3 times, then 95, shoot 3 times, then 100... See which shoots more accurately. In one of my guns, that is 90 gr and in another it is 95

My other elk load that I like a lot is 80-85 gr of BH 209 and a 460 gr no excuse or bullshop. I have not actually killed an elk with this but have great confidence in it from what other people have said. You definitely don't want to use 100 gr of powder with that bullet! Your gun may take it fine, but man does it kick like a mule and it is totally unnecessary with that big of a bullet

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

goldhunter · Jul 21, 2016

thanks txhunter, I will start with 90 grains, if it is accurate, that will work for me. Guess I'll try the FPB's in the gun and see how they work.

FrontierGander · Jul 21, 2016

If you like barnes, use the Thor conical bullets.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

txhunter58 · Jul 22, 2016

He said he wasn't impressed with Barnes. Many people are, but that was his comment.

Frontier: Can you shoot an FPB out of an optima or is the bore too small?

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

goldhunter · Jul 22, 2016

I read some reviews posted on the Cabelas site. They were mostly positive but some were not. Difficulty loading was the main problem. Both positive and negative included optima and accura guns. So just need to try them.

Last year my elk did not die quickly despite being hit through the lungs. Therefore unimpressed. He did not go anywhere, but still.

txhunter58 · Jul 22, 2016

Many people just don't know how to load. You WILL need a short starter like this:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/cva-...er%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=bullet+starter

And a starting jag like this:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...ssories/_/N-1100209/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104436180

You have to get the rear of the bullet started slightly, then set the starter up on it and give it a "whap" with your palm to get it started down the barrel. Once it is started, you can finish loading with your ramrod but I have a ramrod with a T handle like this

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo..._st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNP&recordsPerPage=48

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

FrontierGander · Jul 23, 2016

I can load the FPB in the optima/wolf/accura but they are just a b word to reload in a hurry. I'd have to carry a short starter.

www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com

tailchasers · Jul 24, 2016

FPB's do load tight and a bullet starter is a must. I have used the starter mentioned and have been through 2 so far, they break. I ended up making my own last time with a piece of antler cut and ground to fit my hand and it is solid. The plastic is just to weak. Starting them does take a bit more effort but them FPB's shoot well and hit animals like a hammer. A 100grains of Blackhorn seems a bit hot as we shoot 90 grains max with my Optima and 80 grains with the Wolf. The harder we pushed the bullet the less stabilzed it seems to be, that and it really jumped the scaled in recoil. I took an antelope in Colorado last year at 125yds and held right on. Shot went where aimed.

"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."

Elkduds · Jul 25, 2016

For CVA shooters loading FPBs: Are you pre-sizing the bullet by running it through the bore from muzzle to open breach tip-first, before loading it base-first over powder? Thanks in advance, I hope to be sending my first FPBs through my Optima this weekend.

tailchasers · Jul 25, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Jul-25-16 AT 08:19PM (MST)[p]"For CVA shooters loading FPBs: Are you pre-sizing the bullet by running it through the bore from muzzle to open breach tip-first, before loading it base-first over powder?"

No sir. I run the bullet down and pack the charge tight. Real tight. Well at least tighter than I would a regular black powder.

"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."