Muzzy elk question
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FrontierGander
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I use patched round balls. If you cant kill and elk with a 250gr bullet and 100gr powder, its time to pack up and go home.
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txhunter58
Long Time Member
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-06-17 AT 12:13PM (MST)[p]Totally depends on the bullet. I would NOT trust a 250 gr powerbelt. The only bullet that small that I would trust is a Barnes or Thor bullet (solid copper).
Let me ask you a question: Why would you want to? Elk are big animals and the difference to the shooter between a 250 and 300 gr bullet is insignificant in every way including bullet drop. Round balls are one thing because you are limited by the size of the bore, but if you shoot a conical at a big animal, why would you want to go absolute minimum on a bullet?
And you don't mention distance? if you are talking less than 100 yards, that improves your situation. If you want to shoot a smaller bullet to go 200 yards, then the size bullet becomes even more of a liability.
When I someday get picked for Utah elk, I will probably be shooting the 290 gr Barnes bullet for elk. I would trust that out to at least 200 yards which will be my limit.
What 250gr bullet are you shooting?
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
Let me ask you a question: Why would you want to? Elk are big animals and the difference to the shooter between a 250 and 300 gr bullet is insignificant in every way including bullet drop. Round balls are one thing because you are limited by the size of the bore, but if you shoot a conical at a big animal, why would you want to go absolute minimum on a bullet?
And you don't mention distance? if you are talking less than 100 yards, that improves your situation. If you want to shoot a smaller bullet to go 200 yards, then the size bullet becomes even more of a liability.
When I someday get picked for Utah elk, I will probably be shooting the 290 gr Barnes bullet for elk. I would trust that out to at least 200 yards which will be my limit.
What 250gr bullet are you shooting?
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
BUGLEnmIN
Very Active Member
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>LAST EDITED ON Oct-06-17
>AT 12:13?PM (MST)
>
>Totally depends on the bullet.
>I would NOT trust a
>250 gr powerbelt. The
>only bullet that small that
>I would trust is a
>Barnes or Thor bullet (solid
>copper).
>
>Let me ask you a question:
> Why would you want
>to? Elk are big
>animals and the difference to
>the shooter between a 250
>and 300 gr bullet is
>insignificant in every way including
>bullet drop. Round balls
>are one thing because you
>are limited by the size
>of the bore, but if
>you shoot a conical at
>a big animal, why would
>you want to go absolute
>minimum on a bullet?
>
>And you don't mention distance?
>if you are talking less
>than 100 yards, that improves
>your situation. If you
>want to shoot a smaller
>bullet to go 200 yards,
>then the size bullet becomes
>even more of a liability.
>
>
>When I someday get picked for
>Utah elk, I will probably
>be shooting the 290 gr
>Barnes bullet for elk.
>I would trust that out
>to at least 200 yards
>which will be my limit.
>
>
>What 250gr bullet are you shooting?
>
>
>txhunter58
>
>venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore
>I am)
Sure do know your muzzy.. it's a solid copper bullet from barns..EXPANDER SPIT-FIRE MZ ... VERY accurate at longer ranges and retains most of the weight.... I agree to a point I feel shot placement has everything tto do with it.. but wwanted opinions from buffs like you all .. I am actually shooting 120 gr. Powder sorry
>AT 12:13?PM (MST)
>
>Totally depends on the bullet.
>I would NOT trust a
>250 gr powerbelt. The
>only bullet that small that
>I would trust is a
>Barnes or Thor bullet (solid
>copper).
>
>Let me ask you a question:
> Why would you want
>to? Elk are big
>animals and the difference to
>the shooter between a 250
>and 300 gr bullet is
>insignificant in every way including
>bullet drop. Round balls
>are one thing because you
>are limited by the size
>of the bore, but if
>you shoot a conical at
>a big animal, why would
>you want to go absolute
>minimum on a bullet?
>
>And you don't mention distance?
>if you are talking less
>than 100 yards, that improves
>your situation. If you
>want to shoot a smaller
>bullet to go 200 yards,
>then the size bullet becomes
>even more of a liability.
>
>
>When I someday get picked for
>Utah elk, I will probably
>be shooting the 290 gr
>Barnes bullet for elk.
>I would trust that out
>to at least 200 yards
>which will be my limit.
>
>
>What 250gr bullet are you shooting?
>
>
>txhunter58
>
>venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore
>I am)
Sure do know your muzzy.. it's a solid copper bullet from barns..EXPANDER SPIT-FIRE MZ ... VERY accurate at longer ranges and retains most of the weight.... I agree to a point I feel shot placement has everything tto do with it.. but wwanted opinions from buffs like you all .. I am actually shooting 120 gr. Powder sorry
txhunter58
Long Time Member
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With that bullet and 120 gr of powder, you should be fine out to 200 yards. However, I suggest you give the 290 gr bullet a try! I think you will be surprised at how good your trajectory is out to 200 yards. Hardly noticeable by just upping your mid range slightly. But I can not fault using the 250 Barnes. Heard lots of success stories with that bullet, but I just like the little bit extra if I hit an elk thru the shoulder bones.
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
elkassassin
Long Time Member
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Heavier the Better!
Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!
A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!
Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!
A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!
FrontierGander
Very Active Member
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Light bullets - heavy bullet - if it's a gut shot, it won't change the fact that a gut shot is a gut shot.
You inline fellers need to learn to slow down, have patience and stop pushing the limits of how far you can shoot because it wears a scope.
www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com
You inline fellers need to learn to slow down, have patience and stop pushing the limits of how far you can shoot because it wears a scope.
www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com
txhunter58
Long Time Member
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-07-17 AT 10:24AM (MST)[p]Apples and oranges to what we are talking about. I have never shot at anything past 120 yards with a muzzleloader because I have never used a scope, however 200 yards is a reasonable distance for those who practice with a scope, and there are bullets that are very capable out to that range.
It is a given that a 200 gr bullet put right thru the heart is better than a 500 gr gut shot. But try as I might, I can't always drill one thru the heart, and if he takes a step at the last minute and my bullet goes thru the shoulder, I want a bullet to be able to handle it.
You are really the one making it harder than it has to be by using the round ball . But that is OK. You enjoy the challenge and want to hunt as they did in times gone by. Nothing wrong with that.
I used a Bullshop 460 gr pure lead bullet for elk this year (never fired a shot). Some would say that is an overkill, and in some ways they are right. But I am shooting a White muzzy that likes big conicals, and I am using 85 gr of powder. To each his own!
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
It is a given that a 200 gr bullet put right thru the heart is better than a 500 gr gut shot. But try as I might, I can't always drill one thru the heart, and if he takes a step at the last minute and my bullet goes thru the shoulder, I want a bullet to be able to handle it.
You are really the one making it harder than it has to be by using the round ball . But that is OK. You enjoy the challenge and want to hunt as they did in times gone by. Nothing wrong with that.
I used a Bullshop 460 gr pure lead bullet for elk this year (never fired a shot). Some would say that is an overkill, and in some ways they are right. But I am shooting a White muzzy that likes big conicals, and I am using 85 gr of powder. To each his own!
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
utahbigbull
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-08-17 AT 02:58PM (MST)[p]The Barnes 290 grain T-EZ has a better ballistic coefficient than the 250 grain has. With an elk, why would you not shoot the heavier, flatter shooting option? My son shot his Manti bull last week with a 290 T-EZ pushed by 100 grains of BH. 135 yard shot and he put it right in the boiler room. Didn't make it 5 steps before his legs folded from underneath him.
txhunter58
Long Time Member
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Truth from one who has been there!
Utah, I sent you a PM....
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
Utah, I sent you a PM....
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
FrontierGander
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In no way does hunting with a patched round ball make it harder on yourself. Once you do something over and over and over throughout the years, you get experience and go off of that. Like everything in life.
When I was shooting a 54cal, 150 yard shots were nothing at all with patched round ball.
www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com
When I was shooting a 54cal, 150 yard shots were nothing at all with patched round ball.
www.FrontierMuzzleloading.com
