Help - Need a Muzzy Load for Elk and Moose

jschaffer · Jun 17, 2018

The drawings have been fortunate to me this year. I will be hunting moose in Maine and the end of September and then Elk in New Mexico the beginning of October. My NM tag is for muzzy only, but I would also like to hunt my moose with that as well. But because of the close proximity of the two hunts, I would like to use one load. I believe in both states sabots are legal as well as pelleted powder (still doing my research on Maine).

So I am looking for advice on what bullet and powder combination might be solid for both hunts?

The biggest issue I am running into is that Maine will likely have closer shots in thicker woods, whereas NM I will want to be able to get some range with accuracy (looking at 200 yards). So I would like a combo that has good knock down power as well as some good flight performance at a distance.

Oh, I shoot a .50 cal CVA Accura v2. I have had good luck with the Blackhorn powder and may continue with that.

Thanks in advance for any advice or help!

mevertsen · Jun 17, 2018

If I were in your shoes, and sabots are legal, I would stick with a 300 grain XTP Mag. That will handle the punishment that the velocity will get to with the Black horn.

I like the 250 grain XTP on deer and loaded the regular 300's for cow elk, but I am using Goex and don't need the Mag's.

txhunter58 · Jun 17, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Jun-17-18 AT 02:05PM (MST)[p]When I get drawn for Utah for elk, I will most likely be using BH 209 powder and one of the barnes bullet/sabot combos, in the 290 to 300 gr range.

txhunter58

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

jschaffer · Jun 18, 2018

Thanks for the information.

jekennedy · Jun 19, 2018

I too had this same question last year. I drew a new mexico muzzleloader elk tag. After all the load checking, shooting and help from this forum I ended up using 120g of 777 and 290g Barnes. It grouped extremely well and performed flawlessly. That being said 209 is great too. I would figure out what distance you feel comfortable shooting and find out what load your gun likes and shoot, shoot, shoot.

jschaffer · Jun 20, 2018

Thanks for the information. How did your hunt in NM go? Where were you hunting (unit)?

So what distance did you finally get comfortable shooting too with your load? My goal is to be comfortable out to 200 yards max. Is that doable?

jekennedy · Jun 20, 2018

The hunt was awesome!! in bulls everyday. I drew unit 34 and did a diy on public land. my grouping was good out to 300 yds but my confidence in bullet performance was 250 yds. when I zeroed gun in I cleaned after every round, once zeroed I shot a clean bore and two follow shots with fouled bore. If you scroll down a little farther in the forum you can see a photo of the bull and all the good info I received last year. Good luck!!!!

jschaffer · Jun 20, 2018

thanks. great to hear. I'll look for your thread in here. we drew 36 so close by and are hearing it should be a great hunt as well.

elktaker · Jun 23, 2018

I would go Barnes or Parker BE. In your case I would go with a least a 300 gr bullet for closer shoots. That's if you can use sabot ed 45 bullets

I shoot Parker BE 300 with bh209 out of a light CVA wolf. It's my back up gun and brush gun for elk or deer. With my vortex red dot, I am confident out to 250 on an elk.