$5 Expo LE Manti Muzzy Elk for me!

FairweatherHTR · Apr 3, 2019

I am one of the lucky SOB's that drew an expo tag this year and I have been losing sleep dreaming about September! Just an FYI for anyone that thinks that the tag costs $5. I still have to pay the $285 tag fee. I also put in for muzzy deer for the Manti as well so I will have a tag in my pocket in case I come across a nice buck while hunting for elk. I plan on hunting the entire 12 days if needed with my goal of taking a 350+ bull. I would like to be picky and potentially beat the 330 bull I took in Nevada last year. I have the new CVA paramount on its way and will be topped with a Leupold VX-5 with custom turret and will be well practiced to shoot 300 yards if needed.

I would like to hear some stories from anyone who has hunted the Manti in the last few years. I have not hunted the unit for many years but used to hunt deer on the north end. I will be able to scout 3 or 4 weekends at most before I hunt it. I have a side by side and can hike all day.

Is this goal realistic?

denzdye · Apr 3, 2019

A 350 bull on the Manti is doable but I would think long and hard about passing on a true 330 bull. You'll have a ton of people on the mtn with you regardless of how far in you go. All that being said I think the Muzzy tag is the tag to have on the Manti. Lots of rut activity the last few years compared to the ealry rifle. Good luck, Your in for a fun hunt

BigBuckz · Apr 3, 2019

We hunt the Manti every year there are some 350+ bulls on the unit but you will have to put in the time to turn it up. A realistic goal would be more in the 320-330 class range. As far as the deer goes I wouldn't waste your time its gets way overkilled every year to produce any big bucks.

DidIDraw · Apr 3, 2019

350 bulls exist but are not common on the Manti. I have hunted or helped friends with tags seven times on the Manti and have only seen a handful of 350 or better bulls. It is a super fun hunt, you will have a great time. All of the bulls and the rutting activity keep it exciting.

BIGJOHNT · Apr 3, 2019

Congrats on the great tag. But holy smokes a 300 yard muzzleloader. Maybe it's time to step up to one of those new 600 yards jobs. ??Good luck on your hunt. Hope you pull the deer tag to. Should be a great hunt on the Manti this year !

Manti377 · Apr 3, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Apr-03-19 AT 07:35PM (MST)[p]Its doable - here is my bull from 2017. BTW, same as you I was lucky and drew an Expo tag (however, mine was early rifle). Good luck its lots of fun during the rut

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Katoom · Apr 3, 2019

Congrats on the tag. I take slight two issues though with your goal. I am sure to rile people up but, for crying out loud, why all the 350 bull questions every day from so many people. Fine to be excited, of course. But score is getting to be a goal unto itself. How bout a fun hunt? I'd take that tag any day and the oroverbial twice on Sunday and not give a first let alone a second thought in advance about score. If you like it, shoot it. If not, don't. Beginning to feel bad for all those disrepected crappy little 349 bulls out there.

Second, 300 with a MZ? Try to get closer. For the fun of it, you know, like, hunting and all? It's supposed to be a bit of a primitive hunt. Why do we even have muzzleloader seasons if this it what it is becoming? What's your drop at 300? What's your Ft-lbs?

And yes, perhaps I am crotchety out of jealousy. So what. Ha!

Enjoy your hunt!

Elkslayer1125 · Apr 3, 2019

>Congrats on the tag. I take
>slight two issues though with
>your goal. I am sure
>to rile people up but,
>for crying out loud, why
>all the 350 bull questions
>every day from so many
>people. Fine to be excited,
>of course. But score is
>getting to be a goal
>unto itself. How bout a
>fun hunt? I'd take that
>tag any day and the
>oroverbial twice on Sunday and
>not give a first let
>alone a second thought in
>advance about score. If you
>like it, shoot it. If
>not, don't. Beginning to feel
>bad for all those disrepected
>crappy little 349 bulls out
>there.
>
>Second, 300 with a MZ? Try
>to get closer. For the
>fun of it, you know,
>like, hunting and all? It's
>supposed to be a bit
>of a primitive hunt. Why
>do we even have muzzleloader
>seasons if this it what
>it is becoming? What's your
>drop at 300? What's your
>Ft-lbs?
>
>And yes, perhaps I am crotchety
>out of jealousy. So what.
>Ha!
>
>Enjoy your hunt!

If you have the ability and the equipment to shoot 300 yards with a muzzleloader there shouldn't be a problem. And what's wrong with having a goal of shooting a big bull?Numbers don'talways matter but it's a great reference when judging whether you want to shoot a bull or not. Good luck on your hunt Katoom I hope you kill a hog!!

DeerHunter53 · Apr 4, 2019

Hmmmm let me guess Manti377 your bull scored 377? right nice bull beautiful fronts long and curvy

FairweatherHTR · Apr 4, 2019

Thanks for the input guys. Another reason to get excited. Wow what a perfect bull! The numbers are there to have a few old stragglers around. The reality is on the later half of the 12 days a good 330 bull may be hard to pass after a few blisters have been earned. I just like having my sites set high enough and if I can drag out the adventure and be into bulls every day even better. Definitely won't hammer a 320 right off the bat especially knowing there are some giants in there. May as well try to one up my last bull since I have the time. If I don't succeed this time maybe I will burn my 19 points and get the premium tag next year.

BTW I mixed feelings on the primitive weapon thing. I actually wish that Utah had kept the 1X magnification scope law because used to have our deer hunt area all to ourselves it was the best. Now it is essentially an early rifle hunt with way more people. On the other hand I love tinkering with some of the new equipment. That Paramount rifle should be plenty deadly. Muzzle velocity out of the barrel is like a 30-06. On the other hand I witnessed a bull get shot in the front shoulder by a CVA accura at 40 yards with 100 grains of powder pushing 295 grain powerbelt. He dropped to his front knees and then ran off never to be seen again. No blood trail whatsoever. Bullet has to be placed perfectly behind the shoulder to penetrate lungs with that setup. Would rather not risk that scenario again with me behind the gun. Made me sick. The downside to using primitive weapons.

cem3434 · Apr 7, 2019

Always remember to not pass up an animal on the first day that you would kill on the last day. Congrats on the draw and hopefully it will be the hunt of a lifetime for you.

ElkManDan · Apr 7, 2019

Congrats on the tag, Manti is a fun unit, it isn't usually too hard to find some nice bulls. Hope you can find you a nice bull!

joesikora · Apr 8, 2019

Congrats on your tag Fairweather
Very nice looking bull Manti

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

Beamerfish · Jun 2, 2019

Have long enjoyed reading the posts and looking at the pictures so I figured it was high time I signed on. I also pulled this tag in the draw with 11 points - it was #1 on my bucket list. Fall asleep every night dreaming of bugling bulls. Have been in the unit half a dozen times tagging along on CWMU units, hunted one of CWMUs once, and my brother also had the tag about a few years back. So we have a fair idea and a solid plan. Just looking forward to glassing and chasing some bulls around and a good representative specimen. Good luck to everyone this year and will report back.

FairweatherHTR · Jun 2, 2019

I have seen photos of snow that is still near the rooftops of cabins. But should be a great year for antler growth. Also my new CVA Paramount finally arrived. I was beginning to think they would not have them out in time for the hunt. Need a few more variflame adapters, more of the new powerbelt bullets that are made for this gun, and a new custom turret from Leupold and it is time to shoot! I will post how she shoots if anyone is interested?

elkassassin · Jun 2, 2019

>I have seen photos of snow
>that is still near the
>rooftops of cabins. But
>should be a great year
>for antler growth. Also
>my new CVA Paramount finally
>arrived. I was beginning
>to think they would not
>have them out in time
>for the hunt. Need
>a few more variflame adapters,
>more of the new powerbelt
>bullets that are made for
>this gun, and a new
>custom turret from Leupold and
>it is time to shoot!
> I will post how
>she shoots if anyone is
>interested?
>
>
>
>
>

That Ain't a SmokePole!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

Beamerfish · Jun 3, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jun-03-19 AT 06:08PM (MST)[p]A few pictures for you from this unit:

my 335ish CWMU bull

brother's 340ish public bull

Brothers CWMU bull 330s I think it was

txhunter58 · Jun 3, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jun-03-19 AT 09:07PM (MST)[p]I don't know of any powerbelt bullets that I would shoot at a 350 bull (or a 280 bull for that matter). There are so much better constructed bullets out there. I will be probably be shooting the 290 gr barnes type copper bullet if I ever get a muzzy elk tag in Utah.

txhunter58

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

FairweatherHTR · Jun 4, 2019

txhunter58 I have have loved the powerbelts bullets i have used for their accuracy and ease of loading. They have been consistent and perfect with only 100 grains of pyrodex. I have not been impressed by the bullet performance when they hit an animal. Some of the shortfall IMO is because of the lack of velocity. I worry about how the seal system is going to work with this new gun especially with a magnum load of blackhorn 209 behind it 150 grains of loose powder. If the gas seal doesn't work well then consistency will be completely thrown off. But since these bullets were specifically made for the gun I am going to give them a try. CVA claims that they did a ton of testing and have produced the best results with these powerbelts. Again referring to accuracy not bullet through meat performance.

https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/bullets/powerbelt-paramount-elr-muzzleloader-bullets-280-grain.html

txhunter58 · Jun 4, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-19 AT 12:32PM (MST)[p]I can find nothing in the description about their construction but says they have lead, so I am still going to say there are better bullets out there. You push pure lead too fast and it comes apart.

Accuracy is important but terminal performance is more important.

txhunter58

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

utahbigbull · Jun 4, 2019

Wouldn?t catch me throwing a scatter belt at an elk. Let alone pushed by a LR magnum load.

FairweatherHTR · Jun 4, 2019

I shot a deer last year with one of their green aerotip 295 gr. pushed by 100 grains of pyrodex went through both shoulders and lodged in the hide. It held together pretty well. But I have shot other deer with less than great results. One was a quartering away shot that hit in the hind quarters. The bullet completely exploded in the fat (non lethal) We found that later since my buddy shot him and we looked at the wound from my shot. Have also witnessed terrible results from the same powerbelt bullet on elk. I was not the hunter but still. That shot hit in the front shoulder and the combination of low velocity and soft lead powerbelt led to a wounded elk. Apparently their platinum bullets are supposed to hold together better. Hopefully these LR bullets are more like the platinums. I hate loading the sabots and have never been able to get consistent accuracy as I have with the powerbelts that engage the riflings. I may test out a couple of other bullets on the range to see if I can get better results with this gun.

txhunter58 · Jun 5, 2019

The only difference between regular bullets and platinum is the platinum has a smaller hollow point in the front (where the plastic tip goes. And I sure wouldn't be shooting a 280 grain lead bullet at an elk. Not enough bullet to hold together for an elk

txhunter58

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

txhunter58 · Jun 5, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jun-05-19 AT 06:21PM (MST)[p]

I am not able to find any mention of Thor bullets or Barnes bullets in 45 cal that are of decent size. So even though those are my first choices on muzzy bullets for a 50 cal, I would probably look at No excuses in a 385 gr bullet. Not sure I would have any confidence in terminal performance with a 280 gr powerbelt for an elk. The story you told about the elk that got away after a shot from a powerbelt is commonly heard about those bullets. And I suspect the bullet was bigger than 280 grains too!

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of 50 cal, many premium bullets are made in 50 cal only. 45 cal should be a great and lethal gun, if you can find a tough bullet.

Always remember that the faster you shoot a muzzy bullet (mag load of powder), the tougher the bullet has to be. I know of several muzzy forms that are much more visited by people who shoot them every day. I will send you a few links by PM. You should ask some questions there.

txhunter58

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

FairweatherHTR · Jun 6, 2019

Yes I have only used the same powerbelt in the 245 and 295 gr copper bullets over the years. Send me some links on whatever you find on a good available .45. It is definitely a concern. Obviously for this gun they went with the .45 cal to get better ballistics speed accuracy etc. Many of the manufacturers mostly have 50 cal. The more I think about my previous experiences the less good vibes I have for PB.

1st Deer shot at 30 yards straight through the vitals. Ran 50 yards and he was done.

2nd deer shot at 90 yards quartering away ran 300 yards had very little blood trail and thought I had completely missed by the way the deer acted. Got lucky and found him the next ridge over piled up.

3rd deer hit at 151 yards and had to track it all over the mountain over 2 hours to finally get him finished off.

4th deer hit in hind quarters exploding the bullet which my friend finished off hitting in the vitals.

5th deer hit in the front shoulder ended up chasing for about a quarter of a mile before finishing him off. Another one we were lucky to find with lack of blood trail.

6th Elk shot in the front shoulder at 40 yards that ran off leaving 0 blood never to be seen again.

7th Elk took 2 shots at 80 yards behind the shoulder through both lungs ran 100 yards and piled up.

8th deer last year 90 yards through both shoulders and ran 50 yards and was done.

While we only lost the one animal things could have turned out worse. More than once I have thought that I would have been better off with a bow and arrow with some of the hangfires, misfires and other issues with muzzleloaders. Hopefully this gun at least goes off most of the time.

Cahunter805 · Jun 6, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jun-06-19 AT 05:06PM (MST)[p]Congrats on the great tag! Hope you find a monster.

Cutting edge makes some great muzzleloader bullets. I'd give them a call and see what they recommend for your specific rifle.

walleye1121 · Jun 8, 2019

Dead ceneter QT .45 250 grain is a great bullet.

We have killed a lot of elk and have not had any make it 100 yards. Most tip over after a few steps.

They shoot great out of my knight disc elite and 225 yards is the end of my comfortable range, but they are right on the money and devastating at that range.

FairweatherHTR · Jun 9, 2019

those dead center bullets look pretty sweet!

Buglelk · Jun 12, 2019

My friend has the early rifle tag for this unit. I can't wait to go out and help him. Hope he gets a 330 bull at least.
Hoping to find some good elk screaming their heads off.

Dan

COLOelkman · Jun 22, 2019

I 100% agree with TX that you might wanna look into PB's on elk as many people (including myself) have had bad experiences. I'd say ease of loading and accuracy is only good on paper as they often blow apart with is NOT what you need.