I have hunted elk in Colorado with muzzleloader every year since 2002. 2002 was my first year hunting anything with a muzzleloader. I have always put forth the effort to make sure I had the correct equipment that was suitable for the game I was hunting. When I started hunting elk with muzzleloader I researched guns, powder, and bullets. My research included this website as well as 1st hand experiences of friends and aquaintainces as well as recomendations from vendors at trade shows and salespeople from sportinggoods stores. I ended up making my decisions based on all this information and after my 1st elk season I was left thinking I should have trippled my efforts in researching my equipment. Even though I put forth effort I failed in picking the right combination and this effected not only me but my two partners as well. The 3 of us used the same gun,powder,bullet combination. We all after research decided on this combination. Remington model 700ml converted to 209 primers, cva powerbelt bullets in 295 gr( too light of bullet for elk but keep in mind this recomendation came from A CVA rep at a trade show) and 100gr of pyrodex loose powder. After extensive shooting and practice throughout the summer the 3 guns were shooting nearly identical 3 shot groups of under 2 inches at 100 yards with 1st shot from a clean barrel which seemed more than adequate for elk sized vitals.
This has been my experience with muzzleloaing for elk in Colorado.
2002 we all had cow elk tags. My friend was the first to conect with a cow. his shot was high and was a one shot kill even though it was a backbone hit. I didnt have as good of luck. It took me 3 elk to learn what I should have been able to learn through research. Its not pretty but it is honest.
Elk one was shot at 60 yards after I shot it first with a range finder. I shot from a solid rest and took my time in shooting after I had waited for a broadside shot. I have no doubts that my bullet impacted where I aimed. The result was a few pindrop sized blood splotches and a the rest of the day looking for blood and elk. neither was found. Time spent looking for the elk was over 7 hours The next day was started by shooting 2 three shot groups of under 2 inches cleaning the barrel between groups. 1st group was shot from uncleaned gun.
The same day my dad had like results with a shot from 40 yards. another full day spent looking for elk had the same results.
My 2nd elk was shot from a distance of 15 yards. I aimed for the spot just at the crease of its shoulder 2/3rds down from the back it too was broadside. The elk recoiled sideways and ran off. The results were nearly the same except I only found one spot of blood the size of my thumbnail. 3 hours that afternoon and 4 hours the next day revealed no elk. I ran into another hunter the next day and he reported seeing an elk with a wound low behind the shoulder at a slow run nearly 3/4 of mile away. It was healthy enough he could not get to it. again I checked the gun for acuracy
Elk 3 was shot at 40 yards broadside. After aiming behind the shoulder I changed my mind and shot it in the neck instead. One shot and the elk died in its tracks. It is my theory the bullets were coming apart on impact as the bullet was fragmented inside the neck and no exit wound sugested.
The next afternoon my father too conected with a neck shot from 50 yards and again the elk colapsed in its tracks.
Had we all taken neck or intentional backbone shots We would have left CO sucessful after 2 days hunting with high regards for our gun, powder, bullet combination. What I learned was that given advice make sure that it does not come from a single source and from a single kill. In truth I had advice from mutiple people on the same equipment but what I did not learn until I returned was that some of the people that had made the recomendations had also lost animals,made multiple shots on the same animal, or made less than perfect shots(such as head,neck,backbone)
My point is make sure your information is not limited to a biased and or single source.
2003 After further research and last years failures we change our setup to this: remington 700ml, hornady great plains 385 gr hb-hp, 85 grains of pyrodex as recomended by hornady.
I have a bull tag this time and it is a younger 5x5. The shot is from 20 yards and is a heart shot. The bull travels 40 yards and dies. bullet is found on the offside hide fully expanded and intact. My wife kills a cow one shot and a 100 yard bloodtrail.
2004 my wife and i are both sucesful on cows. Both are one shot kills after a short and adequate bloodtrail. Both shots are broadside under 50 yards and impact low behind the shoulder. We recover my wifes bullet on the offside hide. Mine was a passthrough.
2005 results a cow. one shot behind the shoulder. No tracking. same load and gun.
2006 I have a bull tag again and I shoot a 6x5. a low heart shot and the bull is dead within 100 yards after a sparse bloodtrail.
That is the extent of my sucess with that gun,powder,bullet combo. I am curious how much experience good or bad others have had with the bullets they are recomending. Including range,impact and angle of shot. If anyone is interested I can provide pictures of elk and bullets.
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