My friends and I were thinking of a muzzle loader hunt for Elk in Colorado to get early in the season.

I saw that you can't use pelletized powder nor sabots in Colorado.

I assume you can use regular bullets versus balls?

given this, what is the reasonable maximum accurate range for bullets and black powder load?

100-125 yards is about as far as I'll shoot with my muzzleloaders. I use patched round balls in one, and conicals in the other (both .50 cal). For elk in a .50 cal, I'd definitely use conicals.

I checked the regs in Colorado:
conicals are legal
minimum .50 cal for elk
open sights only

http://www.flipseekpubs.com/publication/?i=59966

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
. . . given this, what is the reasonable maximum accurate range for bullets and black powder load?

I'll respond to the question you asked, then pontificate.

Killing range for muzzleloading rifle projectiles is much greater than you would be able to hit your target. That is:
-- .54-caliber RB - more than 200 yards.

-- .54-caliber conical/Minié/R.E.A.L./other - more than 300 yards.

Larger bore diameters and projectiles, a propellant charge more than 43 percent of an RB's weight, and/or more than 1:4 of a conical's weight will extend these ranges.

An aperture rear sight and/or telescope sight will improve your hitting ability compared with a middle rear sight.
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Pontification follows
Despite the avalanche of advertising pertaining to modern muzzleloaders, scope sights, laser rangefinders, sabots, etc. and their ability to metamorphose the muzzloading experience into a smokeless powder cartridge rifle experience, albeit without the cartridge, to believe the hyperbole, to want to believe the hype negates the reason for preferring muzzleloaders.

That purpose? To handicap the sport hunter, allowing him to get a bigger rush per animal taken, per animal shot at. Part of that rush is from the fantasy when using a firearm that Daniel Boone, or Jim Bridger, or Hugh Glass, or Sir Samuel Baker, or Sir Richard Burton might have used. Part of the rush is similar to that of a bowhunter or big bore handgun hunter. Do you shoot the animal, or do you see if you can scare the you-know-what of of it with a sound or a pebble?

Your real-world hunting-shooting range using an aperture sight is, realistically, less than 125 yards - the closer the better, not only for recovering the animal, but also for your ego. While I think it unfair of me to suggest using a good quality flintlock rifle on your first muzzleloading hunt, your first flintlock deer, your first flintlock ELK will give you a rush somewhere between savoring Belgian chocolate and an intimate supper with the most attractive woman you have ever seen - at her place.
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If your purpose for muzzleloading is merely to gain access to an additional hunting season (one can use a muzzleloader during a modern gun season), to come as close as is possible to using a muzzleloader that is really a modern rifle (I prefer to identify these people as "rule beaters"), please disregard my pontification.

Hope this helps.

Agree with the pontification. I wouldn't necessarily condemn somebody for using an inline with a scope, it's just not something I'd choose for myself. I hunt with a muzzleloader because I enjoy the challenge and because I like the connection to the past.

Then again, I'm wierd that way. I don't like compound bows either. I use a recurve with wooden arrows fletched with feathers.

I also agree with the pontification.

On the other hand we have antlerless seasons in Alberta where it's just a meat hunt and you might have land access problems and will definately be in big competition with other hunters and maybe a very short season. In these instances I think the modern inline is the way to go. If I had a long season and easy access I'd want my underhammer shooting PRB.

To use a modern weapon simply to access a season robs you in the end.

My first ML buck was with a T/C 50 Flintlock. It was definatly a rush. I was 14 years old.

I would suggest a 54 or 58-cal with patched balls. An english style half stock would be nicer to carry. Realistc max range? 100-yards. How far most guys can accuratly place shot at the velocities involved? About 100 yards. Conicals won't help. In real life you won't have time to fuss with a range finder and ballistic chart. You will be hunting in the Quakies or timber. Shots are close. Hey, guys do it with a bow.

Big fat round balls expand out like a silver dollar. They are great killers and you can eat right up to the hole.

I personally have no use for modern ML rifles. They are ugly and have no romance. It is like shooting a Mossberg 500. Yes, it works but, I get a lot more out of a nice double.

It will take practice and commitment to be successfull with a traditional muzzleloader. It is worth the bother, really.

I think the 100 yard mark might even be a little generous. They really start dropping fast.

I'm not using a muzzleloader for the nostalgia. I kindof don't care, actually figure they abandoned them for a reason.

I have just purchased a TC Northwest Explorer so I can keep hunting. Id,Wa, and Or all have the loose powder, exposed ignition restrictions for muzzleloader only, but here in Id you can still use the inline for short range weapons seasons.

I agree with the 100yd under good conditions and with me that means a good rest.
I have and still do a bit of deer and squirrel hunting with a muzzeloader but my first love is bow hunting.
The fellow earlier comparing ML hunting to bow hunting is like comparing a bicycle to a Harley.imho Kenny