Colorado Elk What Bullet

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10 July 2008, 23:27

Switchback

Colorado Elk What Bullet

I am going to Co. this sept. ml for elk. I have a Remington 700ml and have been shooting powerbelts with good accuacy, but I am not impressed with the prefomance on deer I have killed. Does anyone have any suggestions on a different full bore bullet? Thanks

11 July 2008, 01:36

Navaluk

No Excuses

11 July 2008, 16:38

MAC

I think you are wise in looking at bullets other than powerbelts. They seem to be really lacking in penetration. I had a Florida Whitetail stop one at 35 paces last Nov. I think at that range, it should have gone through a 110 lb deer.

You didn't say what caliber you are shooting. I use a 54 for elk and have had reall good luck with a 425 gr Buffalo Bullet over 110 gr of FFG. It seems to untrack them right there. That big old hunk of lead holds together really good and penetrates real deep. It cuts a big hole on the way through too.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Mac

11 July 2008, 17:24

cooperjd

i am with you on hating pb's. never again. i think hornady is offering a full bore bullet. but luckily i can use sabots where i hunt, so i haven't tried them yet.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/sta...cat200005&hasJS=true

13 July 2008, 03:45

Doubless

What are you shooting? I have moulds that cast a nominal 450-grain .451" bullet, and a real pig of a .503" bullet, at roughly 625 grains.

I have held the 50 to 2" at 100 without weighing bullets, and the 45 shot really well this morning with 80 grains of T7. It literally cloverleafed three at 100 out of my White Super 91.

Send me a PM if you want to try some of these. I can tell you they are ladle cast of pure lead, pan lubed without sizing, and they tend to run closer than a grain apart. And I will compete with BullShop or No Excuses as far as pricing, probably beat them.

Regards.

16 July 2008, 04:51

Buglemintoday

Doubless - You wouldn't happen to cast any .58cal hardcasts would you?

"Let me start off with two words: Made in America"

16 July 2008, 05:52

dwheels

I just got a Thompson inline, an old one, a black diamond. It shoots the Barnes 50 cal. 250 grain TMZ all copper bullets real well. I have not shot anything with these yet, it just groups them well with a peep sight. 1 3/4 inches at 75 yards with 100 grains of triple 7. The new barnes manual lists this load as just under 2000 fps in a 24 inch barrel. DW

16 July 2008, 06:28

Doubless

Bugle, I don't... I have at least one mould for every caliber I own, and I have roughly 60 moulds, but I don't own a .58, so I don't cast for it; at least not yet.

Sorry, guy...

21 July 2008, 04:28

Couestaxi

I am shooting the 285 grain Barnes spitfire over 120 grains pyrodex. 3 shot groups average 1 1/4" at 100 yards and just under 4" @ 200 yards. Sighted in 4" high at 100 yards I am dead on at 200 yards. All done in a TC Omega.50 swabbing between each shot.

21 July 2008, 04:34

Couestaxi

Sorry, I missed the Colorado part! This would be illegal there.

21 July 2008, 07:33

Underclocked

NE or Bullshops but Bullshop is not open for business just now.

Cecil Epp at PRBullet makes some accurate "Colorado conicals" but they are TOO expensive.

Visit your local Wal-Mart and see if they have any of the new Hornady FPB conicals. I understand those are yielding very good accuracy and should be Colorado legal if you slice off the protruding "flex tip".

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=770

WHUT?

21 July 2008, 08:52

Switchback

Thanks for all the help guys I have been out of town for a week. Doubless I will keep that in mind, also it is a .50 cal.

21 July 2008, 19:27

Reloader

I'm surprized that so many dislike the PBs. I think the light weight PBs give them a bad rap.

I'm by no means experienced with good elk bullets for Mlers as I've never hunted elk with a Mler. That said, I have a CO Mler bull hunt booked for '09 and based on the recommendations of my Guide, who has guided plenty of Mler hunters every year, I choose the 348 grn PB. I also posted on several forums and asked Knight and all responses were positive on the 348 PB. I'm also pleased with the 1.5" 100 yard groups they provide in my Knight(Scoped now for development).

I also wanted to try the new Hdy 350 grne FPB, until I found out that they were illegal in CO(longer than 1").

Good Luck

Reloader

25 July 2008, 04:10

Doubless

Yes, Switchback, the 625 is a 50-caliber bullet. As-cast is roughly .5025". It shot very well out of my Whites...

25 July 2008, 18:38

x-caliber

quote:
I'm surprized that so many dislike the PBs.

Me too Reloader. I've never used them on elk either; only hogs, whitetails, and 1 mule deer. I have been very impressed with their performance. This CO mule deer ran only 10 steps after being shot with a 295 Grain Powerbelt.

If I ever go on a muzzleloader elk hunt, I would use the 348 Grain Aerotip Powerbelt. I'm going elk hunting this year in Colorado, but I will be carrying an Encore pistol again. I shot this one last year with a .308 Win.

Darrell

30 July 2008, 02:29

Reloader

Heck of a buck and bull Darrell!

I haven't tried the Aero-tip in my rifle. The 348 HPs are shooting well, so I'll probably just stick with them on my CO MLer hunt next year. My guide says they usually call the bulls in close during MLer season anyway, but I'll be prepared for a 125-150yd shot if needed. I hope to get one at about 40

Have a Good One,

Reloader

10 August 2008, 06:55

L. David Keith

These new bullets are taking out Elk and African game with extreme penetration. I've seen some recovered from game shot over 300 yards, and yes with a muzzle loader.
http://maximummuzzleloading.com/

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10 August 2008, 10:05

Underclocked

Keith, that bullet is not legal in Colorado.

Correction to my earlier post - Dan at Bull Shop is taking orders and filling them as he can. Hunting his family's winter meat supply is his number one priority just now but he will fill orders as his time permits.

email bullshop@wildak.net I recommend his 460 grain MT NEx with #2 lube, sized to fit your bore.

WHUT?

11 August 2008, 20:59

L. David Keith

Ah, forgot about the sabot thing.

29 August 2008, 09:46

fireball10x

The powerbelts work but lack in penetration I've used the HP powerbelt and the aerotip and killed around 10 deer with them and they all died right there.I took a bullet out of one that expanded to over an 1-1/2 and thats with a 150grain charge.I also shot another one running and hit it high in the spine and the bullet never exited and that woud be 6 inches and it was a 348grain areotip.Maybe a 100 grain charge and it wouldn't expand that fast.If I were you I'd use a big conical or the barnes expander they both get good penetration on a large animal.I'm trying the new hornady FPB next week I'll let you know what I think.

04 September 2008, 15:42

Switchback

Thanks for all the help. I have started shooting Precision Rifle's Ultimate Conicals, in 390gr over 100gr of t-7. They are accurate, even with me shooting open sights. Sportsmans Warehouse had them a good bit cheaper than anyone else. Thanks Eric

05 September 2008, 05:40

Snellstrom

Eric / Switchback
I haven't seen them at the Sportsmans warehouse in Colorado Springs before, which Sportsmans did you find them at?

05 September 2008, 06:19

Switchback

Snell, I found them at both Memphis and Olive Branch, ms. They both had several differnt ones, some were sabots and some 450gr I think. Do you elk hunt in Colorado? If so where at. This our first elk hunt and just trying together as much info as possible. Thanks Eric

08 September 2008, 17:28

Snellstrom

I hunt Elk pretty much all over the state depending on what tag I draw in any given year. This year we will start near Paonia. Muzzleloader season starts this coming Saturday!
What part of the state are you headed to?

09 September 2008, 03:58

Switchback

We are headed to Meeker to White River National Forest. We only have cow tags, what are our chances of filling them in that area? Leaving out tuseday afternoon. Thanks Eric

09 September 2008, 04:39

Snellstrom

Chances are good you will see elk, whether or not you can fill your tags is up to you and the elk!
Sometimes you can hunt right and they just won't co-operate at all, other times you can do nothing right and they will walk right up on you. Remember old elk sign means they were there once, you have to go up or down in elevation or try other types of cover until you find where they are. At this time of year they can be all over their range high, low or in between. Tell us your results successful or not.

Good luck on your hunt!