Colorado Elk hunting help...

neub7 · 12-09-2007, 02:59 PM

I am going to Colorado elk hunting this fall, and I need info on what bullets work the best on Large game. I am currently shooting hornady 240 gr. xtp sabots. I have a cva optima, and am shooting 100 gr of 777 powder. I am getting 1" groups at 100 yards, but know I cannot shoot sabots in colorado. I am not interested in Power Belts, I already tried them and they do not shoot well in my gun, plus I've heard of penetration\fragmentation porblems with them. Any info will help. Thanks in advance.

gleason.chapman · 12-09-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: neub7

I am going to Colorado elk hunting this fall, and I need info on what bullets work the best on Large game. I am currently shooting hornady 240 gr. xtp sabots. I have a cva optima, and am shooting 100 gr of 777 powder. I am getting 1" groups at 100 yards, but know I cannot shoot sabots in colorado. I am not interested in Power Belts, I already tried them and they do not shoot well in my gun, plus I've heard of penetration\fragmentation porblems with them. Any info will help. Thanks in advance.

There are several options:

1) Harvester Saber Tooth 300g: http://www.harvesterbullets.com/sabertooth.htm

2) several guys shoot bull stop conicals

3) heavy conicals such as Buffalo Bullets or TC Maxi Hunter.

Your gun is 1:28 twist, so I believe the Harvester Saber Tooth will work better for you and won't fragment when driven at ML speed. Best Wishes on your quest for the best bullet.
Chap Gleason

frontier gander · 12-09-2007, 03:30 PM

I wouldnt use the sabertooth, I used them one year when i was hunting in Buffalo Park " Rabbit Ears pass" And the first morning i shot at a doe and i found out the hard way that the bullet slipped out of the cup and out the end of my barrel.

385 great plains conical
350 grain TC maxi hunter and or the TC maxiball

Ive found a few posts on the new powerbelt platinums, Most were using i beleive the 338 grain powerbelt platinum and they put the elk right down. Most try shooting 150 grains of powder with them at close ranges and then thats when they run into problems. No more than 90 grains triple 7 with the 338+

I use 225 grain powerbelts in my .45 and puts them right down.

I think CVA also sells a 300 grain Buckslayer conical on their webpage.

What part of colorado you hunting?

lemoyne · 12-09-2007, 03:40 PM

I have had excellant results with the 300gr and the 350 gr Sabortooth and 110 gr 777, the other ones I would codsider would be the 300gr real bullet and the maxiball, their are a number of heavy conical such as Buffalo bullets and bullshop bullets which I have never felt the need to try. All my inlines with shoot 2 inches or less with the Sabortooth, I would consider the 300 gr but likly end up using the 350gr. Lee

sabotloader · 12-09-2007, 03:50 PM

neub7

Quote:

am not interested in Power Belts, I already tried them and they do not shoot well in my gun, plus I've heard of penetration\fragmentation porblems with them.

Ditto...

My suggestion would be a 460 grain Bull Shop or No Excuse especially since you are asking now you will have plenty of time to work the kinks out...

I shoot the 460 with 90 grains of T7-3f @ 1550 fps... it has a BC of .202 and really shoots well if you want to see a Ballistic print out let me know I will send you one...

Here are some ofDan's Bull Shop bullets - my favorite "460 NEx MT"

http://bullshop.gunloads.com/contact.html

Dave also make a 460 he call the No Excuse - it pretty much looks exactly like the Bull Shop...

http://members.aol.com/nebullets/

Good luck on you CO elk hunt... I am hunting cow elk here in Idaho right now using the 460 BS...

mike

neub7 · 12-09-2007, 04:46 PM

Thanks for the responses. I have tried powerbelt platinums and hollow points, and neither were consistant at all. The sabertooth bullets look to be belted like the powerbelts, andI am concerned aboutaccuracywith them also. The bullshop bullets look good,what do you lube them with, bore butter? I am leaning toward the t\c maxihunter a little, they are pre lubed, and the wal mart in town has them (probably on clearance after season). I am giving myself alot of time to test and tune. To answer another question, I am going to King Mountain near Yampa. North west Colorado.Please keep the replies coming. Thanks
Joel

sabotloader · 12-09-2007, 05:17 PM

neub7

Quote:

The bullshop bullets look good,what do you lube them with, bore butter?

I personally think the lube on the Bull Shops is a little better than the lube on the No Excuses.

They come pre-lubed.... I also shoot them with .125 shot card under them separating them from the powder... + it adds a little insulation so the T7 doesn't melt the lead...

Remember especially with the Bull Shops - he will size them to slip fit your bore - no short starter needed push them down with your thumb - just like a sabot. The No Excuse come sized .503 and that is all he offers...

neub7 · 12-09-2007, 05:24 PM

What is a shot card?

frontier gander · 12-09-2007, 05:49 PM

Remember, The conical can not exceed 1" in length.

sabotloader · 12-09-2007, 06:55 PM

neub7

A shot card really is nothing more than a "wad" It helps insulate the bullet from the heat and also helps keep the conical lube from compromising the powder load. I like it because I am shooting T7 which burns really hot and would probably melt the bottom of the conical allowing liquid lead to be in the barrel... I do not need that. I also think it helps with fowling on the way out and as you are pushing it and the bullet down..

FG the 460 is less than an 1" long and since it is a slip fit conical - no short starter needed- has a higher BC than the alternatives and is very accirate from 1/48 1/28 1/24 twist barrels...