Successful Elk Hunts, Rifles and Stuff

[greatplains]

Just some information for muzzleloading elk hunters out there. I visited with you all last summer somedifferent bullets for my old Great Plains .54 percussion rifle. Older model (about 20 years) that has 1:48" rifling. I have shot several elk and deer with it through the years using Hornady Greatplains bullets and powerbelts. Accuracy with those bullets was ok but not great.

I was looking for something a little more accurate for a CO elk hunt last fall, as I drew a bull tag for one of our units thattakes along time to draw. Any how, I tried 430 gr T/C Maxi-Balls last summer which for some reason I had never tried in that rifle. They shoot like laser beams. 1.5" groups (or better) @ 100 yds are very possible if I do my part.

Last year's hunt wentgreatand I killed a bullthat scored 350, and is now hanging prominently on my wall. One of those once in a lifetime kind of hunts. Was fortunate enough to kill a cow this fall, same rifle and load. Both were one shot kills, no muss, no fuss.Both shots were at about 80 yards.

I have a tang mounted T/C peep sight. I ground off the outer ring to createmore of a ghost ring, theoriginalsize disc restricted my vision too much. I also drilled out the aperture to a larger size. I have agreen fiber sight on the front. Having a 32"+ sighting plane makes a big difference accuracy wise. It's definitely not a real quickhandling rifle, but itshoots with the best of them,and looks way better than aplastic stocked inline.

.54 cal Lyman Great Plains
CCI Magnum Percussion Caps
82.5 gr 2f Triple 7
430 gr. Maxi-ball

Maxi-ball performance has been good, if not great. Shot through the cow (lung shot), left excellent blood trail for the 80 yards that she ran. I hit the bull in the spine at the shoulder, guess I was a little excited and pulled the shot. Dropped him in his tracks. My guess is a powerbelt with that same placement could have been trouble, as the penetration I've seen with those bullets has not been super. I've lung shot severalelk with powerbelts. (I don't like tearing up meat by tagging them directly in the shoulder if I can avoid it). They run 50-100 yards, but with powerbelts there was no blood trail and no exit wound. I've also killed 2 cow elkwith powerbelt head shots at extremely close range, no exiton those either. You would think that much lead would pass through, but it didn't. Guess the bullet just explodes. The elkdidn't take another step however. Powerbelts have killed several elk for me, but I'll stick with Maxi-balls from now on unless a bad experience changes my mind.

Anyway, I've gleaned a ton of info from this board, just thought I'd share some of my elk hunting/muzzleloading experience.

[cayugad]

Congratulations on the bull elk and the cows as well. Sounded like you had an exciting hunt. I am envious to say the least. You've also re-enforced something I have claimed for a long time, these big conicals, even with a moderate powder charge are game getter's. Nice shooting again. Way to go.