Is there really any such thing as overkill ?

Not in my book. Granted there issomepoint where you might decide that the conical is causing too much meat damage, then you have to decide if you like the stopping them in their tracks ability of the large conical or you want to save a little meat and shoot something smaller.

For Elk from a 1:48 rifling 54 caliber and a conical choice, I would would stay around 400 grains in weight or more. You could use the same/best load for everything else including Whitetail deer. The 535 will certainly do the trick providing that your rifle will accurately shoot that projectile.


You could also hunt Elk with.54 cal 224gr PRB.
If with PRB, I would suggest the following:
Hornady .530" Roundball, .018" Ticking Patch, Wonderwad. The tighter fitting patch and wad will allow you to work up a stout hunting load. My .54 T/C Renegade loves the above load with a variety of powders and charges.

I also have a great .54/1:48" rifling load with a Hornady 425gr Great Plains Conical.

You can have too much load depending on the game with excessive damage ruining too much meat. But if you are shooting a projectile that I mostly designed for penetration then you will likely only end up punching holes in smaller game such as deer. Which is what happens when you shoot deer with a shotgun slug.

Back to shot placement here. You can hunt Elk on down with .54 PRB or a big conical.

I would hunt with the heaviest charge that still holds accuracy in the rifle while staying within your loading guidelines for the rifle.

Good Luck!

Tahquamenon

If a 224gr PRB will do the job then I know a 310gr ballet will do better!Right?

Pleasetell me it this will do for elk on down:

310gr Buffalo Ballet with around 85gr of powder or higher with good accuracy

Sharper shooter wrote:

If a 224gr PRB will do the job then I know a 310gr ballet will do better!Right?

Pleasetell me it this will do for elk on down:

310gr Buffalo Ballet with around 85gr of powder or higher with good accuracy

I think the 310 will do better than the roundball. Both are legal in Colorado for Elk Hunting.

Happy Hunting, Phil

Kevin1 asked

Is there really any such thing as overkill ?

I think a 105 mm howitzer is too much.

My "buffalo" round is way more than it has to be. But the last i checked, the deer I kill are no deader than the deer sabinajiles kills with his roundballs. I do not worry about hitting a shoulder plate when I fire a 400+ grain bullet. I know it will be busted and the vitals entered. A cross wind, or a twigdeflection isn't going to turn my shot into a disaster.

Happy Hunting, Phil

Sure a 310 Ball-et will work, or a 320 REAL or . But I would not attempt a shoulder shot on Elk with anything less than 390 grains unless the trade off was a faster moving/expanding 300 grain saboted round.

For a PRB or a 310 Ball-et, I would limit my shots tofirst a heart shot and then a double lung and forget about a high shoulder shot.

My opinion.

Tahquamenon