I'm looking ahead to next years hunting season, and plan on hunting ina "Traditional Muzzleloader Only" elk hunt. I shoot a .50 cal GPR.I wasthinking aboutbuying a fast twist barrel, because a round ball may not pack enough punch. Before placing my order, I wonder if a fast twist barrel is necessary? Acouple guysshoot "smooth rifles" at the local range, and are very accurate at 100 yards. I've shot slugsin my shotgun, and they are accurate enough at 50 yards to hunt with. Has anyone shot bullets like the Hornady Great Plains bullet or similiar(solid bullets only, no sabots per hunting regs)in their muzzleloaders with slow twist barrels? And if so, what were the results? If I can shoot these bullets accurate enough out to 75 yards I can save myself $200.

For some reason the answer to your question will vary from gun to gun ;that covered if you have a 1-48 twist the chances you can find something like ballets or maxie balls is reasonable. you want to start with a bullet about a caliber and a half long for a 1-48 . Lee

I have seen slow twist barrels shoot sabots, conicals, almost anything. Then the next slow twist barrel will only shoot roundball. Only your rifle knows what it wants to shoot. While I am sure a well placed roundball at a moderate range could kill an elk, I tend to agree with you on the bigger is better theory.

Since the barrels are the same on the Great Plains Rifle and Great Plains Hunter, I think I would get a .54 caliber Great Plains Hunter barrel with the 1-32 twist. It should fit right on your stock just fine. From there I would work up a .54 caliber conical load with as heavy a powder charge which still produced accuracy. A lot of people with the GPH barrels shoot the Lyman Maxiball with excellent results.

Another option would be the Green Mountain Barrel from Track of the Wolf. They come in a 1-28 twist that would be good for conicals most likely, and sabots. If sabots are legal. Most Traditional Hunts do not allow the use of sabots. While a 1-28 twist should shoot conicals, it is no guarantee that it will. They really are made for sabots, as they are basically the same barrel you would find on a Knight rifle. I personally think for big lead, I would go with another GPH barrel from Midway USA and work up a conical load.

A large conical, while not having the speed of the sabots, have energy. They have excellent penetration and expansion and might actually be a real good choice. I have never had the pleasure of hunting elk with a muzzleloader yet. When I do, it will be with a conical shooter.

cayugad, I have used a 54 PRB on a quite a bit of big game including Bear and Elk but I use a custom made gun with a long barrel and 130 gr of RS it did real well for me but I would be a bit concerned about using a 50 cal with PBR for any thing much bigger than deer ,what do you think? I am sure its been done. Lee

A 54cal PRB with 90gr FFG will do when you get within 75yds. For the 50cal PRB you could do it. I would not get over 75yds though. I am sure it has been done and can will do just fine. Try the Baffalo ball-ets in that barrel. You can get them from www.possibleshop.com. Good luck with it and have a fun elk hunt!

Regarding the ballet projectiles,the 245 ballet will give similar performance to a .54 roundball beyond 30 yards, the 270 will give similar performance to a .58 roundball beyond 30 yards. 80 grains is enough for either but in a slow twist you could probably charge higher. I think either, properly placed, will take elk. Like cayugad said, your rifle will tell you if it will shoot GP conicals, maxi-balls, and so one. I think you are correct about "bigger is better" provided the accuracy is maintained.