bullet size for elk hunt
 

I will be going black powder hunting for elk in Colorado next fall and I have had more conflicting information on what bullet size to use on my elk hunt. I have had people tell me the powerbelt 295 is big enough and some tell me to go to the 405 gr powerbelt. What bullet have you used on elk hunts and what grain.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I've never hunted elk with a muzzleloader, but when it comes to elk I would hunt with the biggest conical that the rifle could shoot accurate. If you can shoot the 405 grain then that would be what I would use. Some of the guys from that State I am sure can give you a lot more up to date informaton. Good luck.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

What part of colorado are you hunting? What muzzleloader?

The reason i ask is due to different terrain the elk are in and if you plan on doing shoulder shots, which i advise you not to do, you'll want a good blood trail. But for elk i'd use either the 350 grain TC maxi hunter or the 385 grain great plains bullets. Both are excellent bullets. 90-100 grains of powder will be more than enough. Just get a good solid Lung shot and you'll find an elk down when the smoke clears.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

OKelkhunter,

I would use as big a bullet as the riflewill shoot accurately. I like the 405 PB and have considered using it myself. There is also a 444 PB.Not to mention no-excuses and Bullshops cast bullets in 460, 495 and 500 weights which have plenty of heft and are legal in Colorado.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I would use a big conical like No Excuses. I know guys who hate powerbelts.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

If it were me I would shoot one of the big conicals in the 400-600grn range if these were accurate in your gun. On the other hand the biggest bull elk I shot was with the 300grn sst. I know they say that the 348grn powerbelt is the most popular bullet for elk in Colorado. If it is accurate in your gun the 348 or 405 would work good.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I would definately stay above oraround 350. I had been using the 405 powerbelt, but last year used the 338 platinum powerbelt. Haven't killed any game with them yet though. If my Omega shoot them accurately, I would be using the NE 460.

One note of caution. Bullets that are more than twice as long as they are in diameter are not legal in Colorado. In a 50 caliber, it you get much over the 460 I think you would be possibly going over that requirement.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I have only been drawn for cow elk but I have shot them with 300gr. bullets and had full pass through with the elk still up and moving for some distance. If I get drawn this year I am going with NE heavier bullets if I can get the Omega to shoot them. If not I may have to resort to the NEF or maybe my new White if I ever get it. Elk are big and tough especially if they see you and get the adrenaline up.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Per my measure - of the .504 bullets pictured below, any of the bullets including and to the left of the 500 grain N373 would be Colorado legal. Of those four, I would choose between the N373 or the NEx 460.




Cdad, yes - ah git $80 evertime sum1 orders 1000 wads frum TOTW an $150 evertime sum1 orders a bullet frum Dan. ;) Hmmm, kickbacks... :D

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

MLKeith ... congratulations on the new White rifle. What model and caliber did you get? By the way, once you start shooting them big conicals your other rifles are going to get lonely... :D

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I shot my cow in 2005 with a 370 Grain T/C Maxi Ball over 80 grains of powder. I would not hesitate to use that combo again on anything in the lower 48. Though I am going to try a Buffalo Ball ET this year on deer if I draw a tag.

Later,

Marcial

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I no longer use powerbelts smaller then 405 gr.and starting next year I will no longer use them. I am not as knowledgeble about blackpowder as most of these guys on here (most of them amaze me with their knowledge) but I feel confident to talk about powerbelts.

For some reason I think the explode when they hit a bone internally, and become effective. If they dont explode, they go right through without expanding. They are easy to load and real accurate, but I will no longer use them for even whitetail hunting.

An interesting thread, one that made me start looking at this forum all the time is called "Powerbelt Disentagrates" http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1886707&mpage=2, I would read it to learn more peoples opinion of Powerbelt.

Some people like them, I used to, and they shoud shoot them if they want to. But I would not advise anyone to shoot them, especially at elk.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I bought a White Stainless Thunderbolt action and stock from an auction site. I sent it to Doc to have the barrel installed and apparently the barrel supplier told him it was available and now is not. He is looking for a suitable barrel for me without going to a custom barrel. I told him I don't need it until May or June to get ready for fall hunt. The 24 inch barrel is available but the 26 is the one in question. I had hoped to make this a long shot rifle so I wanted the extra two inches for the big heavy bullets. along a similar line I found out White makes a slip fit bullet for .500 bore rifles like the Omega. I just ordered and received them but have not had time to shoot them yet. I have to go to a range to shoot (unlike some lucky people that can shoot outside the back door). Forgot to add it is going to be a .504 just to make it legal everywhere. I could use the .451 in Arizona but those barrels are less available than the .504.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Well, thanks for finally admitting it. :D

And MLKeith, next time ya talk to Doc, ask him to please check his garage one more time. I hear he's got a lot of "stuff" in there. :)

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

That thread was a war of words, either you love them or you hate them. Bookmarking thethread saves everyone from another war.
Chap Gleason VA

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I am another one in their camp. I am sure they have logic and experience to their reasons and we don't have to go into it on this thread, 'cause we beat that horse pretty well on another thread called "PowerBelt Disentagrates", andrewjoseph provided the link. Chap Gleason Va

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Interesting that if you put "Powerbelt breaks apart" into Google Search, that thread pops up! Is that how you got there? Chap Gleason Va

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I cast a 525 grain bullet out of an RCBS adjustable mold. I have found this bullet to be very effective on elk. If you are ever in northern WV, stop by, and we can cast a few bullets. Tom.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

My wife and I are leaving in about 10 minutes to visit Inwood WVA to look at some new houses. I plan on retiring from govt in 3 years (my daughter is freshman in college) a move to Shenadoah valley somewhere. Where are you in WVa? I know 0 about casting, but there must be something to it, since fellows buy BullStop and No Excuse for elkand they look like strong good bullets. Would like to learn about it more.
Chap Gleason Piurcellville Va

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I have found casting to be alot of fun. It is just like anything else, once you get started you can not stop. I have become a lead hound. Looking for lead anymore is like looking for gold. Good lead is getting harder and harder to find. I used to have a good supply. I had a good friend who did church windows. Churches use pure lead to set their windows. It is hard to believe that they are exempt of government restrictions in the use of lead, but it sure was a good source.

I am in Morgantown,WV. Tom.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Another good source for lead is to try some of the small independent X-ray companies. Older x-ray units used a lot of lead as counterweight material. Believe It or not some units had as much as 200 pounds in them.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Since your a fawn on this forum,a little investigative research and search for "Power Belt blows up" in google and see what you come up with. Also seach this forum for PowerBelt Disintegrates and "Don't Overdrive a PowerBelt". The following was said about PB on another forum. If they won't work on deer Isuspect they would not work well on Elk, althought I have never hunted elk. I would go to the No Excuse or Bull Stop that others arerecommending or the Harvester SabreTooth:
http://www.harvesterbullets.com/sabertooth.htm
which iseasy to load and does not fragement. My brother now shoots these after having PBfragmentation issues. I hope that helps, I don't want to start another PB war, just want to inform you of all your options.
Chap Gleason

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

to frontier gander, I will be hunting in GMU 71 in Colorado near Dolores and I will be using a 50 cal encore.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

okelkhunter,

I've noticed that many encore and omega owners hunt elk during regular ML season in colorado with powerbelts. I think because they find them to their bore's liking and get the accuracy they need. While the 348 is predominately the favorite, I would definitely use the heaviest which shoots accurately. Ironically, considering your rifle model, powerbelts may be the place to start.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

IF you are going to use PowerBelts, (which should be just fine), use the 405 or 444grain flatpoint, NOT hollowpoint! You want the deepest penetration you can get, and the 295 grain is a little short on sectional density for big, heavily built animals! I consider it a deer bullet.

In my Traditions .50 Lightning Liteweight, I have used the White flatbased 420-grain bullet with 90 grains of Pyrodex "P" with perfect satisfaction. I put a WonderWad under it.It loads just as slick in that barrel as a Power Belt, and hits like a freight train!

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Most folks out here shoot the 348 grain Powerbelt. The Aerotip, not the the hollowpoint. They seem to work pretty well on broadside rib shots. Testing I have done suggests they are a bit soft for encounters with big bone. I would also lean towards the 405 grain, or even the 444 grain.

In the past six months, I have been testing the new 338 gr. Platinum Powerbelts. They appear to be tougher than the 348 regular Powerbelt - maybe about the same level of penetration/expansion as the 405 gr. regular Powerbelt. They also can handle velocities approaching 2,000 fps while maintainting good accuracy. Haven't given them the wapati field test yet, but they look real good on paper.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

110 gr. FFFg Triple Seven
350 gr. Saber Tooth
1,727 f.p.s
2,313 f.p.e
A pass through on a 1100 pound buffalo dropped him on the spot hit just high enough over the heart to get both lungs.
If I was going to use a PB for anything other than varmits I would use a 444 gr flat nose or steel point R.N. I had some a couple years ago and of all the PB's theywere the best.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

What does the flat nose do for you or is it the 444g that is doing the penetration and not breaking up? Can you do shoulder shots with the 444g PB? Chap Gleason

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

I think between the flat nose and the length of the bullet, the 444 gr Powerbelt gives some expansion, but not the "pancake" expansion of the regular hollowpoint Powerbelt. A person I know shot a bison with this bullet last year. It expanded moderately and didn't come apart.

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

OK. Thanks. Good to know this. Chap Gleason

RE: bullet size for elk hunt
 

Roskoe, knows. If they made a 338 or a 350 or 360 RN they would have something. The only real problem with PB's is that hollow point which causes them to fragment. Lee