bronko22000

I've been fortunate enough to draw and elk tag for PA (anterless) and although my .58 cal has a 1:60 twist and shoots PRBs great I want to make a quick humane kill. I'd like to know if anyone has any .58 cal conicals I can try to see how they shoot? I'd be willing to pay postage. Drop me a PM.
I can use a .50 or even .45 caliber inline but a .58 sidelock would be nostalgic. I can also borrow my friend's (the one I gave him) .54 with a 1:48 twist and use conicals in that. But I really want to bust something with that .58

Fyrstyk54

The .58round ball is really all you need. At almost 300 grains it will do the job, and i would be surprised if you recovered the ball from an elk unless you hit some big bones. A friend of mine took a buffaloe with his .58 using a patched round ball and 120 grains of 2f. Shot was taken at around 60 yards quartering towards the shooter. The ball took out the heart and exited just in front of the hip on the left side. The bull went about 50 feet before it dropped. Use the ball with a good load and you will get your elk.

bronko22000

Thanks. I'm sure a PRB will do the job. I just want to make a quick humane kill. I watched my buddy put three 180 gr Barnes 30 cal bullets in the boiler room before he dropped for good. The first one put the bull right down but it got up and he smacked him twice more before he tipped over.

bronko22000

I think I'm just going to stick with the PRBs. I just have to shoot at 100, 125, and 150 and see where my POI is. Beyond that range I'll have the hand the ball over to my 30-06.

Fyrstyk54

Get as close as you can, and aim for the heart/lung area. The prb will do the job. Remember, the .58 entry hole is probably larger than the exit hole of an 06. The exit hole of the .58 will likely be around .65 or larger. That is a lot of internal damage if you hit the vitals. Many an elk has been dropped with .54s and even .50s.

bronko22000

I always strive to get as close as possible but sometimes its just not possible. I only have 6 days to hunt and its a new area. It about a 3 hour drive to that area and I'm going to have to make several trips to scout it out. As much as I love archery hunting deer during this period (Nov 2-7) this tag has been about 30 years in the waiting. I will still be able to apply for a bull tag but I'll take what I can get.

JW

Good luck bronco

archeryrob

Your twist is too slow for conicals to work great over distance. Put that PRB through both lungs and enjoy your elk steaks.

bronko22000

I know PRBs shoot best but sometimes things don't always work out like that. Never say never sort of thing. Could be that maybe they would shoot good with the proper load. But I decided to stick with the RB.