12 pointer

I think I'd use 100 grains of powder and a 250 or 300 grain sst or shockwave.

MLKeith

You did not say where you are and how you are going to get to Colorado. If flying you cannot carry muzzleloader powder so you will have to find some in Colorado that matches what you are using for set-up. If you are driving it is a different story as you can take it with you. If I could get it; I would try to work out a 90-100gr. load of Black Mag'3 pushing a 348gr. Powerbelt or similar conical that falls into the Colorado legal description. I shot my elk this year with BM3 and had to reload quickly for a follow-up shot to drop the elk before it got out of my recovery area. I could not have reloaded as quickly with any other powder. BM3 is so clean the residue in the barrel after a shot is almost none. I get a little gray powder on a patch.

Slamfire

So what do the purists who shoot round balls use? Bigger calibers.

cayugad

If I were to hunt elk with a traditional rifle it would be a roundball .54 or .58 caliber pushed with around 100-110 grains of Goex FFg. The down range energy is excellent and the penetration a roundball gets would shock most modern inline shooters. If needed a person could shoot some large conicals also.

Of course a lot would depend on the range you were shooting also. With the Traditional rifles I would try and stay within 100 yards and make sure I place my shot.

slam bang

With whatever gun,powder, bullet combo you decide on I personaly keep my shots to under 100yds and double lung to do the animal justice in a swift kill. sure the gun may shoot out to 200yds plus, but remember your basicly shooting a shotgun as far as ballistics.





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YOU A'INT HUNTIN ELK UNLESS IT HURTS;; YOU GOTTA FEEL THE PAIN