Best sabot and grain for Bull Elk

[muzzleman]

I got drawn for a Margret Bull tag this year, and I don't want to mess up with the wrong sabot and grain for my Elk.  What is the best Sabot and grain for my TCF Black Diamond 50 cal?  And how many grains of triple 7 does everyone use? 

[Sabotloader]

I got drawn for a Margret Bull tag this year, and I don't want to mess up with the wrong sabot and grain for my Elk.  What is the best Sabot and grain for my TCF Black Diamond 50 cal?  And how many grains of triple 7 does everyone use?

There are a lot of good bullets out there, both premium and mass produced...

Personally I use 110 grains of T7-3f pushing a 300 grain Lehigh/Bloodline bullet in a MMP or Knight 458x50 sabot.  It really a deadly combination.

[Damnimissed]

Hey SL, are the Orange mmp's any easier to load in an Ultralite? Man, the red ones are tough to get started. I'm probably gonna have to carry some sst's/crush rib for quick follow up shots. The Bloodlines shoot real nice though...and they're pretty!

[Sabotloader]

Hey SL, are the Orange mmp's any easier to load in an Ultralite? Man, the red ones are tough to get started. I'm probably gonna have to carry some sst's/crush rib for quick follow up shots. The Bloodlines shoot real nice though...and they're pretty!

No they are the same sabot just different colored...  Try this.... place the bullet in the sabot and just before forcing it down the bore, roll the outside of the sabot on your tongue... do not have to get it wet just a bit moist which acts as a bit of lubrication.

Once you get it pushed through the crown - how does it go down the bore.

If that does not work there is an alternative... but there is also a possible problem...



mike

[Damnimissed]

Right now, after I get it through the crown it eases up a bit but is still nice and snug. It's getting it a couple inches past the crown that's tough. I even messed up a sabot due to bad alignment because of the force it took to get it started. I'll try the spit lube on Saturday for my final shoot before elk season....also, what alternatives or problems do you speak of??
Thanks for your input. It's much appreciated.

Ron

[Damnimissed]

Sorry for the thread jack muzzleman. You can't go wrong with 300gr SSTs and 110 gr of 777. They seem to shoot pretty darn good in most rifles.

[SnakeEyes]

I am using the Barnes Spit-Fire 290 grain T-EZ with 110 grains of Triple 7.

[scottcrb]

I got drawn for a Margret Bull tag this year, and I don't want to mess up with the wrong sabot and grain for my Elk.  What is the best Sabot and grain for my TCF Black Diamond 50 cal?  And how many grains of triple 7 does everyone use?

There are a lot of good bullets out there, both premium and mass produced...

Personally I use 110 grains of T7-3f pushing a 300 grain Lehigh/Bloodline bullet in a MMP or Knight 458x50 sabot.  It really a deadly combination.

samething I.use

[WSU]

I am using the Barnes Spit-Fire 290 grain T-EZ with 110 grains of Triple 7.

Same here.  The T-EZ loads a lot easier in my gun.  Still very snug but others have been damn-near impossible to get down the barrel.

[Sabotloader]

Right now, after I get it through the crown it eases up a bit but is still nice and snug. It's getting it a couple inches past the crown that's tough. I even messed up a sabot due to bad alignment because of the force it took to get it started. I'll try the spit lube on Saturday for my final shoot before elk season....also, what alternatives or problems do you speak of??
Thanks for your input. It's much appreciated.

Ron

The bullet I showed is a Lehigh .458x305 grain.  It is designed to be used in a 45-70 rifle which normally have a 1-16 twist.  They are an outstanding bullet from that platform.

The two factors that make it work in a tight ml barrels are the deep grooves around the bullet that provide less over all pressure to put it down the bore + the bullet is held to a much tighter specifications than are the ML 300's.  The second advantage is the weight of the nose petals... The nose of this bullet is heavier and will provide more internal damage.

BUT... Most 50 cal ML's are 1-28 twist.  Because of its overall length the bullet should be marginal in a 1-28 in that you might not achieve stabilization.  They will work very well in a 1-28 IF you shoot it with enough velocity and IF it does not slip up or across the lands. it needs to start its rotation right away and maintain its grip.  Actually this is suppose to happen with any bullet you shoot but since most of the bullets we shoot are shorter you have a margin of error.

So what I am saying is if the regular .458x300 gr. Bloodline is TO tight subbing this bullet might work very well for you.  In fact in my case I end not using the 458 sabot and move to a thicker black HPH-24 they load very well and are snug all the way down the bore...

[muzzleman]

Thanks for the input   Thats exactly what I have been using. is the Bloodline 300 grain with 110 grains of T7.  I just wanted to make sure I was using the best for my upcoming hunt in the Margret.

[Chukarhead]

Thanks for the input   Thats exactly what I have been using. is the Bloodline 300 grain with 110 grains of T7.  I just wanted to make sure I was using the best for my upcoming hunt in the Margret.

If that's what you're used to, definitely don't change it now.  It'll kill one dead...if you hit it in the boiler room.  We expect a full report!   

[muzzleman]

I sure will. I can't wait for the season to start.

[huntnnw]

I have a T/C Blackdiamond...I shoot 90gr of T7 and a 300gr Barnes..it shoots great to 100

[Jonathan_S]

150 grains of loose powder and an all-lead PowerBelt.



If I was going to hunt elk with muzzleloader, I'd look at all-copper bullets like mentioned above.

[hunterrcc]

I shoot the same gun tc black diamond 50 cal.  I have used powerbelts shoot great don't kill worth *censored* don't recommend using them.  Use barnes 250 or 290 gr copper bullets with ballistic tip.  They are deadly up to 225yards all day long...  I use prodex pellets 100 grains / 2- 50 gr pellets.  Only thing I dislike about them is hard to load after 2 shots.  There newer bullets have a easy loading sabot.  Very happy with results of bullet.  Make sure you are shooting straight is the biggest thing if your gun doesn't want to shoot a tight group with a certain bullet  then change to something that's accurate.

[Machias]

No Excuses bullets!!!

[higunner]

PR Bullet.  " Dead Centers" 340 grainers always do the job for me

[BOWHUNTER45]

150 grains of loose powder and an all-lead PowerBelt.



If I was going to hunt elk with muzzleloader, I'd look at all-copper bullets like mentioned above.

I can not see anyone wanting to shoot something different now that they changed the law ..unless you are a hardcore muzzleloader hunter and you stick with a round ball or lead maxi-ball  I wish I would have killed the bull I called in yesterday So I could see what that 300 gr jacketed bullet would have done to him   

[Wolfdog2314]

Another one for 110 grain T7 and 300 bloodline. Haven't shot anything with em' yet. But have been shooting my best patterns with this combo.

[huntnnw]

Best thing to happen to wildlife in this state was changing the laws on the bullets! way to many idiots dont understand muzzleloaders and how they work with all lead! They think cause they shoot there 06 with 160gr bullets that buying 200 gr is plenty and hell faster is better.

[Jonathan_S]

Best thing to happen to wildlife in this state was changing the laws on the bullets! way to many idiots dont understand muzzleloaders and how they work with all lead! They think cause they shoot there 06 with 160gr bullets that buying 200 gr is plenty and hell faster is better.

I get way better penetration with a lower charge (105 grains) of loose powder vs. a "Magnum" charge.

[tdwilson]

I have a knight disc extreme and run the 275 grain bloodlines with 120 grains of fffg.  Never had any problems with penetration or knock down power with ths combination out to 200 yards for deer/elk.  Have killed 6 deer with this setup and not one has gone more than 40 yards.

[Sabotloader]

I have a knight disc extreme and run the 275 grain bloodlines with 120 grains of fffg.  Never had any problems with penetration or knock down power with ths combination out to 200 yards for deer/elk.  Have killed 6 deer with this setup and not one has gone more than 40 yards.

I have said all along that the .458x275 Lehigh/Bloodline is the best all-around bullet made.

[SkookumHntr]

Ive killed 2 elk with 300grn Hornady SST, and 100grn triple 7. I actually havnt been too impressed with that bullet on expansion but Its what I have so Im using them. I wanta try the Barnes TMZ.

[mossyhead]

I shoot the 290 grain Barnes TMZ with 130 grains of Pyrodex pellets and this combo shoots great in my Knight Bighorn. My buddy shot his elk at 125 yards and it went clean through with a wound channel the size of a golf ball. The bullet stopped in the hide on the other side. I witnessed the shot and was thoroughly impressed. When we got home I weighed the bullet at 278 grains. Pedalled out just perfect.

[gadwall]

PR Bullet.  " Dead Centers" 340 grainers always do the job for me

Well said.  I have had awesome results with the dead center bullets.

[jimbow]

Just killed a nice bull opening day in the Blues.  Used a 300 gr Scorpion PT Gold with their crushed rib sabot.  120 grs of fffg 777 dropped him in his tracks.

[higunner]

Once again 340 grain Dead Centers.  Dropped a cow in her tracks at 100 yards on opening day.  Perfect mushroom. Recovered bullet weight 316.6 grains

[Dan-o]

400 grain Harvester HARD CAST lead.......   Love 'em.

[usmc74]

Just killed my first muzzy elk!

290 gr Barnes TMZ, 110 gr T7, FFFG

68 yards, died right there

[longstevo]

Let me add on to the original question.

What distance are you all sighting in at, and are these loads getting good groups?

I was shooting 295 gr Powerbelts with 100 gr 777 and I couldn't get anything to group out of my Knight Wolverine.

[huntnnw]

My gun has shot Barnes 300 gr and Hornady 300 gr sst very well at 100 yards.

I couldnt find anymore Barnes 300 gr,so I went with the Hornadys 300 gr sst's this year...I am wishing I had used Barnes now. My gf shot her first elk 2 nights ago a spike at 35 yards barely qtr away...bullet did not exit and never found it! followed blood for 400 yards bright red with air bubbles in the blood. Very disappointed and dont know what happend! I will gurantee if I had a Barnes in the gun it would of exited

[hunterrcc]

barnes 290 or 250 grain TMZ 50 cal...

Three bulls all three bullets look the same and took one shot to kill.  100 grains of pellets pyrodex is deadly! 

[usmc74]

 
My bullet looked just like that!  I was above the elk, it was bedded, facing away.  Shot went in next to spine, found in bottom of lung.  Huge cut across the heart.

[Big Horn]

I shoot a black Diamond Dr with 125gr with 250gr Barnes TMZ, tried a lot of loads and sabot brands. That is what my gun likes best.

[Tom Tamer]

Was using the SST Also, loved how they flew behind 100 gn 3f T7, but after one Mule deer and a bunch of stories on their abiity to explode I switch to the Hornady FPB 300. They fly real well and every write I have seen says the expansion is awesome. Hope to find out in a couple weeks. All this out of the T/C black Diamond .50