Anyone ever kill an Elk with a 50cal roundball?

[CP]

Yes, round balls suck, they are probably the worst ballistic projectile that one could use.  A decent conical or sabot has twice the range and is a whole lot more accurate.

But you could ask why anyone would want to shoot a muzzleloader at all when there are so many awesome modern rifles available that have 5 + times the range.  It must have something to do with the challenge because it sure isn’t the great hunting opportunities available to ML hunters.

[gadwall]

A roundball works just fine for elk but the guys I know use 54's and 58's.  I know that the outfit making the Dead Center bullets(www.prbullet.com) has some that are made for longer twists in roundball guns.

Precision Rifle bullets are the real deal.  I use the deadcenters in my 54.

IMO- Any projectile will work if you have good shot placement and keep to your effective range- even patch/ball loads. 

Hey Dansk,
Are you using Dead Center bullets in a 1-48 twist .54??  If so, let's here some stories.  I have a traditional hawken and an inline but have not used the Dead Center bullets yet.

[Dansk]

[Hey Dansk,
Are you using Dead Center bullets in a 1-48 twist .54??  If so, let's here some stories.  I have a traditional hawken and an inline but have not used the Dead Center bullets yet.
[/quote]

I have an inline TC system1.  It's either 1 in 28 or 32...not sure.  I bought it right when tc was phasing out their system 1 for the black diamonds with faster twist, 209s, and magnum loads.

Great rifle - sub moa at 50 yds from the bench using 90g pyrodex and 300g PR dead centers when I take my time and shoot well.  2" groups at 100 yds.  Zero'd at 175 gives me +4" at 100yds and +2" at 50 and 100 yds.  I hold almost 2000ft lbs out to 100yds.

I took a cow elk in 2007 in SW Wa with that setup- my loads were bone crushers- the problem I've found with any inline load I've shot is that they shatter when they hit the spine, shoulder, etc, and ruin alot of meat.  It takes the animal down, but makes a mess.  I always find lead in my ground if it's not a soft tissue pass through.

The cool think about PR is that they make a bullet/sabot combo for almost any set-up.  I'm looking at a chart I have from them- says the optimum combo for 1in48 is a 300g .45 cal bullet.

[Dansk]

Why would anyone want to shoot a roundball with the awesome bullets we have today.  I shot a couple deer with them back in the day and quickly learned why they are obsolete now.  Not impressed.  Good for plinkin' not for huntin'.

I know guys from the range that hunt with those old school muskets - older than hawkens... I'm talking about the 4' long rifles (kentucky?) like they used in the 1700's.  Some even hunt flintlocks, but most use caps.  These old timers were holding 3" groups at 100ys off the bench using roundball loads and doing better than some of the guys trying to man handle a brand new magnums with a $1000 scopes.  Probably the same breed that go to the long bow.  Matter of preference and challenge I guess.  My grandfather passed down his 1950's fred bear recurve to me.  I'm not a bowhunter (yet... tick tock), but I am going to learn how to hunt with it and WILL take a deer with that bow just to... well... take a deer with that bow..

[Ghost Hunter]

Why would anyone want to shoot a roundball with the awesome bullets we have today.  I shot a couple deer with them back in the day and quickly learned why they are obsolete now.  Not impressed.  Good for plinkin' not for huntin'.

You've tried it, so I guess your qualified to knock it

[sss5358]

I am thinking about Muzzel loading for elk next year. I have killed a muley with my cap lock using 85gr of black powder and a patched roundball. Just wondering if there is any stories using this combo on elk. Thanks!

Years ago when the newer bullets were not around I used round balls. Heavier the better.  Penetration was the problem. Although I did manage to kill a few Elk with them. But, using the the modern day bullets has resulted in few "go finds" and many more one shot one kill. Both for deer and elk. I use precision rifle Keith nosed Sabots in the 350 grain. Great penetration and they create a good quick killing wound channel. I think round ball hunting for elk is just and invitation to having to track your game and in the animal suffering more.

[sss5358]

Yes, round balls suck, they are probably the worst ballistic projectile that one could use.  A decent conical or sabot has twice the range and is a whole lot more accurate.

But you could ask why anyone would want to shoot a muzzleloader at all when there are so many awesome modern rifles available that have 5 + times the range.  It must have something to do with the challenge because it sure isn’t the great hunting opportunities available to ML hunters.

For me it's the whole enchilada.  I like being a part of the developing the load.  Using one shot is great and in Washington the hunts used to be better than the modern ones. But that has changed too. But I continue anyway just because it is so much a part of my hunting experience now. Also (at least in Washington) weeds out the machine gun style, brush shot crowd a lot too.  To much trouble for their kind to try Blackpowder.

Steve

[KillBilly]

All of our ancestors did.. they din't any have any fo the newer bullets we have now

[marc10000]

Ancesters smanchesters. Back then there were so many Elk and Deer that you could shoot at 10 of them and wait for one to drop. Not the same thing.