Bullet Wieght

[Buck86]

I am wondering what bullet weight is actually the best for elk?  I currently have been stuck with 290 to 300 gr bullets. I used 300 gr Hornady sst bullets last year and it knocked my bull down.  It seems though like there may be a better bullet with some of the new designed bullets out there like the bloodlines etc. What I am trying to figure out is does lets say for argument sake.  Does a 270 gr blood lone carry more energy than a 300 gr Hornady sst out to 200 yards with a load of t7 powder?  Using 100 to 120 grns?  I currently use 110 lose t7.  I understand ballistic coefficients and a couple other variables come into play.  I am just wondering if a certain weight bullet actually retains the most energy out to 200 yards. I also still currently use a knight bighorn with #11caps. May possibly upgrade to a disc extreme, or possibly a CVA Accura.  But that is a discussion for a different time.

Thanks Buck

[BigVinn]

I have used both 300 grain bloodlines and then switched to a 275 grain bloodline for elk. For me my groups were better at 100 yards with the 275 so I am more comfortable with that bullet. I don’t know the ballistics but I know shot placement is always key. Both killed elk just fine. Just my 2 cents.

[kselkhunter]

Sounds like the 300gr SST worked on your last bull.  Were you unhappy with it?

200 yards is out of my eyesight range with open sights so can't offer much advice on the range.   I'd lean towards 290gr Barnes, but you've already had good results with the 300gr SST.  I like heavy-for-caliber bullets with elk.  Can't comment on Bloodlines as haven't used them.  Sectional density matters just as much as retained energy/BC/etc. at 200 yards.  And of course shot placement for the specific bullet design...

For me, I have some 325gr Beartooth ML bullets on order to test with Blackhorn 209 in my CVA Accura V2 later this month as my potential elk bullet this year.   Will see how they perform.  The Blackhorn load data suggest I should be able to get around 1900fps or so MV with them, with a 0.231 BC, 0.3" meplat, and good SD, they should perform as I hope to my desired range.  We'll see.  If nothing else, they're less expensive than Barnes bullets to practice with....

 

[Buck86]

No not at all, I am happy with the 300Grn Hornady.  I especially like the ease of it loading versus the barnes 290 I have used. 

The 200 yards was and is just a bench mark for retained energy.  I am not advocating or suggesting taking that long of a shot with open sights.  I used that like I used the 500 yard mark when I was trying to figure what load I wanted to use in my 7mmm mag.  Again No I did not and have not shot at animal that far, it was just the bench mark I used for enough retained energy to still put an elk down. 

So I understand I am talking about muzzleloaders and there is a big difference.  I am just wondering if there is a point of no return or what ever you want to call it with the modern muzz bullets.  Where does the energy fall off and where does it maintain out to lets say 200 yards? Also I am not worried about brand as much as bullet weight.  I just mentioned a couple brands as a reference.  I have not used the bloodlines either.  I see Hornady actually has a 325 gr muzz bullet also and was thinking of giving it a try also. 

Thanks Buck

[Gunfire]

My father and I switched over to muzzleloader a few years back and have since taken a 7x7 bull, a spike bull, and two mule deer bucks. All were taken using Hornady 300 grain SST. None of them had much life left in them after being hit. They seem to do exactly what they were designed to do. I won't be changing any time soon.

[zwickeyman]

Just shoot what groups the best. Don't worry about 30 grains.. I shoot a 300 gr Scorpion, it works on game and groups great for me but if a 260gr bullet shot better I would use it

[WSU]

It seems to me that all muzzy bullets are just big, slow moving bullets.  Perhaps the bloodlines create more damage with the fragments they are designed to make. But, I don’t think you are going to get the shock value you get with a rifle no matter what bullet you shoot.  You basically get a half inch hole through the critter and they all seem to penetrate enough.

[Sabotloader]

Just to post some examples....











While the open nose Lehigh's do not have the BC of the tipped bullets.  They carry and work great out to 200 yards +

Of all the bullets I have used to harvest they show me a great Terminal Ballistic effect.  Terminal Ballistics is my highest grading point.

[HntnFsh]

No not at all, I am happy with the 300Grn Hornady.  I especially like the ease of it loading versus the barnes 290 I have used. 

The 200 yards was and is just a bench mark for retained energy.  I am not advocating or suggesting taking that long of a shot with open sights.  I used that like I used the 500 yard mark when I was trying to figure what load I wanted to use in my 7mmm mag.  Again No I did not and have not shot at animal that far, it was just the bench mark I used for enough retained energy to still put an elk down. 

So I understand I am talking about muzzleloaders and there is a big difference.  I am just wondering if there is a point of no return or what ever you want to call it with the modern muzz bullets.  Where does the energy fall off and where does it maintain out to lets say 200 yards? Also I am not worried about brand as much as bullet weight.  I just mentioned a couple brands as a reference.  I have not used the bloodlines either.  I see Hornady actually has a 325 gr muzz bullet also and was thinking of giving it a try also. 

Thanks Buck

I don't think you will like loading the Bloodlines. They are tight. I could send you a cople to try if you would like. Then maybe experiment with different sabots to see if you can get them to load easier. I may be able to send you a few different ones to try.

[Buck86]

well if the bloodlines are as hard to load as the Barnes 290's, think I will stick to the hornadys.  They don't require a hydraulic press after the first shot to get loaded and are actually fairly easy to load.  Thanks for the replies.  Again the main thing I was just trying to find out was if a certain weight retained better energy than another.  Seems like the charts that Sabotlader posted shows the 300 grn bullets are the best.  So at this point I will stick to the hornadys for now/

Good Luck Buck

[Sabotloader]

Buck86

I also still currently use a knight bighorn with #11caps. May possibly upgrade to a disc extreme,

Just passing a note your direction... I really do not think you would have a problem loading the 'Bloodlines' in your Knight - either the Bighorn or a DISC if you were to get one.  I load them in my Knights all the time with a MMP Orange sabot or the red sabot sullied from Knight.

One of the thing s that sets the Bloodline's or even the new solid copper bullets from Lehigh Defense is their 'Terminal Performance'. I am old 'really old' - Iuse them because I really want the animal to drop right where it is shot or dang close!  These bullet produce so much internal shock it will in most cases over-ride the animals flight response!

[reelamin]

I am wondering what bullet weight is actually the best for elk?  I currently have been stuck with 290 to 300 gr bullets. I used 300 gr Hornady sst bullets last year and it knocked my bull down.  It seems though like there may be a better bullet with some of the new designed bullets out there like the bloodlines etc. What I am trying to figure out is does lets say for argument sake.  Does a 270 gr blood lone carry more energy than a 300 gr Hornady sst out to 200 yards with a load of t7 powder?  Using 100 to 120 grns?  I currently use 110 lose t7.  I understand ballistic coefficients and a couple other variables come into play.  I am just wondering if a certain weight bullet actually retains the most energy out to 200 yards. I also still currently use a knight bighorn with #11caps. May possibly upgrade to a disc extreme, or possibly a CVA Accura.  But that is a discussion for a different time.

Thanks Buck

It all depends on what velocity your actually starting out with.   I can tell you charts are information but you need to chronograph your load in your rifle.   I also use a bighorn and have used T73F, 2F Pyro, and BH209 with 250-305gr bullets.  I chronograph at 10' from muzzle.

My Gun:
110 of TZ3F will put you in the area of 1750fps with a 300gr and 1900fps with 250gr bullet.

Both sighted in for 200yd zero:
300 +8" 100, 0/200 1240lbs, -12"/250 1150lbs, -31"/300 774lbs
250 +7" 100, 0/200 1343lbs, -10"/250 1237lb, -26"/300 1146lbs

DO NOT Forget about sectional density....that is the key to penetration.   LOL...it actually is and if what your using works keep using it.

[GrampasGuns]

Buck86

I also still currently use a knight bighorn with #11caps. May possibly upgrade to a disc extreme,

Just passing a note your direction... I really do not think you would have a problem loading the 'Bloodlines' in your Knight - either the Bighorn or a DISC if you were to get one.  I load them in my Knights all the time with a MMP Orange sabot or the red sabot sullied from Knight.

One of the thing s that sets the Bloodline's or even the new solid copper bullets from Lehigh Defense is their 'Terminal Performance'. I am old 'really old' - Iuse them because I really want the animal to drop right where it is shot or dang close!  These bullet produce so much internal shock it will in most cases over-ride the animals flight response!

SabotLoader, the 250grn bloodlines are a nightmare going down the tube of my ultralite. I love how they shoot but the thought of reloading in the field with slippery hands seems daunting. Do you put the bullet in an aftermarket sabot?

[Sabotloader]

Buck86

I also still currently use a knight bighorn with #11caps. May possibly upgrade to a disc extreme,

Just passing a note your direction... I really do not think you would have a problem loading the 'Bloodlines' in your Knight - either the Bighorn or a DISC if you were to get one.  I load them in my Knights all the time with a MMP Orange sabot or the red sabot sullied from Knight.

One of the thing s that sets the Bloodline's or even the new solid copper bullets from Lehigh Defense is their 'Terminal Performance'. I am old 'really old' - Iuse them because I really want the animal to drop right where it is shot or dang close!  These bullet produce so much internal shock it will in most cases over-ride the animals flight response!

SabotLoader, the 250grn bloodlines are a nightmare going down the tube of my ultralite. I love how they shoot but the thought of reloading in the field with slippery hands seems daunting. Do you put the bullet in an aftermarket sabot?

Which sabot are you using with them? I do use the factory red sabot and the MMP HPH24 in both of my Ultra-Lites with out a problem - but you might need the MMP HPH-3P-EZload sabot or the Harvester 'Crush Rib'.

O you know what... how much have you shot your ULite.  The bore coating that Knight uses in the new barrels may be closing you diameter down a bit.  Eventually it will loosen up.