what do you consider your max range?

[yorketransport]

First off, this is my first year seriously hunting with a muzzy, so I'm still very new to these things. I'm just curious what everyone considers a good max range with their equipment. I'm confident that I can make solid hits to about 150 yards off of my shooting sticks with the peep sights on the gun. I've been plinking at my 10" gong at that range all summer, so I'm feeling pretty good about it. In reality I've put 100 yards as my max on a critter just because I'm not familiar enough with terminal performance of muzzleloader bullets.

I've done some testing with both the 250gr Barnes T-EZ and the 275gr Traditions Smackdown, which both shoot equally well for me, and I'm not convinced that I really like how they perform. The Traditions bullet expanded well at 100 yards when shot into my wet leather bullet trap but didn't penetrate that well. The Barnes bullets actually penetrated less, which surprised me. All the guys I know who're using a muzzy for elk swear by the Barnes bullet and they've got animals on the ground to back up their support. I just haven't been impressed with their penetration though. I trust the opinions of the guys who recommended the Barnes to me though, so that's what I'm going with. Honestly, I would have preferred if my gun would have shot a heavy, hardcast bullet well but that just didn't happen.

My thinking is that muzzle loaders are comparable to a big revolver. I'm very comfortable with a 454, 480, 475 or 500 caliber handgun shooting hardcast bullets at animals up to the size of an elk out to 100 yards. I'm not a big fan of shooting critters that far with expanding bullets like the Barnes, which has worked well in the past out of handguns on smaller critters like deer and bear. When I'd deer hunting I have the 480 loaded with the 275gr XPB, when I'm elk hunting I use a 410gr hard cast bullet.

Now I'm questioning my bullet choices for elk hunting with a muzzy. I actually passed on a shot at a bear yesterday because I didn't feel like the gun was up to it. It was a small-medium sized bear probably around 150#. I spotted it about 150 yards away while deer hunting with the muzzy. If I had any of my other rifles it would have been a dead bear! I worked my way up to about 80 yards away before I ran out of cover and would have been left just out in the open. The problem was that the bear was feeding his way up to the tree line and was at a hard quartering away angle on the other side of a deep creek bed. There was no way for me to get a better angle for the shot and I sat there with this bear in my sights for almost 2 minutes before he hit the timber and disappeared. I would have taken that shot with my iron sighted 480 revolver and never hesitated but I just wasn't confident that I could get a good hit to the vitals at that range with the muzzle loader. It's a different story when I can get a quick follow up shot, but it was a no go for me know that I only had one chance to get a good hit.

After that I just kept thinking that if I'm hesitant to stick a bear with one of these bullets at 80 yards, how deep can I count on it reliably penetrate on an elk if I get a shot at 75-100 yards?

[Jolten]

I keep my Max to 150yds myself

[Karl Blanchard]

You're over thinking it. A 250gr+ anything has plenty of pop at 150 yards. Never shot the Barnes, but shot 30 or so critters with a muzzy with probably close to a dozen projectiles. What powder charge?

[kselkhunter]

Depends on the gun setup and bullet selection.  And size of target: deer, elk, or bear.  I know you practice to longer ranges with various guns and are more proficient than most.

For me, I have a CVA Accura V2 with peep sight and globe w/crosshairs set up.  I practice out to 150 yards, and am confident in my shooting.   

For deer, my limit is about 125 yards due to smaller size target.  For elk, I'd go to 140-150 with a broadside shot without worrying.  If not a broadside then would have to decide my range based on the conditions.

If a quartering-to shot on an elk, I'd stay at 125 yards or closer for my preferences.  I use both a Barnes 290gr bullet and a 310gr hard cast bullet that I've annealed the tip to perform like a partition bullet, so I know both bullets will expand.

But we're all different.

 

[Dan-o]

Penetration with big old muzzy bullets hasn't been an issue for me since I quit shooting maxi-hunters a long time ago (they tended to pancake).

I don't think you'll have issues with either of your choices overexpanding at muzzy bullets.

FWIW, I've shot 15-20 elk with a muzzy, and those big old bullets seem to penetrate on elk just fine.

[JimmyHoffa]

I'm staying within 100 right now.  I don't doubt the rifle, but with the rear peep at max elevation I can get as high as 1/2" below aim point.  I'm using some loads-components I've seen sabotloader mention and they're working pretty good, really consistent.

[Mfowl]

All of my ML shots have been close, like bow range so I can't speak to bullet performance at further ranges but up close everything I have used has hit elk hard. I have killed elk with Barnes 300gr red hots, 275gr Bloodlines and 300gr Hornady XTP's. All sitting on 100-110grs of powder and all of them were dead in sight. I would've expected your gun to smoke that bear at 80yds. I would shoot to 150yds in the right situation but 100yds or less is more realistic.

[yorketransport]

You're over thinking it. A 250gr+ anything has plenty of pop at 150 yards. Never shot the Barnes, but shot 30 or so critters with a muzzy with probably close to a dozen projectiles. What powder charge?

110gr of Triple 7. It holds a solid 2.5" from a good rest and around 3.5" sitting and off of shooting sticks. Groups got pretty ugly if I went over 110gr.

I think my issue is that I'm a big fan of complete pass through shots. I probably just need to shoot a few critters with a muzzy to have a little more confidence in them. Muzzle loader seasons are so much more compatible with my work schedule that I'd like to start hunting with one every year. The thought of elk hunting in early October every years is awfully appealing!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Actual hunting conditions? I treat my muzzy like a bow. No first shots over 50 or so yards.  If I had a wounded animal I'd probably shoot out to about 125 yards.  It's not that I can't make longer shots, It's that I like making my first shot count. And Half the fun of hunting with traditional weapons is getting up close and personal.  I had an 8 year streak at one time of taking my deer at 25 yards or less, and many of them were 5-10 yards.

[Crunchy]

At 150 yards I have a choice, I can either see the front sight, or whatever I am shooting at    Older you get the smaller deer are, so 100 maybe 120 appear to be my eye's limit.

[Bango skank]

Man, having that bear at 80 yards with no shot, and just watching it walk away had to hurt.  A little closed reed fawn call in your pocket might have been all it took to bring it right in to you.  I always keep some sort of little predator call on me when im in the woods, regardless of what im doing.  Never know when it could be of use.

[huntnnw]

with muzzy bigger weights are better. When we were a all lead state, I shot 440-460gr bullets. With todays newer bullets I still try to stay around 300 gr. I shoot the 290gr barnes.

[fowl smacker]

Not sure if it's too late for you to try a new round, but the Dead Center 220gr behind 130 gr of 777 are EXTREMELY accurate for me.  I've only shot 2 elk with that combo, one at 80yds, the other at 167yds, and neither went more than 30 yds.  Small sample size, but may want to check them out at some point.

[HntnFsh]

with muzzy bigger weights are better. When we were a all lead state, I shot 440-460gr bullets. With todays newer bullets I still try to stay around 300 gr. I shoot the 290gr barnes.

For elk I'm in the 300ish grain group too.  I feel 250 is too light. When I was shooting lead I was closer to 350 grains.

[JJB11B]

You're over thinking it. A 250gr+ anything has plenty of pop at 150 yards. Never shot the Barnes, but shot 30 or so critters with a muzzy with probably close to a dozen projectiles. What powder charge?

this! I shot a Mulie doe At 150 yards with the 250 Barnes TTSX bullet and it went in behind one shoulder and took out the other shoulder on the way through, left about a 1.5” exit hole.