.54 caliber minimum for elk with patched ball.

[sixgun_symphony]

 "Use enough gun" - Robert Ruark

 IMO, .54 caliber is the minimum caliber for elk when using patched ball. Most modern hunters like to buy .50 caliber because they are used to small caliber smokeless powder metallic cartridge rifles which are high velocity. The velocities for black powder is much slower than modern smokeless powder, .50 caliber is only suitable for deer when using patched ball. Of course this changes with heavy conical bullets.

 Most factory muzzle loading rifles have a 28" barrel length. That is fine for heavy conicals, but I really think that 32" length is better for getting velocity with patched ball.

[metlhead]

Good suggestion, but would not recommend a round ball at all. Sure it will kill, but so will my pellet rifle. Many folks are not that good at understanding how to track wounded game, which is most likely the scenario one will encounter. I myself shoot a .54, and reserve the round ball for target practice. They have worked amazing on some deer, and marginal on others. 54. round ball is 230gr.  I shoot  585gr. cast bullets because they will go through any animal, and knock down the tree behind it, pinning the animal to the earth😀

[sixgun_symphony]

Good suggestion, but would not recommend a round ball at all. Sure it will kill, but so will my pellet rifle. Many folks are not that good at understanding how to track wounded game, which is most likely the scenario one will encounter. I myself shoot a .54, and reserve the round ball for target practice. They have worked amazing on some deer, and marginal on others. 54. round ball is 230gr.  I shoot  585gr. cast bullets because they will go through any animal, and knock down the tree behind it, pinning the animal to the earth

IMO, the only real problem with ball is that people are using smaller calibers for elk. Use a large enough ball for the game, they're effective. That and the usual 28" barrel is really too short to get good velocities with ball.

[wadu1]

I think it's more about the shooter and shot placement. Granted I do shoot a .54 for elk and a .50 for deer. But 90% or more hunters use .50's for both, I've seen more game taken with a .50 with RB's and conical. I helped an older guy with his bull after one shot with a patched .45, back when it was legal. Side note both of my muzzies  are side-locks.

[sixgun_symphony]

.45 and .50 caliber patched ball will kill, but IMO are really too small for elk. IMO, .54 caliber is the absolute minimum caliber for elk. I think .58 to .62 caliber patched ball is better. 

 I also think the standard factory 28" barrel on most of the modern Hawken style rifles are too short. They should have made them at 32" length and with a 1/66 twist rifling rather than 1/48.  I know that the historical Hawken rifles had 1/48 twist rifling, that is a wonder and I hope someone here knows why and will share the answer to that mystery.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Anyone ever chronograph the differences in 28" vs 32"BP rifles?

[Dan-o]

I would think 54 is a reasonable minimum for elk with a roundball.

Yes, I know they can be killed with smaller, but there has to be a "reasonableness" line somewhere and 54 is probably it for me.

I have studied the ballistics tables for roundballs, and full bore conicals and saboted rounds pretty carefully.
I know ballistics tables aren't everything, but it is VERY enlightening to see how relatively little energy roundballs pack compared to conicals.     It's also interesting to see how quickly roundballs bleed off energy due to super low ballistic coefficients.

I just know I would hate to lose an elk......

[LDennis24]

Shot multiple elk with round ball .50 caliber. Never lost an elk with one either.