I have not seen much chatter over the upcoming elk season

[HoofsandWings]

Just wondering. With the season starting October 2nd, which is still bugling season, I thought I would see more posts.
Or does most of muzzleloader forum participants only hunt deer?

[ML_Hunter]

I'm really looking foward to the upcomming Elk season!!  I've seen so many elk out and about, my scouting has found a ton of elk, and as i've been out bear hunting ive seen even more elk.  I just hope I can find all of these elks during the muzzle loader seaon!! 

[bobcat]

I switched this year from what I've been doing- I'm doing muzzleloader for deer and modern rifle for elk. I'm looking forward to the deer opener on September 25th. Been scouting as much as possible, but still not enough. Went out Friday and put 25 bullets through the muzzleloader, including some new hard cast Harvesters that I hadn't shot before. It's pretty well sighted in but if I find the time I do want to try some FFF Triple Seven instead of the double F, for more reliable ignition.

[yelp]

I got a muzzy cow tag in Dayton..I will be chasing them the first week!

[HoofsandWings]

I switched this year from what I've been doing- I'm doing muzzleloader for deer and modern rifle for elk. I'm looking forward to the deer opener on September 25th. Been scouting as much as possible, but still not enough. Went out Friday and put 25 bullets through the muzzleloader, including some new hard cast Harvesters that I hadn't shot before. It's pretty well sighted in but if I find the time I do want to try some FFF Triple Seven instead of the double F, for more reliable ignition.

I have been using FFF and have found it works great with #11. Since I have not ever fired using FF, I don't know what the difference would be. FFF is a little hard to find and I should get more before it becomes even more scarce.

[bobcat]

I was having a lot of hangfires with the double F. I've read that Triple Seven is hard to ignite, compared to regular black powder and Pyrodex. I'm also thinking about buying a musket cap nipple, and see if the musket caps will give better ignition than the #11's. I was just at Wholesale Sports and they had plenty of both FF and FFF Triple 7.

[carpsniperg2]

i use to have a burn chart i would post for you bobcat but the fff g is mush finer and will burn better with the number 11. but i won't shoot anything with but muskets. the standard 11 i think is about half as hot as the musket cap and the mag 11 are 75% as hot if i rmember right. i would suggest trying musket caps in your gun. back when i shot 11 i would have several hangs a year. they are not fun since i switched i have not had one for 5 years in 2 diffrent guns

[carpsniperg2]

o and the tripple 7 is not as easy to ignite as regular pyro or black powder.

[bobcat]

Yeah, so I'm also thinking about trying Pyrodex, but first I want to try the FFF Triple 7 and see if that helps, along with the different nipple using musket caps instead of #11's. It's hard to beat the ease of cleaning up Triple 7. I'm using a sidelock this year, my Lyman Deerstalker, which I haven't used for a few years. With the T/C Black Diamond I never had much problems, the FF Triple 7 ignited just fine. But I have decided that I prefer the simplicity of the sidelocks over the inlines. I still want to try that CVA Vortek, that looks like a really nice gun.

[carpsniperg2]

i was in the local bimart today and they just got them in. i almost bought one i am still thinking. the one thing i don't like after playing with them more is that. you have to cock them with the safty off. you have to take the saftey off to cock it. but you can cock the hammer then put the saftey on after it is cocked don't know about that. its funny you are thinking about switching the way you are and i am doing to opp i have shot pyro RS for the last like 7 years this is the first year i am using the 777 fff  the rs is a bit more dirty for sure.

[Blacklab]

I'm getting excited, this is my first muzzy elk season gonna be alot of fun

[bridgeman]

Yeah, so I'm also thinking about trying Pyrodex, but first I want to try the FFF Triple 7 and see if that helps, along with the different nipple using musket caps instead of #11's. It's hard to beat the ease of cleaning up Triple 7. I'm using a sidelock this year, my Lyman Deerstalker, which I haven't used for a few years. With the T/C Black Diamond I never had much problems, the FF Triple 7 ignited just fine. But I have decided that I prefer the simplicity of the sidelocks over the inlines. I still want to try that CVA Vortek, that looks like a really nice gun.

I'm new to the forum,but I have to ask "CVA Vortek" am I missing something?

[bobcat]

Yeah, so I'm also thinking about trying Pyrodex, but first I want to try the FFF Triple 7 and see if that helps, along with the different nipple using musket caps instead of #11's. It's hard to beat the ease of cleaning up Triple 7. I'm using a sidelock this year, my Lyman Deerstalker, which I haven't used for a few years. With the T/C Black Diamond I never had much problems, the FF Triple 7 ignited just fine. But I have decided that I prefer the simplicity of the sidelocks over the inlines. I still want to try that CVA Vortek, that looks like a really nice gun.

I'm new to the forum,but I have to ask "CVA Vortek" am I missing something?

Not sure what you're asking... didn't you say in your other post that you just bought a Vortek from Cabelas

[bridgeman]

Yea thats right,Traditions, Vortek unless CVA makes one called Vortek too?

[bobcat]

Oh, I mistakenly called the Vortek a CVA. It's a Traditions, I know. Just noticed that. I've never really looked at CVA or Traditions and kind of thought of them as the same company. The problem is they never made any muzzleloaders that were legal here, or at least none that I knew of. Now that they have that Vortek I'll start paying more attention to what Traditions is putting out, and maybe CVA as well.

[nontypical176]

I got drawn for a toutle bull tag, 19 years later, aparently thats a once in a lifetime draw, but I won't get to scout at all.  Of all the years to finally get drawn, I'm working out of town and don't make it home until the evening before the opener.  I'm not too worried about scouting, pretty much know where to hunt, and recetly found this Hunting Washington site so I can live vicariously through other hunters until October 2.

Tell ya what, if I don't get me at least a decent 5 pointer........ I'm gonna do a full body mount of the next rag horn I shoot.  Been waiting a long long time for this tag.

[bridgeman]

Oh, I mistakenly called the Vortek a CVA. It's a Traditions, I know. Just noticed that. I've never really looked at CVA or Traditions and kind of thought of them as the same company. The problem is they never made any muzzleloaders that were legal here, or at least none that I knew of. Now that they have that Vortek I'll start paying more attention to what Traditions is putting out, and maybe CVA as well.

That's what caught my attention, Bobcat, I'm still learning alot about these smokepoles too so,Just had to ask...CVA, T/C and traditions all have leagal ML's for the NW. Don't want to steal this thread so I'll shut up!

[bobcat]

This thread was about dead anyway. Yeah, there used to be White, Austin & Halleck, Knight, Remington, and probably some others I can't recall. Me, all I've got now is a sidelock, a Lyman Deerstalker. It's short and light, and simple to clean. I had a T/C Black Diamond and sold it. But I'm interested in either the T/C Northwest, or the Traditions Vortek. Not sure about having a ported barrel though. That's why if I get anything I'll probably get the T/C. People have said it's no good because of the 1 in 48 twist. But my Lyman has a 1 in 48 twist and it shoots saboted bullets just fine. I'll have to look into what CVA has that's legal here too. Is it the Elkhorn?

[bridgeman]

This thread was about dead anyway. Yeah, there used to be White, Austin & Halleck, Knight, Remington, and probably some others I can't recall. Me, all I've got now is a sidelock, a Lyman Deerstalker. It's short and light, and simple to clean. I had a T/C Black Diamond and sold it. But I'm interested in either the T/C Northwest, or the Traditions Vortek. Not sure about having a ported barrel though. That's why if I get anything I'll probably get the T/C. People have said it's no good because of the 1 in 48 twist. But my Lyman has a 1 in 48 twist and it shoots saboted bullets just fine. I'll have to look into what CVA has that's legal here too. Is it the Elkhorn?

yea, they have the elkhorn which is a bolt action style. My buddy has one, and the model below that one called the buckhorn which is their bottom line starter ML. I checked out the T/C ML and didn't really care for the design and quality. I know its American made,but its looks like they were in a hurry to keep up with the competition and made one legal for the NW. I prefer the newer modern saboted inline. I'm looking forward to seeing this vortek.

[bobcat]

Yeah, that Vortek really looks like a great gun to me. I wish I could see one in person. Have only seen pictures so far.

[bighorns2bushytails]

im stoked and ready for muzzle loader elk this year.  first year trying with the smoke pole, and hoping my lucks better.  we havnt even seen an elk during modern season let alone have a chance to shoot one.  so im crossing my fingers and hoping the earlier muzzle loader season is gunna pay off. 

--bh2bt

[bridgeman]

Best to you in your first year smokepole elk hunt! Hate saying good luck because sometimes its just being at the right place at the right time..so all the best..

[spottedhand]

I looked at a vortek at cabelas and couldn't see how it was meeting the legal definition for Washington state.  Do you have buy an adapter ?

[bobcat]

I looked at a vortek at cabelas and couldn't see how it was meeting the legal definition for Washington state.  Do you have buy an adapter ?

Maybe it wasn't the special "northwest" version. I don't understand why the Cabelas store sells all the muzzleloaders that are illegal to hunt with in this state, but they do, so that's a good possibility. 

[stumprat]

I switched this year from what I've been doing- I'm doing muzzleloader for deer and modern rifle for elk. I'm looking forward to the deer opener on September 25th. Been scouting as much as possible, but still not enough. Went out Friday and put 25 bullets through the muzzleloader, including some new hard cast Harvesters that I hadn't shot before. It's pretty well sighted in but if I find the time I do want to try some FFF Triple Seven instead of the double F, for more reliable ignition.

Bobcat,
I have been shooting 777 for a while now. I have also tried ff and fff. They both work great. But I have found that musket caps make a huge difference over #11's as far as ignition.
If you try fff remember to load down a little to compensate for pressure difference. The muzzleloader that I am currently hunting with likes 100 grains of ff. But with fff it shoots better using 85 or 90 grains.

[bridgeman]

I looked at a vortek at cabelas and couldn't see how it was meeting the legal definition for Washington state.  Do you have buy an adapter ?

I did a google search on "Traditions Vortek Northwest Edition Muzzleloader" and it listed Cabela's as a dealer. I have also looked at one at Bob's Sportingoods in Longview and it is a pretty nice ML. Check it out! You'll find it!

[spikehunter]

I have seen 3 spikes , a 2 point, and a big bull in the last 2 weeks!! I am trying to load my front stuffer right now but it's too tight  (any help except from my wife would be appreciated)

[spottedhand]

Thanks,
I'll look at Cabela's again !
I currently shoot a TC firehawk .54 caliber SS/walnut and I have pretty much been shooting TC's since I started with the TC .50 caliber scout.  I had a black diamond but didn't like it and sold it.  I also have a TC .54 caliber sidelock (can't remember the name) it seems kind of front heavy.  But, I must say I have killed elk with every one of them.  Just was looking at the Vortek is is very light and as I get older light is a factor. 

[bigpaw 77]

I will be in Lick Creek trying to fill my cow tag

[bridgeman]

I like the T/C ML, except the for the one they offer for the legal northwest edition. The quality about it just feels like it was a "hurry up and keep up with the competition design". It has a front heavy awkward balance and the stock is like of a plastic material otherwise called synthetic. Just my opinions..maybe its a good shooter, but with only one choice of conicals to shoot, and a 1 and 48 rifling, it does not give much of a performance rating compared to other brands...again IMO  better stick with the thread content here...

[spottedhand]

I got caught up in the conversations.  We have already been scouting since July for my Whittier (5065) bull permit.  Awesome area and quite a challenge.  Our group of five also have late Toledo cow tags, so we have quite a season ahead of us.  My Whittier permit has been a primary focus through the past 2 months been up there several times. I got into a nice 6x6 the last time we were in about 3 miles.  Good news because we have been in a far as 5 miles before we even started to see any fresh sign.  Very thick alders, the pack out (if successful) and the distance will be the ultimate challenge.  Otherwise,  we will be having a very long season with early 10/2-10/8, Bull permit 10/16-10/24, late 11/21?-12/8 and late cow permit 12/12-12-20?  We killed 3 nice bulls out of our group last year but starting to run low on meat so unless we all get some weird ailment, we should have enough meat to go exotic ( sausage,peperoni etc.).  Good luck to y'all