Is 348gr too much?

[caseb]

Hello all!  I'm new to muzzleloaders and I just got my first, a CVA Elkhorn.  The store clerk set me up with a 348gr hollow point Powerbelt for elk, and just by looking around at some of the threads I haven't heard of anyone using that heavy of a bullet.  Should I go buy something lighter?  I need to figure this out soon because elk season is approaching quickly!  Thanks!

[beagledog]

I think you 'll be fine  just get'er sighted in might have to use a little more powder bu better to be a little heavy than to light when using a muzzle loader good luck and keep your powder dry

[carpsniperg2]

i would get right on shooting it and seeing if it likes those bullets. i always use the heaviest bullet i can get in the variety that i am shooting. 348g is fine. i also shoot a elkhorn one of my 2 muzzle loaders i have right now. i shoot the 290 tmz Barnes bullets they are a great solid bullet. i never had much luck with power belts in my tests but good luck to you. there are a lot of people who use them.

welcome to the site!

[Whitelightning]

I would stay with heavy bullets, I use 480-510gr conicals and have some 600gr conicals that I have not shot yet.

my bear last year was shot with a 510gr conical at 75 yards DRT didnt move!

[bobcat]

I would not use anything lighter than the 348 in the Powerbelts. They are known for being very soft and penetration isn't always the best because of that, so you need all the weight you can get. Since you're hunting elk you might want to consider trying some bullets other than Powerbelts in the future.

[dawhunt]

I shot the 348's for yrs and believe me they work,knocked a cow elk off her feet at 50-60 yds hit her in the shoulder.
100 gr's of 777 ffg

Bob

[bobcat]

I shot the 248's for yrs and believe me they work,knocked a cow elk off her feet at 50-60 yds hit her in the shoulder.
100 gr's of 777 ffg

Bob

248 or 348

[caseb]

Thank you all!  I'll get it sighted in tomorrow at the range with the 348gr bullet with 100 or 150gr 777.

[carpsniperg2]

a tip for you, if you are shooting the tripple 7. that powder id pretty hot and you should not need more then 100 grains if you are shooting the pellets. most times 150 grains will not burn all the way up and it greatly increases recoil. i would try the 100 grains and see how you do with that. i use loose powder, with pyrodex i use to shoot 130grains. With the 777 they say reduce the load like 10-20%. so now i am using 777 fffg and 110grains with a 290g bullet and it is shooting them well.

[caseb]

Thanks for the tip.  I'll try out 100 grains first.  I am using the pellets.  Is loose powder preferred over the pellets?  When I was at the store they were out of the loose powder, so I had to stick with the pellets.

[carpsniperg2]

either one will work. i prefer loose because it burns a bit better and faster. what are you using for a cao? musket or 11? my cuzz has always shot the pellets and done fine with them.

[dawhunt]

I shot the 248's for yrs and believe me they work,knocked a cow elk off her feet at 50-60 yds hit her in the shoulder.
100 gr's of 777 ffg

Bob

248 or 348


348 sorry.I corrected it.
thanks !!!!

[dawhunt]

either one will work. i prefer loose because it burns a bit better and faster. what are you using for a cao? musket or 11? my cuzz has always shot the pellets and done fine with them.

I really like loose a lot better had 3 to many misfires with pellets using musket caps went back to powder and #11's no more proplems.I'm really missing not hunting this yr shoulder is getting better finally back to work two weeks ago after 6 months off.Can't really ask for time off after that stretch :-(
Bob

[carpsniperg2]

yeah, the musket caps are the better way to go with the pellets because they are hotter and the pellets take more to go off.

[Blsum]

I use the loose powder as well. We had to many issues with the pellets not burning consistently. Ever since we switched to loose everything has worked great. Hopefully your gun likes those bullets. I know my gun's didn't like the power belt's. I'm shooting the barnes bullets and they shoot great. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

[caseb]

The store clerk also hooked me up with some Goex Blackpowder, I don't think I've seen anyone mention that brand.  She said it was a lot messier, as in I would have to clean after almost every shot. 

Also, I'm using musket caps.

Thanks again for all the help!

[carpsniperg2]

yeah you will be happy with the 777 over the goex. the 777 is cleaner for sure and produces higher velocities. you will be good to go with the musket caps

[bobcat]

The store clerk also hooked me up with some Goex Blackpowder, I don't think I've seen anyone mention that brand.  She said it was a lot messier, as in I would have to clean after almost every shot.

That's the real stuff. Should work great for you. But yes, it's a little dirtier. It's just harder to find in the stores anymore, which is one of the reasons I don't use it.

[spottedhand]

Pyrodex select ffg start w/90gr and work it up. Try placing a white sheet out in fron of your shooting bench, this can help to determine if you are blowing out unburned powder.  Also, if you are hunting the wet side I have tried both the pellets and loose and I will never do the pellets again.  They suck up the moisture and I have had more than enough mis-fires.  Stick with the basics when you get started an elk can take quite a hit with out showing any signs.  Try to get as close as you can, yeah you'll hear stories about these 75+ shots.  But you don't hear the stories about "I guess I missed " and I have found the bloated remains of those calls.  West side I won't shoot over 50yds.  They can disappear in an instant and depending on the hit, there may not be any blood to trail                     

[caseb]

I got it sighted in yesterday with 100gr of the pellets, but you're right, there were SEVERAL misfires.  It really makes me unsure about using the pellets on Saturday.  I guess today I could try sighting it in again using the Goex blackpowder if I have time today.

[dawhunt]

I quit using musket caps and pellets for the very same reason.
Bob

[actionshooter]

As said for the 348s, they will be fine for about anything you will hunt here.
 I still use Goex, other than the dirty factor, I still think its best.

[GEARHEAD]

regarding the goex, i have a cabelas hawkins, .54  i am shooting  Goex fff, and the chart says to use 70 grains, seems light ? reliability with a #11 cap has been 100 percent so far though.

[Svtrc51]

348, 405 grn powerbelts are good elk bullets. Wouldnt shoot anything lighter. I shoot 100 grns of 777 ffg topped with a 348 grn and have had great luck with it. As far as caps go look for German RWS #11 caps. Shortens the ignition lag a ton= Better accuracy. And is quite a bit hotter= Les misfires. 
Brandon

[stumprat]

regarding the goex, i have a cabelas hawkins, .54  i am shooting  Goex fff, and the chart says to use 70 grains, seems light ? reliability with a #11 cap has been 100 percent so far though.

If you are shooting fff powder then 70 grains is probably right. I used to shoot 90 grains of ff

[cwboysteve]

This is my first year for "front stuffing" and had a good season, harvested a nice buck.  I have a .50 cal Lyman Trade Rifle shooting 270gr Powerbelts with 90grs of Pyrodex RS.  my 50yrd shot took out both shoulder blades and a lung... (little high and lead a little to much).  I was thinking this would work for elk also but after reading this post I might try something bigger? thanks for asking the question.

[jtaghansen]

Hello all!  I'm new to muzzleloaders and I just got my first, a CVA Elkhorn.  The store clerk set me up with a 348gr hollow point Powerbelt for elk, and just by looking around at some of the threads I haven't heard of anyone using that heavy of a bullet.  Should I go buy something lighter?  I need to figure this out soon because elk season is approaching quickly!  Thanks!

Thats what I use with 110gr of powder works goo for me and my gun.

[Curly]

This is my first year for "front stuffing" and had a good season, harvested a nice buck.  I have a .50 cal Lyman Trade Rifle shooting 270gr Powerbelts with 90grs of Pyrodex RS.  my 50yrd shot took out both shoulder blades and a lung... (little high and lead a little to much).  I was thinking this would work for elk also but after reading this post I might try something bigger? thanks for asking the question.

Yeah, that 270 gr is a little light for elk......  You can get away with a bullet that light if it is better constructed than the powerbelt.  There is a thread on here somewhere where a guy shot a bull at 15yards with a powerbelt and didn't recover the bull.  Sounds like the bullet pancaked on the shoulder blade and didn't get to the vitals. 

Now if you hit the bull just right behind the shoulder and miss any ribs on the way in, you will probably be ok.......so maybe you could stick with your bullets and just choose your shots very carefully....(since it is kinda late to be switching now).

[Dan-o]

I shoot 400 grain Harvester solid hard cast lead bullets.   They've never been "too much" for the elk they've killed......   

And I only use musket caps.   Never ever had a problem with them.

[7mm short mag]

Im not saying that is to much but what works good for me 250gr barnes sabot with 100grs of 50/50 and bulls go down. the barnes mushroom great and don't fall apart and give great blood trails, they work for me and I would recommend them to anyone. 

[huntnnw]

i shoot 90gr of tripple 7 out of my blackknight with 460 lead or 300 barnes.. barnes are by far supperior if your hunting somewhere where u can use them

[7mm short mag]

i shoot 90gr of tripple 7 out of my blackknight with 460 lead or 300 barnes.. barnes are by far supperior if your hunting somewhere where u can use them

you can use any bullet in washington now

[Svtrc51]

i shoot 90gr of tripple 7 out of my blackknight with 460 lead or 300 barnes.. barnes are by far supperior if your hunting somewhere where u can use them

you can use any bullet in washington now

I think he's talking about ballistics. When i hunt under 100 yds i use a 405grn powerbelt. Barnes if over.

[huntnnw]

i know you can

[spotter26]

i use 365gr lead with 90gr powder in a .50 cal thompson center grey hawk.