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.