Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: edmondshunter on November 23, 2008, 11:53:23 AM

Title: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: edmondshunter on November 23, 2008, 11:53:23 AM: I have been having very good results with the Buffalo 295gr sabots. I want to use these rounds for elk. I am getting 3-4 inch groups of 5 @ 75 and 100 yrd. I feel confident that this round will knock a large cow/bull into next week. Anyone disagree?

My other option is the P.Belt 348gr but I think they are soft. I believe I'm not alone on that one.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: buckhorn2 on November 23, 2008, 12:55:28 PM: We use the power belt 348 and have taken 4 bulls and several cows with them and think they work great. I have friends who thought the power belt 295 grain would be faster but they did;nt get very good results and had to shoot several times to get there elk down.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: bobcat on November 23, 2008, 05:27:17 PM: In my opinion the 295 grain is too light. I use the Buffalo Bullet 375 grain SSB. The 295 would probably work fine if you keep your shots relatively short.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: DBake on November 23, 2008, 07:11:39 PM: Quote from: bobcat on November 23, 2008, 05:27:17 PM
In my opinion the 295 grain is too light. I use the Buffalo Bullet 375 grain SSB. The 295 would probably work fine if you keep your shots relatively short.

You using the Cabela's SSB?

I believe Bufflo Bullet Company went out of busy.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: bobcat on November 23, 2008, 07:38:10 PM: I did buy them from Cabelas but it's been a couple years since I bought any. I did hear a rumor a while back that they might have gone out of business. So you're saying Cabelas still stocks them but they're not being made anymore? I actually got a supply of new bullets to try out when I get a chance. They are 400 grain Harvesters. Very reasonable price, I think they're going to be a good bullet as long as they shoot. Check them out here:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00072H35040
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: DBake on November 23, 2008, 09:24:56 PM: Quote from: bobcat on November 23, 2008, 07:38:10 PM
I did buy them from Cabelas but it's been a couple years since I bought any. I did hear a rumor a while back that they might have gone out of business. So you're saying Cabelas still stocks them but they're not being made anymore? I actually got a supply of new bullets to try out when I get a chance. They are 400 grain Harvesters. Very reasonable price, I think they're going to be a good bullet as long as they shoot. Check them out here:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00072H35040

I think the SSB that Cabela's sells is their own bullet. I was wondering if those were the ones that you used, since Bufflo Bullet Company is not selling any more.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: bobcat on November 23, 2008, 09:40:26 PM: Well, the plastic box they come in says "Buffalo Bullet Company." :dunno:
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: DBake on November 23, 2008, 09:41:34 PM: Sweet, I will check them out again. Guess I was miss informed.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: bobcat on November 23, 2008, 09:50:01 PM: No, I think you are right. I Googled "Buffalo Bullet" and found more to substantiate what you said about them being out of business. I looked at Cabelas and they still have them but say they are out of stock. Like I said, the ones I have I purchased a couple of years ago. Oh well, there are other good bullets to try. I will probably be using those Harvesters next year.
Title: RE: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: DBake on November 23, 2008, 09:53:10 PM: Sorry for getting off topic a bit guys,

I am using the lead 310 gr Knight Bullet right now and will be testing the same Harvesters bobcat is using next year.
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: MagKarl on November 26, 2008, 08:12:00 AM: Shoot what you're most confident in. Shot placement is my top priority. If you know both your abilities and limitations, you'll be fine. I would not hesitate to shoot elk with a round ball, but, I'd only take standing broadside boiler room shots at relatively close range. I wouldn't take heavy bone shots, just ribs. Every shooter and rifle/bullet choice is unique, just have to figure out what your own combo is capable of and live with it.
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: Opportunist on November 26, 2008, 08:25:22 PM: Bob, I shot the Harvester bullets and killed a couple of bucks, no bulls. They are a hardcast bullet so they don't mushroom. They should have excellent penetration for elk, but I was a little concerned about the wound channel with the bullets not mushrooming. But the bullet having a semi-wadcutter face and squareback they should develop a good wound channel. I switched back to conicals to avoid plastic fouling from the sabot, not the performance of the bullet, also I muzzle hunt Oregon and I didn't want to switch back and forth in bullets, sabots or any bullets with plastic on them aren't legal in Oregon. Of course both bucks were complete passthroughs with good bullet performance, in other words it killed them. I'm really curious about their performance on elk, hopefully you'll get to find out during the late hunt.

I believe in heavy bullets for elk, I shoot the 480 grain white bullet.
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: shag on November 26, 2008, 08:57:27 PM: Results of the 295gr PB's and the 348gr PBs have been identical on elk for me. All shots ranged from 70 to 125. They mushroom out to the size of a quarter and lay against the offside hide. I'm one who know they are "soft". The 405 gr PB's I couldn't push fast enough to get any expansion. 295's feel mucho better on the shoulder. :)

I'm running 300gr Dead Centers now. No results yet but hopefully tommorow. 295 PB's killed them elk dead as dead. Farthest bull traveled 80 yds. I just prefer to holes in a critter. Leaves more blood!
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: DBake on November 26, 2008, 09:56:28 PM: Quote from: Opportunist on November 26, 2008, 08:25:22 PM
Bob, I shot the Harvester bullets and killed a couple of bucks, no bulls. They are a hardcast bullet so they don't mushroom. They should have excellent penetration for elk, but I was a little concerned about the wound channel with the bullets not mushrooming. But the bullet having a semi-wadcutter face and squareback they should develop a good wound channel. I switched back to conicals to avoid plastic fouling from the sabot, not the performance of the bullet, also I muzzle hunt Oregon and I didn't want to switch back and forth in bullets, sabots or any bullets with plastic on them aren't legal in Oregon. Of course both bucks were complete passthroughs with good bullet performance, in other words it killed them. I'm really curious about their performance on elk, hopefully you'll get to find out during the late hunt.

I believe in heavy bullets for elk, I shoot the 480 grain white bullet.

I did a search couldn't find anything from google, who makes the white bullet? What and how much powder you using behind it?
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: Dansk on November 26, 2008, 11:39:40 PM: Cabelas dead centers - made by Precision, are great. Check out Precisions website- they make great sabots.... and have TONS of options for all lead projectiles.

I use a .54 cal TC System 1, 340g Dead Centers with 100g of pyrodex. Plenty for elk- it's all about the energy (foot lbs)- not speed or projectile weight alone. You are going for a good wound channel like archers, and my combo punches through every time or crushes bone and puts elk down if I pull the shot and hit the shoulder.

I would feel more comfortable shooting smaller projectiles if I could ramp up to 150g of powder, but my rifle is older and can't go above 110.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: Opportunist on November 27, 2008, 12:34:28 AM: This is the address to their site which I'm not sure is active. It is blocked for some reason through my work internet. You could order online in the past. They've gone out of business a couple of times.

www.whitemuzzleloading.com/

These bullets are made for the White muzzleloader and design to be squib fired before loading. I don't do that, I make a small plastic patch out of a sandwich bag the size of a quarter for my first load, I just can't hunt with a dirty barrel. They are very accurate shot after shot and load easily. I have killed 4 bulls and 6 bucks and all have had devastating results, dropping 3 of the bulls in their tracks and the other one travelled 10 yards. All of the bucks dropped in their tracks. I shot a 3 point blacktail in the ass at 20 yards with the 545 grain out of my .54 and the bullet travelled the full length of his body, shot out his neck and my hunting partner could hear the bullet zinging across the canyon. The buck flipped ass over head, pretty flippin' cool.

Like I say I like the big bullets out of my muzzleloaders. I shot a couple of bucks with saboted hard cast pistol bullets and yeah they killed the bucks but not with the authority of the big bullets.
Title: Re: Too lite for Elk?
Post by: Moose Eyes on December 03, 2008, 08:41:43 PM: Quote from: Opportunist on November 27, 2008, 12:34:28 AM
This is the address to their site which I'm not sure is active. It is blocked for some reason through my work internet. You could order online in the past. They've gone out of business a couple of times.

www.whitemuzzleloading.com/

These bullets are made for the White muzzleloader and design to be squib fired before loading. I don't do that, I make a small plastic patch out of a sandwich bag the size of a quarter for my first load, I just can't hunt with a dirty barrel. They are very accurate shot after shot and load easily. I have killed 4 bulls and 6 bucks and all have had devastating results, dropping 3 of the bulls in their tracks and the other one travelled 10 yards. All of the bucks dropped in their tracks. I shot a 3 point blacktail in the ass at 20 yards with the 545 grain out of my .54 and the bullet travelled the full length of his body, shot out his neck and my hunting partner could hear the bullet zinging across the canyon. The buck flipped ass over head, pretty flippin' cool.

Like I say I like the big bullets out of my muzzleloaders. I shot a couple of bucks with saboted hard cast pistol bullets and yeah they killed the bucks but not with the authority of the big bullets.

Those are great bullets but if you e-mail Doc he will likely direct you to another location like the Bull Shop or No Excuses. Both make excellent hunting conicals.