Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: jdb on June 18, 2017, 04:14:44 PM

Title: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: jdb on June 18, 2017, 04:14:44 PM: I'm kind of out of touch with the muzzy world. I used to shoot maxi balls out of my side lock with great results. Now I'm looking at the Barnes, or maybe the bloodlines? I want a bullet that expands but that will also give good penetration. I do not trust a billet that's designed to come apart.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: mp.hunter on June 18, 2017, 04:29:58 PM: Bloodlines! I have shot 3 mule deer and 2 bull elk with these now and they do an awesome job. I shoot the 300 grain bullet with 110 grains of 777 powder for elk and 250 gr 100 grs 777 powder for deer.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: jdb on June 18, 2017, 04:58:33 PM: How's the penetration?
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Jellymon on June 18, 2017, 05:28:12 PM: Quote from: jdb on June 18, 2017, 04:58:33 PM
How's the penetration?

Haven't shot an elk with one, but I shot a mule deer at 110 yds and it broke both shoulders and exited leaving the metal petals in the vitals. Didn't deflect at all. 300gr bloodline with 110gr 777. Close to the same results on a few other mulies as well. These bullets seem to have no trouble with penetration.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: mp.hunter on June 18, 2017, 06:53:07 PM: Quote from: jdb on June 18, 2017, 04:58:33 PM
How's the penetration?
Great

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Damnimissed on June 21, 2017, 12:13:20 AM: Quote from: jdb on June 18, 2017, 04:58:33 PM
How's the penetration?

I've had 5 hits/5 pass-throughs on elk, with the 300gr Bloodline.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: luv2hunt on June 21, 2017, 09:29:58 AM: If you don't want a bullet that comes apart then you don't want the bloodlines. Do a search on this site on bloodlines and you'll find alot of answers.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: jpharcher on June 21, 2017, 10:04:27 AM: Federal Premium Copper BORLOCK (sp?) have blow thru penetration and outstanding expansion.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Firedogg on June 21, 2017, 11:22:40 AM: Hornady 325 grn FTX, it is the same bullet loaded in the .45-70 Leverevolution load. You do need the correct sized sabot to run it.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: usmc74 on June 21, 2017, 06:29:46 PM: I shot my last elk with the Barnes TMZ 295 gr. I was above the elk, 68 yards. Shot entered next to the spine, had 1 entry hole into the heart, recovered the bullet from the lung. Had a BEAUTIFUL expansion. I will use these as long as they are made, and I have bought plenty at season end sales. If you find these hard to load, Knight makes an easier loading sabot for these boat tail bullets
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=161280.0;attach=326363;image)
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Tacbeav on June 23, 2017, 07:43:31 AM: Anyone have any experience with Hornady 44 cal, 240 grain XTP's for elk?
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: riverrun on June 24, 2017, 10:00:50 PM: Very impressed with Hornady .45cal 300gr. XTP Mag bullet with Harvester crushed rib sabot. Slight quartering front shot behind the shoulder. Elk ran maybe 15yrds.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Mfowl on June 24, 2017, 11:10:19 PM: Quote from: riverrun on June 24, 2017, 10:00:50 PM
Very impressed with Hornady .45cal 300gr. XTP Mag bullet with Harvester crushed rib sabot. Slight quartering front shot behind the shoulder. Elk ran maybe 15yrds.

Great bull! I use the same bullet in an mmp sabot on top of 110gr's T7 ffg. Dropped my spike where he stood last season.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 24, 2017, 11:15:17 PM: Quote from: Tacbeav on June 23, 2017, 07:43:31 AM
Anyone have any experience with Hornady 44 cal, 240 grain XTP's for elk?

I would bump up to the 300g bullets. I've killer a few critters with xtps but all in handguns, not the smoke poles.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: The scout on June 25, 2017, 07:15:33 AM: I have killed 2 elk and a deer with the 300gr hornady bullets and was not happy with the performance, I switched to the Barnes 290gr TEZ last yr with very good results.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: riverrun on June 28, 2017, 09:47:11 PM: Thanks Mfowl! Glad this bullet worked for you also. After my experience I don't think I'd use a different bullet! 300gr. 45 cal. Hornady xtp mag bullet, 100gr. 777 powder, #11 cci mag cap.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Sabotloader on June 29, 2017, 05:53:28 PM: (https://s26.postimg.org/mvige583d/458-305.jpg)

For hunting.... Lehigh .458x305 gr. CF - 45-70 bullet...

(https://s26.postimg.org/n89fohlx5/458-305_Ballistics_zps95b3448d.jpg)

And the new bullet that Lehigh just started making. This bullet is really a step forward

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0711/8833/products/02_452_265_SPM_FINAL_medium.jpg?v=1481919069)

.452x265 CF-HP

(https://s26.postimg.org/561ejd0ah/Lehigh_452-265_CF-_HP.jpg)
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Kzoobronco51 on July 12, 2017, 10:57:53 AM: Has anyone tried the power belt aerolite 300 grain with 110 grains of powder in their CVA Optima NW? Thats what Im thinking of using. Just wondering as I just purchased the gun. Thanks
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: kellama2001 on July 12, 2017, 12:42:31 PM: tagging
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Chukarhead on July 19, 2017, 03:54:03 PM: As stated above...if you're looking at Barnes and Lehigh and don't trust a bullet designed to fragment, then go with the Barnes.

I have both in my kit, and the Lehighs kill paper just as well as the Barnes. Thing is, I've yet to stick one down the muzzle for hunting. We switched from solid lead to Barnes as soon as it was legal in Washington to do so. The Barnes 295/300gr have killed a lot of deer and elk for my group, we've never lost one (knock on wood), and the shots have been pass-through on all deer and some elk with a massive wound channel, or, most commonly for elk, recovered fully expanded (see USMC74 photo) and tangled in the far-side hide. We shoot them over a 110-125gr load of FFF T7.

Kzoobronco-- avoid Power Belts for elk. There are lots of great bullets out there. Power Belts ain't one of them.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: MountainDevil54 on July 19, 2017, 05:35:21 PM: Quote from: Kzoobronco51 on July 12, 2017, 10:57:53 AM
Has anyone tried the power belt aerolite 300 grain with 110 grains of powder in their CVA Optima NW? Thats what Im thinking of using. Just wondering as I just purchased the gun. Thanks

Close, 100gr Blackhorn209 - 300gr Aerolite
t=5s
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: JL on July 19, 2017, 06:51:13 PM: Quote from: Chukarhead on July 19, 2017, 03:54:03 PM
We shoot them over a 110-125gr load of FFF T7.

Do you find any effect on grouping as you get closer to 125? Thanks!
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: roentgenranger on October 18, 2017, 12:55:14 PM: I'm a bit late on this one. I've harvested two animals with the Bloodlines. A 4x4 blacktail at 95 yards with the 300gr over 150gr T7 out of a TC Black Diamond XR. He went 20 yards and down. Complete pass through. The other was just under two weeks ago. A decent sized cow at 115 yards with the 350gr over 150gr of T7 out of a Knight .52 Disc Extreme. 60 yards and piled up. Complete pass through and four of the six petals were recovered. She was slightly (read barely) quartering away and the shot was a bit high and a hair behind the shoulder. It exited in front of the far shoulder. For those concerned with fracturing and/or weight loss, the petals weigh about 10gr each. With the 350's, you've still got about a 290gr chunk of brass trucking through the vitals...

In my limited experience, I'm sold. My other option would be the 300gr Barnes Socom TTSX, but I haven't shot anything with them yet.

Happy Hunting!
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Chukarhead on November 19, 2017, 01:05:03 PM: Quote from: JL on July 19, 2017, 06:51:13 PM
Quote from: Chukarhead on July 19, 2017, 03:54:03 PM
We shoot them over a 110-125gr load of FFF T7.

Do you find any effect on grouping as you get closer to 125? Thanks!

Good grief, I'm REALLY late to this one!

I'm not a precision shooter. I tend to practice with 80gr powder under 240gr pistol bullets. When it's time to confirm, I rarely shoot more than four or five hunting loads (expense, recoil). I really haven't done an incremental study of group sizes/powder charges, but at 120 grains, I'm usually between 3" and 5" groups at 100 yards off an improvised bench, which is plenty accurate for me.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 19, 2017, 01:15:52 PM: Quote from: Sabotloader on June 29, 2017, 05:53:28 PM
(https://s26.postimg.org/mvige583d/458-305.jpg)

For hunting.... Lehigh .458x305 gr. CF - 45-70 bullet...

(https://s26.postimg.org/n89fohlx5/458-305_Ballistics_zps95b3448d.jpg)

And the new bullet that Lehigh just started making. This bullet is really a step forward

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0711/8833/products/02_452_265_SPM_FINAL_medium.jpg?v=1481919069)

.452x265 CF-HP

(https://s26.postimg.org/561ejd0ah/Lehigh_452-265_CF-_HP.jpg)
I got a couple boxes of these after this post and have been pretty happy with them. I haven't tried to get the same velocities as sabotloader, mine are around 1720 at the muzzle (90 grs FFg). The performance has been really great--I can shoot through about 5 water jugs, the first two blowing up into shreds, and the main bullet plowing through the remaining three.
Title: Re: Best muzzle loader bullet for elk?
Post by: Machias on November 20, 2017, 03:35:08 PM: Check out the "No Excuse" bullets. They shoot sweeeeet!!!