Post by: Myrtle Creek Inc. on March 14, 2022, 08:15:16 AM
Post by: kselkhunter on March 14, 2022, 08:29:20 AM
Post by: phildobaggins on March 14, 2022, 08:35:45 AM
Post by: Farmer72 on March 14, 2022, 09:06:17 AM
Post by: usmc74 on March 14, 2022, 06:01:41 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 14, 2022, 06:16:26 PM
Post by: JakeLand on March 14, 2022, 06:19:09 PM
250/290 tez barnes and remington stamped barnes for us. Lots of great kills on critters.X2
Post by: teanawayslayer on March 14, 2022, 06:53:37 PM
Post by: Shaqdiesel on March 14, 2022, 07:29:37 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on March 14, 2022, 07:56:45 PM
Post by: huntnnw on March 14, 2022, 10:07:06 PM
Couldnt pay me to use Powerbelts or Hornady sst's
Post by: Pinetar on March 14, 2022, 10:18:56 PM
250/290 tez barnes and remington stamped barnes for us. Lots of great kills on critters.X2
X3
Post by: HntnFsh on March 15, 2022, 05:38:47 AM
I have a couple boxes of Speer Deep curls I am thinking of giving a go.
Post by: callturner on March 15, 2022, 06:31:05 AM
Post by: bobcat on March 15, 2022, 07:36:31 AM
Post by: Myrtle Creek Inc. on March 15, 2022, 07:41:55 AM
another vote for Barnes.
Couldnt pay me to use Powerbelts or Hornady sst's
Barnes seems to be the general consensus!
Post by: raydog on March 15, 2022, 07:55:09 AM
Post by: blackpowderhunter on March 15, 2022, 08:27:50 AM
bang.
flop
Post by: HntnFsh on March 15, 2022, 02:06:44 PM
They always loaded just as hard as all the rest of the Barnes bullets. I've killed several elk with Barnes bullets but hate using them because they load so hard.
Post by: jrebel on March 15, 2022, 02:14:32 PM
Currently playing with Lehigh defense rounds and have been pleased with the way they shoot. Have not killed anything with them yet but appears others have had good results. Both the controlled fracturing and the extreme penetrators.
Post by: Farmer72 on March 15, 2022, 02:27:08 PM
I've never found anything easy about the Barnes TEZs.
They always loaded just as hard as all the rest of the Barnes bullets. I've killed several elk with Barnes bullets but hate using them because they load so hard.
:yeah: main reason I haven't used them hunting. I feel like I am going to break my rod.
When the 250 gr TTSX bullets come in stock that are for the 450 Bushmaster so I can just use them with my sabots I will be switching as long as they shoot good.
Post by: phildobaggins on March 15, 2022, 02:56:26 PM
I've never found anything easy about the Barnes TEZs.
They always loaded just as hard as all the rest of the Barnes bullets. I've killed several elk with Barnes bullets but hate using them because they load so hard.
They load nice an' EZ for me :lol4: :brew: I actually don't even have a T handle, I just use my palm on the rod HAHA
Post by: bobcat on March 15, 2022, 03:12:13 PM
I've never found anything easy about the Barnes TEZs.
They always loaded just as hard as all the rest of the Barnes bullets. I've killed several elk with Barnes bullets but hate using them because they load so hard.
They load nice an' EZ for me :lol4: :brew: I actually don't even have a T handle, I just use my palm on the rod HAHA
Yep, they load easy in my CVA, that's one of the reasons I like them. I can shoot 10 or 12 in a row using loose Triple 7 without any swabbing at all.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 15, 2022, 04:34:35 PM
I have to pretty much hang from my ram rod to load the tmz bullets. The tez in the same guns I can load super easy, no starter needed and one solid push to the bottom and its down.
Post by: Rigby416 on March 19, 2022, 10:25:13 PM
Post by: Dan-o on March 19, 2022, 10:46:08 PM
330 grain hardcast lead from harvester muzzleloader for elk. :tup:
bang.
flop
Nice.
I shoot the 400 grain Harvester hard cast lead.
I've shot a bunch of elk with them.
The wound channel is amazingly impressive.
Post by: Sneaky on March 20, 2022, 09:17:38 AM
I use the Federal B.O.R.LOCK MZ 270 grain Trophy Copper bullets ahead of 84 grains by weight of Blackhorn 209 in both my CVA Accura MR-X and Traditions Pursuit G-4. Works very well.
These bullets are EXTREMELY accurate out of my CVA accura v2. I shot a deer with them last season at about 10-15 yards. 50 cal hole in and out with very little visible trauma around either hole. Shot placement was center of the deer and just behind the shoulder. The deer (a young whitetail buck) made it 82 yards by GPS. I was surprised at the lack of trauma and the way the deer made it so far on a great vitals hit.
In shooting the bullets at the range I recovered several awesome expanded projectiles with high weight retention. The only thing I can think of is the small deer body at nearly muzzle velocity may not have offered enough resistance to initiate expansion? Talk about an ultra accurate easy loading bullet though. I have been desperately looking for the 350gr lead version that I think I could get some more authority out of.
Post by: Rem14 on March 20, 2022, 01:03:42 PM
Post by: Webfoot on March 22, 2022, 08:22:02 PM
Post by: M_ray on March 22, 2022, 08:43:35 PM
Post by: Dan-o on March 22, 2022, 08:53:21 PM
I use TC shockwave 250grn for both deer and elk, Accurate to 200. For states like Oregon with more restrictions I have another set up with 310grn Knight full lead. I wouldn’t use powerbelt’s if you gave them to me free.
Ha!
That is exactly how I feel about Power Belts.
But my oldest boy uses them exclusively, and has killed every elk he's shot with them.
Last year's spike was a classic broadside. It had a quarter sized exit hole.......... made by half of his PowerBelt. The other half flattened out and travelled a bit. A spike elk rib split that Power Belt in 2.
I've tried to get him to switch over to my Harvester hard cast lead, but I fear he'll have to learn the hard way.
Post by: metlhead on March 22, 2022, 10:08:51 PM
Post by: huntnnw on March 22, 2022, 11:19:25 PM
I use TC shockwave 250grn for both deer and elk, Accurate to 200. For states like Oregon with more restrictions I have another set up with 310grn Knight full lead. I wouldn’t use powerbelt’s if you gave them to me free.
Ha!
That is exactly how I feel about Power Belts.
But my oldest boy uses them exclusively, and has killed every elk he's shot with them.
Last year's spike was a classic broadside. It had a quarter sized exit hole.......... made by half of his PowerBelt. The other half flattened out and travelled a bit. A spike elk rib split that Power Belt in 2.
I've tried to get him to switch over to my Harvester hard cast lead, but I fear he'll have to learn the hard way.
Wife shot a spike bull at 33 yards broadside.. perfect placement see blood running out. Bullet never even hit the offside lung. needless to say that bull was never found. Hornady 300gr sst. my guess is it pancaked and never penetrated deep enough
Post by: Dirty Mike on March 30, 2022, 11:51:58 AM
Post by: kirkl on May 12, 2022, 03:00:02 PM
Post by: RobinHoodlum on May 12, 2022, 03:21:14 PM
Post by: JakeLand on May 12, 2022, 04:32:11 PM
Have used TMZ 250 grain on elk and they work exceptionally wellX2 !!
Post by: HooknoseHunter on May 12, 2022, 08:32:02 PM
Post by: Dark2Dark on June 09, 2022, 02:40:41 PM
In my experience, it’s the gun, not the round that has made for difficult loading.
I had a muzzleloader that was extremely hard to load, no matter the bullet. My current guns load easily, unless I don’t do a good job cleaning them.
Post by: steeleywhopper on June 09, 2022, 03:23:24 PM
Will the barnes tez 250 grain be good enough for elk? Nosler bulletts that I like and they dont make any more are getting low so need to look at something else. Cant find the 290 grain anywhere. They will be used mostly on deer.
I killed a Westside Rosie with a 250gr T-EZ, they work. I have also killed a bunch of deer with the 290 grain T-EZ with my other Muzzleloader as well.
Post by: Smokepole on June 09, 2022, 03:56:49 PM
Post by: Sabotloader on June 09, 2022, 04:10:54 PM
Many years ago I was stuck on the Nosler Partition .458x300 in a MMP HPH Sabot - great combination - The Nosler had this great new idea to drop them at that point I switch to a new bullet - The Lehigh Brass bullets later to be contracted to Knight as the Bloodline. These were/are really good bullets.
Lehigh could not offer thew Brass ML bullets to the public any longer and the switched to a solid copper bullet. I have been using them for 5-6 years now and they to have proving accretional bullets with a huge 'Terminal Performance.
Not to long ago Wilson Combat purchased the Lehigh line from Lehigh Dave. They are still in the process of getting things going again but they are going to offer the same basic Copper Lehighs.
This link will get you to the Wilson/Lehigh line
https://lehighdefense.com/?_kx=aTiPmfQBKCw3GL6RTrj2Y9eX_kIgUhns9ooZLyRYuXQ%3D.UsWKxq
This is the ML offerings - but gee whiz
But, it looks like they have dropped the .452x265CH-HP - what a great elk bullet.
https://lehighdefense.com/gun-type/muzzleloader.html
A really great deer getter is the .451x230CF-HP - Loading it and shooting it you can nearly match the velocity of a 45 ML with greater energy.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kGVjq74V/Lehigh-Copper.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/25btFhMH/Lehigh-451x230-CF-HP-120-T7.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J492ycpN/Lehigh-452x265-CFHP-R225-6-in.jpg)
Post by: Westside88 on June 10, 2022, 10:55:45 AM
Post by: Sabotloader on June 10, 2022, 11:51:09 AM
@Sabotloader always great to see your input. I've only ever used the 300 grain bloodlines, but I've yet to shoot an elk with one. It looks like Knight still offers them.
The 300 is a very good elk bullet - the 275 is also an excellent all around bullet. Not sure how long Knight will be able to offer the Bloodline bullets - they and Lehigh have stopped working together - but they could be getting another company to build for them.
Quote
Do you still consider this a good hunting choice?
Yes definitely I do! Lehigh now builds solid copper bullets and the .452x265 offers the outstanding Terminal Ballistics of the Bloodline and possibly less expensive.
Wilson Combat recently purchased the rights to Lehigh bullets and will be making them. At this time they do not have the .452x265 in their offerings right now. I have sent an email to them to clarify.
Here is a link
https://lehighdefense.com/gun-type/muzzleloader.html
Quote
I've been considering exploring others. What bullets would you consider good for elk?
Barnes does make a Barnes Expander bullet that could really be good also.
Quote
Maximum yardage one could reasonably expect them to be terminal? Is 150 excessive? Thanks for sharing your expertise
I would have no problem shooting an elk at 200 yards IF the mother nature would allow me to.
(https://i.postimg.cc/6Q7sfRp7/Lehigh275-300-Comp.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/63JdfZgR/Lehigh-452-265-CF-HP.jpg)
You need to have about 1200FPS for the bullet to work correctly.
mike
Hope this helps
Post by: Westside88 on June 10, 2022, 12:11:17 PM
Post by: sixgun_symphony on August 17, 2022, 04:59:02 PM
Post by: Sabotloader on August 18, 2022, 07:42:06 AM
Post by: LayMdown on September 04, 2022, 10:54:32 PM
I just about have to put my ramrod against a tree and push the gun against it to load the Barnes TEZ'S.Thats what I have to do to reload a Barnes for a follow up shot if needed, so I just started packing the lead powerbelts for a faster follow up shot otherwise it may or may not happen depending on if a tree is close by or not. :yeah:
Post by: LayMdown on September 04, 2022, 11:03:01 PM
Post by: JakeLand on September 05, 2022, 07:50:51 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on October 07, 2022, 10:37:16 AM
I see that the Barnes 250 and 290 TEZ and TMZ bullets are getting glowing reviews on this thread. I used those bullets my first few years of muzzy hunting. I had 3 experiences where elk were shot at close range in the vitals. Of those 3 elk, only one was recovered after a extensive, painstaking search and none of them left a blood trail. The Barnes bullet we found in the bull failed to open up. I'm guessing the same thing happened on the other 2 elk. It seems most people have very good luck with these bullets, but based on my experiences, I'll never use them again.
MY :twocents:
Post by: erk444 on October 07, 2022, 11:04:56 AM
Post by: sixgun_symphony on October 07, 2022, 11:17:55 AM
The line about muzzleloader vs rifle is just ignorant. Much like the illustrators who draw complete metallic cartridges exiting a muzzle because they think the entire cartridge is a bullet.
So annoying.
Post by: LDennis24 on October 07, 2022, 11:36:28 AM
I'm sorry but I find this hard to even slightly believe. I don't believe you could shoot even fifty of the Barnes bullets and have more than one not open after going through an animal. The only way this would happen consistently is if your not using enough powder and not getting penetration. Even if the Barnes round hit a piece of plywood I believe it would open up.
Post by: OltHunter on October 07, 2022, 12:40:35 PM
Most accurate load out of my muzzleloader compared to Barnes EZ, Hornady bore drive, and harvester.
That said, finding the best bullet, grain, and load combo for your muzzy seems more important than actual bullet selection if you pick any that have been mentioned.
Post by: Dark2Dark on October 08, 2022, 09:19:47 PM
I see that the Barnes 250 and 290 TEZ and TMZ bullets are getting glowing reviews on this thread. I used those bullets my first few years of muzzy hunting. I had 3 experiences where elk were shot at close range in the vitals. Of those 3 elk, only one was recovered after a extensive, painstaking search and none of them left a blood trail. The Barnes bullet we found in the bull failed to open up. I'm guessing the same thing happened on the other 2 elk. It seems most people have very good luck with these bullets, but based on my experiences, I'll never use them again.
MY :twocents:
I don’t get it? If you hit an elk in the vitals with a .50 caliber bullet, it should die in short order, regardless of expansion. If it doesn’t expand at all, and it’s a true vital shot, it’s likely a complete pass through and it has a half inch hole through both sides and everything in between.
High hits will never bleed much, regardless of bullet or expansion.
How much powder are you trying to push them with?
I’ve been around for ten animals getting shot with Barnes ML bullets. Out of those animals, 6 dropped in their tracks- two elk, six deer. I had a neck shot elk walk about 50 yards while it spurted blood all over the hillside. I had a mature mule deer make it about 100 yards when my bullet drifted in the wind that I failed to account for. It was gut shot but the bullet clearly did it’s job, I just didn’t do mine. I did have a cougar that I think I hit a little far back get away from me. I was in an area full of caves and lava tubes and shot him right at dark. I’m sure he didn’t go far and found one to die in. That was a huge bummer but I should have just hammered him in the shoulders.
These are my bullets- there are another three or four out there recovered from animals that look just like them.
Closest bull was last weekend that was inside of 15 yards. Have killed a couple animals with the 250s at around 180-190 yards.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221009/ad831a5144c07997d4a706f3beb70bc3.jpg)
I guess results may vary? But I was just marveling this weekend at how consistently these bullets do exactly what they are supposed to. It seems crazy that you’d be 0-3 on bullet performance.
Post by: OltHunter on October 08, 2022, 10:07:10 PM
Post by: Dark2Dark on October 08, 2022, 10:27:56 PM
Wonder if maybe they're using the wrong bullet aligner jag and crunching down the tip? Might be my only thought to be 0-3. I wouldn't hesitate to use Barnes bullets. I do know the Barnes and other higher "BC" bullets need a special jag.Whoops, I just jam them in there with whatever.
I’m sure I mess up the polymer tip, a little.
I do think* in a bullet that big/heavy/slow the tip is supposed to play a role in starting the bullet expansion versus helping it fly straight.
My ram rods have a bit of a depression on the end but they certainly don’t mate perfectly to the projectile like the special jags I have seen.
Post by: Sneaky on October 09, 2022, 06:14:22 AM
Having now taken a deer and an elk with these bullets I can say I am impressed with the extreme accuracy and ease of loading. Multiple shots without cleaning are a breeze and the accuracy does not suffer out of my rifle. That being said, the lead 350gr version of this bullet came back in stock on federal's website and I am excited to try those for perhaps a bit more knockdown power while retaining the accuracy and ease of use (hopefully). The young whitetail buck I shot made it 82 yards and the bull elk a little over 100.
Post by: Buster Brown on November 02, 2022, 08:51:57 PM
Not raving, or ranting, just my single experience. I’ll keep using them, since it’s what I can get to group. Actually going up to 300 grainers now, since they make them, so as to be viable for elk as well.
Shot a doe at 30 yards. High double lung pass through. .50 cal hole going in, much bigger on the exit side. Minimal blood trail. She went about 30 yards.
Hope that helps,
Buster
Post by: Griiz on November 02, 2022, 09:23:40 PM
Post by: KDB on January 01, 2023, 09:02:12 AM
Post by: robinhoodish on October 17, 2023, 09:58:46 AM
Shot 2 bulls with Barnes 290-TMZ. Neither one complained (or even moved after the shot).
Did you hit bone on either of those?