Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: gutsnthegrass on January 11, 2012, 11:42:56 AM
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So my wife bought me a muzzleloader for Christmas and I have been looking at alot of different info. What weight bullet do you seasoned guys recommend shooting for elk? I was looking on a website and the downrange energy was actually better with a 250 gr bullet compared to a 300 gr bullet due to velocity differences. Maybe i'm wrong with this info, but I figured that the heavier bullet would carry more energy down range. Thanks.
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I like to see around 300g for the larger game. I will shoot my barnes tmz 290's for everything :dunno:
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Energy figures mean very little. All that is is a number based on the velocity and the weight of the bullet. It tells you a whole lot of nothing. With muzzleloaders, heavier bullets are better. I would never go less than 300 grains and up around 350 is better. The only exception would be the Barnes bullet like carpsniper uses, and that's because it is 100% copper. So even though it's light at only 290 grains, it's more like a heavier bullet in a lead version. The real advantage with lighter bullets is the reduction in recoil. If you want good penetration, a heavy bullet beats a light bullet every time.
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The energy may be higher with the lighter bullet, but the momentum is likely higher with a heavier bullet. The momentum is what actually carries/drives the bullet to transfer its energy. My recommendation would vary with the range you chose to shoot. I set up for 75 yds and under, and use 430 gr bullets for .54 cal.
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I shoot 250 shock waves with 120 GRs. of loose powder out of my big horn and I have had know problems.
I am thinking of trying barns bullets next year to get my grouping with in and inch or so. My groups rite now are 2 to 2 1/2 at a 100 yards and 3 at 150. Just try bullets and see what shoots the best out of your gun.
These are my muzzy shots.First muzzy buck was 130 yards droped in his tracks the 2ed muzzy buck was 186 ran 30 yards and gave out 3rd muzzy buck was 173 yards droped in his tracks and this years muzzy buck was 25 yards in his bed and of course dod not move. All are mule deer
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300gr and up you'll do fine! :tup:
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I shoot 295 gr Copper Areo Tip Power Belts.... Have shot and killed everything from yotes to big bull elk.... It's really not much about grains of bullet as it is in making a kill shot.... But for elk hunting and maybe running into a bear..... I wouldn't go much below 300 grains.....
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Anything close to 300 grains is a good place to be.
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I shoot deer with Powerbelt 348 gr.- I really haven't experienced much loss of meat or tons of hemorrhage even with that high a weight. And it tends to drop the deer pretty quickly, too. The advantage is that when you go out for elk, you don't have to resight the muzzy for a heavier bullet. Good luck!!!
