Best Muzzleloader Bullet for Bull Elk?

[Hunt2Conserve]

Wondering what your preferred inline muzzleloader bullet is to take down a mature bull - at ethic hunting ranges (200yd. max distance).

 

[Brian in Montana]

I've admittedly never shot an elk with a ML, but I'd think you'd want something pretty heavy.

 

[Rcfireninja]

250 grain Hornady sst .50 sabot with 3 pellets of triple 7 took this cow elk at 115 yards

 

[Gellar]

I used a 300 grain power belt platinum aero tip with 125 grains of 777 powder in my tc pro hunter. The spike I shot at 115 yards went 25 yards before going down.

 

[Hem]

Killed a moose with a round ball at 75 yards.
Disclaimer.. lung shot with first shot.
Second shot at 40 yards was as centered in the heart as you could be..left to right,up and down
I didnt have the stomach to wait for it to die so I capped him with a .357.
Dont care for round balls too much.

 

[elkduds]

Depends heavily on what is legal in the state to be hunted.

 

[Buffs35]

For Colorado, I like .50 cal 295 gr powerbelt. But lots of great options.

 

[Hunt2Conserve]

Depends heavily on what is legal in the state to be hunted.

Let's say that there are no restrictions concerning bullet/sabot.

 

[Flatrock]

Take a look at the following thread. Might help. I posted some pics of bullets I've recovered from 2 bulls.

Colorado Copper Muzzleloader Bullets

OK, so I know basically nothing about muzzleloaders. I got a TC Triumph several years ago and have never shot anything with it. When I bought the gun, Cabelas set me up with maxi-balls for the idea that I might take it to Colorado and sabots for Minnesota. Well, here I am many years later and...

www.hunttalk.com

 

[Summitthunting]

Look up Thor Bullets.

 

[mplane72]

Never shot an Elk but if you can use a sabot I'd look at the heavier Barnes bullets first for a quality bullet you can find relatively easy and not overly outrageous on price. No to the SST.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

You need to give a state to get the best bullet.

200yds is ethical?

 

[MEG2]

This bull was shot with Hornady 300 SST with 90 grains of Blackhorn 209 at 125 yrds. Shoulder shot dropping him where he stood.

 

[Busyfarmin]

I hunted elk for the first time this past year and I used no excuse 460 grain conical. I got under 50 yards from him and just as I shot he turned fast to run off. I was on him just behind front shoulder but the bullet entered through back quarter and went all the way through him and got lodged in the opposite shoulder blade. He made in about 4 steps and rolled down the hill.

 

[Sask hunter]

I would feel safe using a 250 Barnes

 

[Addicting]

Let's say that there are no restrictions concerning bullet/sabot.

This is what I would use behind the max load of BH209.

240 Grain HV-Muzzleloader Bullets - Bear Creek Ballistics

Bear Creek's premium custom bullets are made of solid copper. These accurate, saboted muzzleloader bullets load and shoot great. Includes sabot.

bearcreekballistics.com

I keep seeing these guys at the shows and they recently switched to a polymer tip which you can see on their loaded ammo page. The penetration and wound channel these leave is impressive.

 

[cmbbulldog]

Thor!

 

[p_ham]

I really like the 290gr barnes TMZ. I've taken 2 elk with them, my dad has taken 1. Textbook expansion in all.

 

[JoltnJoe]

Parker Productions 440 grain hydracon no doubt!

 

[utah400elk]

I use 460 grn No Excuse with 75 grains Bh209 with a felt pad. I can shoot right at MOA at 100 and it will definitely kill an elk. It is more accurate than the Sabot rounds I have used in the past.