But struck out on deer. May get a concurrent bear tag in case we see a bruin while searching for a cow elk. This will be my first muzzleloader hunt. Planning on using a 54 lee real. Assume that would put the smack on a bear just as well?
But struck out on deer. May get a concurrent bear tag in case we see a bruin while searching for a cow elk. This will be my first muzzleloader hunt. Planning on using a 54 lee real. Assume that would put the smack on a bear just as well?
When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.
buck tag for me, dad and bro drew doe tags.
Good luck guys!
In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.
OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
Where there is Elk there are grizzly's not far from.
One shot with REAL.~~ Really? After researching how fast a bummed-out Bear can cover 50 yards on the quick step? "No I don't think so. Not my cup of tea."
U willing others. Don't let my Cautiousness stop you from achieving media Recognition.
Colorado = Black bear. No grizzly bear anymore.
Just for conversation - Say it was a large bear; A 54 RB is maybe a little light for a grizzly but a 54 cal bullet, any bullet! That is a big long hole through meat.
I would not want to do it in any case because I would not want to try to reload a ML after making a bad shot on a big bear without a friend next to me with a repeater. I guess I got chicken in my old age.
But for Colorado Elk and Black Bear a 54ML is just fine.
Chill Wills
54 real will be just fine. PRACTICE-PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE.
Drew in 501. I am legal to carry a sidearm, which will be a 45 stuffed with +p fodder. In the unlikely event I even see a bear, I would have my own repeater as back if I hit one and don't kill it.
When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.
if you have a 54, no reason for the conical, that round ball do the job and then some.
Lengthy rage session today to figure out loads. For elk I want to use my 54 since it is handier and lighter than my 50 Hawken. I figured out with a Lee REAL and an overpowder wad, 100 grains of Black MZ gets me a clover leaf on the bullseye at 50 yards. I struggle to see the 100 yard target, so I think my max shot will be 75 yards. 375 grains should have plenty of knockdown powder on a cow.
I did not draw a deer tag, so I put in for a couple different deer muzzleloader tags in the leftover draw. If I get one, the area I will hunt will be river bottom where a 50 yard shot might be kind of a long one. I want to try the Hawken with PRB if I get the tag, so I did some fooling around with it. With ball, patch and powder, I can only get to 50 grains and stay accurate with Black MZ. When I put a wad underneath the patched ball, my groups shrink dramatically and I can go up to 75 grains with accuracy. Based on the chrono data posted a month or two by frontiermuzzloading, I'd guess that this is doing around 1500 FPS. running that through a ballistic calculator, that should have north of 800 foot pounds to 100 yards, so a 50 and in shot should have plenty of killing power for a broadside shot. If I get the tag, I will revisit the idea of a conical for this rifle since it will group maxi balls.
Last edited by brewer12345; 06-08-2019 at 05:20 PM.
When you care enough to send the very best, send an ounce of lead.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |