elk loads

[taggedout]

I have been drawn for a Sep. Bull Elk hunt in Colorado and I'am looking for some advise for bullets and loads from some of you old smokepolers. The only thing I've hunted with my muzzleloaders is deer. This past year I switched to sabots and was not impressed at all. Accuracy was fine but penetration on a buck I shot was lousey, 2 shots on the same buck at about 60 and again at 80 yards about 2" apart just behind the front leg and I was really able to study the results of the .50 cal. 300gr hollow pt sabot w/100gr. of pyrodex.
I have three different guns to choose from, Thompson Renegade, Winchester Firehawk or Knight Wolverine. I am thinking of trying the CVA Powerbelts in a heavy grain, like around 400. and working up in Pyrodex to the limit of unburned powder, hoping to reach 150gr. What are your thoughts and experiences on these types of loads? Thanks.

Grummybear

[Remington12]

My 2 cents...
I shoot a 50 cal and have had great success (deer only) with the CVA Powerbelts. I appreciate the larger mass and diameter (vs sabot), but there is a max on the powder. You have 3 good guns to choose from, but length of barrel may be a factor (the longer, the more powder you can burn) in that another couple of inches may let you go 10 - 20 more grains up. I'm interested in your final outcome.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/111434.gif

[Multidigits]

First, did Colorado change their regs to allow sabots??? At one time you couldn't use any thing but conicals or round balls. I'm amsuming that thay have changed?

As for bullets, with big game, use big and well constructed bullets. That will eliminate about half of the ones on the market. Being that you can't use a scope, most of your shots will be close. Use a heavy load, with a heavy bullet. Unless you like the abuse, you'll probably want to stop at about 120 grains of powder. As said, your shots will be close and trajectory shouldn't be a big deal.

How many prefrence points did you have to get the tag??? what area do you plan to hunt? Are you hiring a guide?