.50 Cal PRB for elk?

I would like to know if anyone here has killed an elk with a .50 Cal, and patched roundball? I am hoping to draw a tag next year for the muzzleloader season. I would like to keep my shots inside 50 yards, as I know I can get that close. The T/C Hawken I am shooting will easily place the ball where I want it at that range. This rifle was assembled froma kit by my Dad back in 1973, and while it has suffered a good deal of neglect due to his lack of time for guns or hunting, I am getting it back into shape The bore is a bit rough, but I have scrubbed it, and steel wooled it numerous times, it has gone from shooting a pattern to now it is getting respectable groups at 50 yards (2 balls one big hole). Anyhow, just fishing for opinions here.

Dave

This cal. will work if you stay within that range and place the ball well, it is hard to pass the longer shots but it is a must on large game with the the min. cal ball.Make sure and check your regs for any specs on cal there.

Minimum caliber in NM for elk is .45 Cal, I believe this is due to the unlimited use of inlines with scopes, pellets , and sabot rounds. I have hunted elk with modern centerfire rifles, and also with traditional archery tackle, I know I can get to within 20 yards of an elk, the bull elk season for muzzleloaders here is during the peak of the rut, which increases the odds greatly.

Dave

Your background will serve you well with the .50 and RB I have taken two under 50 yds some years ago with that cal. Thinking archery is the best way to hunt with ML's have a good hunt.

Thanks TG. Where abouts in Oregon are ya? I was born in LaGrande, my hometown is Elgin, sure do miss that country, even though it has drastically changed since I was a youngster.

Dave

It's really all about shot placement, a .22 short through the heart will drop any critter in short order. I really doubt you could tell the difference between a .50 caliber ball verses a .54,.58, or .62 in terms of actual results, put any one of them in the right place and you'll have a mess of meat, in the wrong place you'll just have a mess. I've taken two elk with .50 caliber balls, one at fifty yards expanded quite a bit and lodged under the hide on the off side. One at close to 100 yards exited but it appeard to also have flattened, tipped sideways on an offside rib and left a narrow slot on exit. I really don't feel that elk are any harder to kill than deer, it's still all about shot placement and elk are a bigger target. :grin:

"Thanks TG. Where abouts in Oregon are ya?'
I am on the west side, 25 miles NW of Salem in a small town at the base of the Coastal Mts.

CoyoteJoe said:

It's really all about shot placement, a .22 short through the heart will drop any critter in short order. I really doubt you could tell the difference between a .50 caliber ball verses a .54,.58, or .62 in terms of actual results, put any one of them in the right place and you'll have a mess of meat, in the wrong place you'll just have a mess. I've taken two elk with .50 caliber balls, one at fifty yards expanded quite a bit and lodged under the hide on the off side. One at close to 100 yards exited but it appeard to also have flattened, tipped sideways on an offside rib and left a narrow slot on exit. I really don't feel that elk are any harder to kill than deer, it's still all about shot placement and elk are a bigger target. :grin:

Click to expand...

Joe is right. Here are three pic,one with Joe of elk shot double lung with a 50 cal from 30yrds to 100yrds all dead in two min or less.

http://i101


[IMG]http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/greenmtnboy2006/pagen007.jpg

Nice, and thanks for the replies. Hope to make meat with mine someday.

Dave