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Recent content by IdahoHawken

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  1. IdahoHawken

    Muzzleloader Bull Elk, 2023.

    The wrap was originally made because on the first season I used the rifle. My wedge fell out and I had to build an a makeshift one in camp that wasn't very tight. I had some leather so I also made that to prevent it from falling out. Since then I have a better wedge but still left the wrap on...
  2. IdahoHawken

    Muzzleloader Bull Elk, 2023.

    Thanks all. Regarding questions about load, I used a .50 cal Hornaday Great Plains 385gr. bullet with 80 grains of goex FFFg. The shot was about 20 yards. The three previous bulls I have taken with this rifle were with patched round ball. For years I had a hard time with accuracy of...
  3. IdahoHawken

    Muzzleloader Bull Elk, 2023.

    It has been a good season this year. White Knob Mountains, Idaho. Rachel (my muzzleloader) took her 4th bull Elk. The rifle is a Traditions kit gun, and the projectile used was Hornady Great Plains Bullet. One shot.
  4. IdahoHawken

    New to me, flintlock rifle. Round ball size?

    Thanks all. Found some .570 balls I will try.
  5. IdahoHawken

    New to me, flintlock rifle. Round ball size?

    Picture of the bore.
  6. IdahoHawken

    New to me, flintlock rifle. Round ball size?

    I recently picked up a modern made custom flintlock (unkown maker). .60 cal??? I'm really enjoying the way it feels. Also, after hunting elk the last three years with .50 round balls, I'm looking forward to hunting with this if it shoots well. The guy who sold it to me didn't seem to know much...
  7. IdahoHawken

    My 3rd muzzleloader Bull Elk

    Thank you all for your kind words and congratulations. As for the rest of the story: The attached pictures show more of the cliff where he died. I still use an old flip phone with a poor camera, so pictures are not my strong suit, apologies. North of his head is a strait vertical drop. In...
  8. IdahoHawken

    My 3rd muzzleloader Bull Elk

    Thanks All, Stykbow, Rachel was made up from a Traditions kit. Regarding the leather wrap. The first time I took her out elk hunting, three years ago, the wedge fell out. I was camping and managed to make and emergency one out of a large screw. I somehow happened to keep a file in my trucks...
  9. IdahoHawken

    My 3rd muzzleloader Bull Elk

    Howdy, Just getting round to posting my adventures from November. On the second day of the season I spotted two bulls high up on an open ridge. There was a intermitent fog, so I used that to cover my stalk. While still trying to get within range, the two bulls retreated into some timber. I...
  10. IdahoHawken

    My 2020 elk.

    Well said Walkingeagle. Overall, even though I've done it twice. I don't recommend .50 round ball for elk. I still want to use the round-ball. Just bigger in the future. My father's .58 double barrel and my brothers .62 have both worked well for them.
  11. IdahoHawken

    My 2020 elk.

    The elk I took in 2019 was bigger than this years. .50 round ball went through his shoulder on that one, through chest cavity and found at opposite side rib-cage. However, I was only about 15 yards away. The muzzle on this rifle is noticeably tighter at the muzzle than the breech. Great Plains...
  12. IdahoHawken

    My 2020 elk.

    Christophero, Despite success, I do plan to upgrade to a bigger gun. The ball did not pass through on either of the Elk I've gotten. On this one I found it in the lung cavity pretty much un-deformed. . Bullet entered into lungs behind shoulder. He ran downhill for about 300 yds. before dying...
  13. IdahoHawken

    My 2020 elk.

    Howdy, and Good New Year to All. Didn't do as good as last year, but I still got a bit of meat. Good season with good bulls, but had a hard time getting in reasonable range. (50yds. and under). Lack of deep snow and moderate temperatures seemed to keep the elk on open slopes. I prefer when the...
  14. IdahoHawken

    50 cal deer projectiles

    Ummm.....More of an interception. Over the course of 2 days I got within 20yds-75yds stalking in on him, on 5 separate occasions, but I always spooked him. I like hunting in deep snow, I can keep tracking them, and when I do spook them they don't run as far or as fast as they do in the summer...
  15. IdahoHawken

    50 cal deer projectiles

    Last December, .50 patched roundball, with 90 FFFg took this Bull Elk at 15 yards. Traditions St. Louis Hawken. Ball went through shoulder and punctured chest cavity. He went down where he stood. Flattened ball on inside of opposite rib-cage.
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