Drew a Elk muzzle loading tag suggestions on a inline?

[wileynet]

Drew a Elk Muzzleloading Tag carson forest northern NM most shots will be longer than 100 yards, i have two older guns a cva mountain and a H&R 58 ,just to damn old to see open sights any more. Any suggestions, local gun shop has a assortment of inlines, cva optima with a 2-7 scope  54 cal, and several other inline's in 50s

[flintlock]

Match the inline to the projectile you will be using...Are saboted bullets allowed in your state???

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

sabots, scopes,pellets, 209 primers are all fine in NM UNLESS its a restricted "traditional" Hunt.

CVA Optima or Accura V2 would be my choice.

[wileynet]

its not a restricted hunt, MB only  scopes and sabots allowed, suggestions on rifle cal and loads would be appreciated

[flintlock]

Start with the bullet...I'd use a 300gr Barnes MZ, this is an all copper bullet that will give excellent penetration and mushrooms reliably...My Knight prefers 100grs FFF Goex behind this...
 
Any modern inline with a 1-28 twist will stabilize and accurately shoot this bullet...Of the ones available today I'd look at either a T/C Omega or a CVA Optima...I've sighted in these for hunting buddies and had no problem getting accurate groups...
 
As far as powder, I use loose Goex but if it's hard to find in your area I'd go with Pyrodex R-S and a charge between 100-120grs...

[tacklebury]

If it were me, I'd stick to .50 Cal as it has the easiest to find accessories, bullets, loads etc.  I personally love the more compact Traditions Buckstalker.  I got the all blued one when they came out and don't regret a thing.  Pretty decently priced and with the shorter barrel it's nice to carry all day. 
 
This is currently one of Traditions Specials at $184 pretty good deal with scope.  This can easily reach 200 yards with the modern loads, but those do have some kick.
http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/product_info.php?products_id=961&osCsid=4dc0e6c1dae24eb54f57462db21608e1
 
I personlly prefer to use the Hornady Great Plains Bullet in the 385 gr. size and at 100 yards, my Buckstalker will throw these into just over 2" every time.  If you want to push out to the 200yard range, the better of some of the pointed modern bullets might be better for you.
http://www.hornady.com/store/50-Cal-385-gr-HB-HP/
http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/product_info.php?products_id=909&osCsid=4dc0e6c1dae24eb54f57462db21608e1

[sabotloader]

Drew a Elk Muzzleloading Tag carson forest northern NM most shots will be longer than 100 yards, i have two older guns a cva mountain and a H&R 58 ,just to damn old to see open sights any more. Any suggestions, local gun shop has a assortment of inlines, cva optima with a 2-7 scope  54 cal, and several other inline's in 50s

Look and see if they have any Knight DISC Elites or Extremes... Either of these two would be great in 50 cal...  Te Elite or Extreme work very well in Idaho.
 
 

[luckydawg13]

Congratulations to you my pick would be a T/C Omega with a Leupold scope 3x9
load would be 300 gr shock wave pushed by 150gr of Pyrodex
or a Encore same load good luck on your hunt

[anweis]

Your problem is that you may have a shot at 200 yards, and you need as flat of a trajectory as possible.
I would get a .50 caliber CVA, maybe an Accura, with a 28" barrel. I would buy at least 100 bullets of the Scorpion PT Gold from Harvester muzzleloading, similar number of their crush rib sabots, two jugs of BH 209 powder, and some Federal magnum primers, and would work up a load in the 100-110 grains range. You must know the trajectory of your load before hunting. Practice a lot. Blocky, pistol type bullets may not be the best choice because they really drop alot at distance - at close range they may expand too violently and not penetrate, at longer range they drop a lot and slow down and may not expand. Maybe you find some sharp tipped, boat tailed bullets.
http://www.harvestermuzzleloading.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3

[LanceR]

its not a restricted hunt, MB only  scopes and sabots allowed, suggestions on rifle cal and loads would be appreciated

What is "MB only"?

Thanks

Lance

[wileynet]

Mature bull no spikes

[LanceR]

I suspect that a lot of our answers would be flavored by what our experiences have been and since I am toting a Savage 10ML II smokeless powder rifle that would be my recommendation especially if smokeless powder is allowed.

I use 300 grain Hornady XTPs most of the time since I generally hunt whitetailed deer and black bear once in a while.  For an elk sized critter I would lean towards a 300 grain Barnes .458 semi-spitzer Original and a black crushed rib sabot, the 300 grain tipped TMZ Expander already mentioned or pick a 275 grain Barnes .452 XPB.  The Original and XPB both shoot sub-MOA out to 200+ yards when I do my part and the MZ Expander does almost as well.  All penetrate very well and open up very reliably.  They few I've recovered were all around 2x diameter.

I use Accurate 5744 most of the time but you can get more speed out of some other powders if that is desirable to you.  With A5744 you can get any of those bullets up to 2300+ FPS.

Lance