Author Topic: Handgun Elk (Read 3658 times)

pathfinder · « **on:** July 03, 2007, 09:33:02 AM »

I'm tempted to hunt Elk next fall with a handgun. On my most recent Elk scouting trip I found an area that looks promising. Due to the heavy cover the shots would not exceed 50 yards and more likely be 25 yards or less. Most likely I'll hunt from an improvised stand along travel/escape routes. It seems once the shootin' starts they all head for the steepest thickest cover they can find and this area certainly qualifies for that.

Any handgun Elk hunters here?

I'm very tempted to use my 45 Colt Blackhawk with a 300 grain (actually casts closer to 320) cast bullet and work up a load that will penetrate as much as possible. Any recommendations?

weasel · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2007, 10:21:01 AM »

I used my Encore w/ 15" 7mm Bower in 99 on my cow hunt, wacked her @ 288yds, rested on the truck hood, 3-9X scope helped. Just a yearling cow, 260 lbs. Fun hunt!

Sverre A. · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2007, 10:29:10 AM »

I`m not an elkhunter - but I have shot several animals at that size with Lyman 325 gr. Penetrate at least out to 110 yds.

pathfinder · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2007, 04:17:14 PM »

Sverre A. How fast were you pushing that bullet?

fowler · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2007, 05:06:11 PM »

You don't have to push that bullet hard to get penetration. A 250gr Keith at 1000fps will kill anything with well chosen shots. I am going to hunt with a Bisley Vaquero in 45 colt this fall with a 335gr LFNGC LBT bullet at 1000fps or so just for more reliability of a greater massed bullet. It will penetrate through any elk at any reasonable range. A 1000fps can be reached easily with a number of different powders Handloads.com will help, also John Taffin had written several articles about these mid range loads. Also in your Blackhawk you can drive a 320gr bullet up to the 1300fps range pretty easily but may find the recoil getting unpleasant with a Blackhawk grip frame. PM with what powders you have on hand and I will see if I can help get you started.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2007, 11:18:16 PM »

fowler gave you good advice. A 300 at 1000-1200 fps will do the job. stick with a good lfn or swc and look in that velocity range for the most accurate load in your gun. I like to find a sweet spot at around 1100 fps with my hunting guns using cast bullets. Probably not gaining much over a 1000 fps load but its allways been a good compromise for me between recoil and punch.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2007, 12:49:59 AM »

I use a FA .475 Linebaugh for bull elk, loading a 400 gr. XTP @ 1350 fps. A .45 300-320 gr. should do fine with a proper hit. Personally, I'd try to safely obtain around 1200 fps, probably using H110 / 296.

Sverre A. · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2007, 02:10:44 AM »

"Sverre A. How fast were you pushing that bullet?"

1050 FPS

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2007, 04:49:17 AM »

Hi

I have seen the pictures of Sverre A and his buffalo.
If it works on buffalo it should work on elk!

pathfinder · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2007, 07:15:14 AM »

Thanks guys!! Looks like I came to the right place!

At the moment I'm using 15 grains of 2400 under that ~320gr (gas checked and lubed) and that yields around 930 fps out of the Blackhawk. It's easy shooting and accurate. I don't recall the sources I used for that data but I believe it was a mid-range Ruger Load for a 325gr Jacketed bullet.

Another powder I have but haven't yet tried in 45 Colt is IMR 4227

Thank you again for sharing your experiences and insights!

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2007, 03:36:31 PM »

I would look at a 15" Encore in 30-06

Hawkeye · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2007, 02:12:03 PM »

I shot a cow elk with my Ruger Hunter 45LC using Beartooth 300 grn LFNGC bullets, 21.5grn of H110, med crimp running at 1205fps. The shot was approx 55yds, setting along a abandoned road. She stepped out of the timber onto the road and I hit her high in the shoulder, broke both shoulder and spine. Dropped in her tracks. Good exit hole. This load is pretty stout in my Ruger Hunter w/a 2x6 scope for a little extra weight.
If it had been any farther I would have taken a double lung shot but I had been practicing and knew the pistol would do the trip.
Good luck on your hunt if you go.

Mike

kennisondan · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2007, 03:25:42 PM »

Sounds like you are in for a good time and have the right stuff and good advice .. it is great to have such a great resource.. I would take that advice and run with it ..
Oh and get some wrapping paper and lots of freezer space needs to be freed up..
dk

JD HHI 6092® · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2007, 04:34:17 PM »

I'll be using my 309 JDJ with a 165 grain Nosler Partition in October. It shoots very accurate out of my gun so I don't push it super fast.

xphunter · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2007, 04:54:10 AM »

Quote from: pathfinder on July 03, 2007, 09:33:02 AM

I'm tempted to hunt Elk next fall with a handgun. On my most recent Elk scouting trip I found an area that looks promising. Due to the heavy cover the shots would not exceed 50 yards and more likely be 25 yards or less. Most likely I'll hunt from an improvised stand along travel/escape routes. It seems once the shootin' starts they all head for the steepest thickest cover they can find and this area certainly qualifies for that.

Any handgun Elk hunters here?

I'm very tempted to use my 45 Colt Blackhawk with a 300 grain (actually casts closer to 320) cast bullet and work up a load that will penetrate as much as possible. Any recommendations?

PF,
Yes, I typically hunt elk every year. I do not have that much revolver experience. I have consistently taken elk with 284 Win, 7.82 Patriot, and the 7mm Dakota in specialty handguns. My kids have taken one elk a piece and they did it with a 260 Rem.
If you are thinking Encore I would say: 25-06, 270 win, 280 Rem, and 30-06 would all be great choices.

stoutstuff · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2007, 03:48:54 AM »

I'll be using a 35 Remington topped with a Barnes bullet in my Contender Super 14 scoped with a Burris 3X12. Good Luck to All!

baitwaister · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2007, 07:26:56 AM »

a 10" T/C 41 mag with 250 gn wfn for still hunting thru brush and cover. A 14" 30/30 with a 150 gn Nosler BT stand hunting. Both have been very effective for me. Starts Oct. 10th here in the panhandle of Idaho. Wouldn't hunt with anything else where I end up going.

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2007, 11:16:13 AM »

A 44 mag loaded with Nosler Partiton handgun bullets will to the job for you.

NONYA · « **Reply #18 on:** October 04, 2007, 07:07:54 PM »

Quote from: Hawkeye on July 14, 2007, 02:12:03 PM

I shot a cow elk with my Ruger Hunter 45LC using Beartooth 300 grn LFNGC bullets, 21.5grn of H110, med crimp running at 1205fps. The shot was approx 55yds, setting along a abandoned road. She stepped out of the timber onto the road and I hit her high in the shoulder, broke both shoulder and spine. Dropped in her tracks. Good exit hole. This load is pretty stout in my Ruger Hunter w/a 2x6 scope for a little extra weight.
If it had been any farther I would have taken a double lung shot but I had been practicing and knew the pistol would do the trip.
Good luck on your hunt if you go.

Mike

isnt it illegal to shoot game in a roadway?

fatercat · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2007, 01:23:09 AM »

no its not illeagle eo shoot from a old logging road

NONYA · « **Reply #20 on:** October 05, 2007, 08:29:34 AM »

iT IS HERE.

David Carey · « **Reply #21 on:** October 05, 2007, 04:32:13 PM »

In Washington state it states "county maintained" roads so if it is not plowed in the winter it is not county maintained.

Dave