.45 Hawken for elk?

[IMshooter]

Guys,

I am thinking about doing an elk hunt in 2008 and am wondering if my old T/C Hawken in .45 will do the trick.  I've been shooting this gun for over 30 years and use a 294 grain mini on top of 80 grains of Pyrodex for deer hunting.  In all that time I have only had one slug fail to exit the deer, and it was recovered under the hide on the far side.  Interestingly, after breaking a rib and going through the off side shoulder bone, this bullet had flatened to a nice, round 1.1 inches!

Do you experienced elk hunters think my deer load will work?

[Will Bison]

With the load stated you are just about duplicating the Winchester .45-90 load. The .45-90 was a 300 grain bullet over 90 grains powder. Certainly adequate.

[Idaho Ron]

My Green Mountain 45 with a 1-18 twist will shoot big bullets. It has a .458 bore so the sky is the limit. Problem is a 45 is not legal in Idaho for anything but deer and antelope.  Ron

[IMshooter]

Does anyone know if a .45 muzzleloader is legal for Colorado?

[quickdtoo]

Colorado muzzleloader regs....

3. MUZZLELOADING RIFLES & SMOOTHBORE MUSKETS
a. In-line muzzleloaders are legal.
b. Must be single-barrel that fires a single round-ball or conical projectile
the length of which does not exceed twice the diameter.
c. To hunt deer, pronghorn or bear, they must be min. of .40 caliber.
d. To hunt elk or moose, they must be min. of .50 caliber.
e. From .40 caliber to .50 caliber, bullets must weigh min. 170 grains.
f. If greater than .50 caliber, bullets must weigh min. 210 grains.
g. Shotshell primers are legal.
h. Pelletized powder systems prohibited in muzzleloading seasons.
i. Cannot be loaded from the breech in muzzleloading seasons.
j. Only open or iron sights allowed in muzzleloading seasons. Scopes prohibited.
Fiber optic sights and fluorescent paints are legal. Artificial light,
batteries and electronic gear are illegal.
k. Sabots are prohibited in muzzleloading seasons. Cloth patches are
not sabots.
l. Smokeless powder prohibited in muzzleloading seasons. Black
powder and black powder substitutes are legal.
m. Only legal muzzleloaders allowed in muzzleloading seasons.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/3F234E0F-9A7E-4E36-9263-7DE1CE74B424/0/index_information.pdf

[IMshooter]

I guess it is time for a .50 cal. barrel.  I like the Hawken too much to replace it.

[huntersmurf]

Ya might want to keep an eye on Ebay, they often have muzzleloader barrels for sale.

[wickerbill]

Green Mountain makes replacement barrels that just drop in.   
Bill

[roundball]

Green Mountain makes replacement barrels that just drop in.   
Bill

Ditto...and personally, if I was going to buy another barrel anyway, instead of just taking a one-increment step, I'd bypass the .50 and double step up to the GM .54cal drop-in barrel for the TC Hawken...it comes in a 15/16" x 33" x 1"70 round ball twist and is a tack driver..and the .54cal .530dia/230grn ball would be much better suited for Elk than the .50cal .490dia/180grn.