Elk and multiple shots

[Adam Gibbs]

Watching a lot of videos lately on muzzleloader elk hunts and noticed that even with a muzzleloader, many guys are having to shoot the animals twice or more. Is this a common occurrence just due to the weapon, bullet options, or just the size of the animal and the amount of blood loss needed for incapacitation?

For those that have killed elk with a muzzleloader, how many shots did it take you? And what bullet were you using?

 

[Wrench]

Elk are tough and don't die instantly. Muzzleloaders are not known for accuracy beyond the small percentage of niche shooters. Combine tough animals with 4-6moa shooters using a bullet that kills primarily from blood loss.....and it starts to make sense.

Be qn accurate shooter and take out two lungs......you'll never have to shoot twice.

 

[FrontierGander]

1

.530 and .490 round balls.

 

[Runningwater]

Round balls have killed elk for over 300 years. They certainly are more range limited than a sabot or other modern bullet, but some would argue that's one of the main points of having a muzzleloader season. If I was to conjecture I could make just as good of one guessing it's folks running around with inlines they've only shot 4 times prior to season and are shooting at rifle hunting distances. Most folks shooting round balls in the west are pretty familiar with their weapon in my experience. Practice to be a proficient shot, shoot well within your person range for accuracy, and look for double lung shots. Not following these and the first shot might not get the job done with a muzzleloader, rifle, or bow.

 

[Jon Boy]

In general, muzzleloader bullets are poor killing mechanisms. Just a big hunk of lead or copper with out the velocity to expand much or provide traumatic tearing in the vitals. That’s been my experience anyways, I’d much prefer a broad head to a round ball or all lead conical. I do prefer the range of a muzzleloader though.

 

[ElDiablito]

I’m guessing most of the videos out there are guys that really have no idea what they’re doing.

Although it’s true that most muzzys are only producing about 1400-2100 fps at the muzzle and many commonly used projectiles are pretty soft and have fairly low BCs, many of us (who are serious about it) are using loads/bullets that are very effective.

I’ve killed lots of elk with a muzzy and I’ve never had to shoot one more than once. But I use a good bullet, practice a lot and limit my shots to reasonable ranges (depending on the load I’m shooting).

For elk, I always recommend big lead (350-600 gr) or a mono like a Barnes or Thor (at least 300 or so grains).

 

[FrontierGander]

In general, muzzleloader bullets are poor killing mechanisms.

 

[ElkArcher918]

Good heavy bullet construction, proper shot placement, getting close and within my ethical range is what I focus on when elk muzzy hunting. As others have said, elk are big tough animals that usually don't die easily. Plus, blood trails with a muzzy are usually scant until you walk up to the animal tipped over. Get close!

 

[WCB]

In general, muzzleloader bullets are poor killing mechanisms. Just a big hunk of lead or copper with out the velocity to expand much or provide traumatic tearing in the vitals. That’s been my experience anyways, I’d much prefer a broad head to a round ball or all lead conical. I do prefer the range of a muzzleloader though.

Are we talking all MZ or just traditional style that only use a ball or conical? Because I have complete opposite experience using the correct bullet for the job. There are good expanding options out there.

 

[dsotm]

Mine have never taken more than one

 

[TaperPin]

Conicals like a Maxiball are already 54 caliber, 2x a 6.5 bullet - how much more expansion does someone want?

Double lung them once and be prepared for some moderate tracking. I would find an elk that just stands there and doesn’t run off to be odd, so a second shot isn’t going to happen unless it’s hurt bad enough a second shot isn’t required anyway. Nonetheless, folks should learn to use a speed loader in their sleep.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

In general, muzzleloader bullets are poor killing mechanisms. Just a big hunk of lead or copper with out the velocity to expand much or provide traumatic tearing in the vitals. That’s been my experience anyways, I’d much prefer a broad head to a round ball or all lead conical. I do prefer the range of a muzzleloader though.

This may be the one of the dumbest things I've ever read on here. Your experiences must be very little and/or you have no business hunting with a muzzleloader.

 

[Jon Boy]

Ive been apart of a dozen or so elk kills with all lead conicals- power belts, maxi balls etc and I’ve seen non existent blood trails, animals still alive 45 min later after 50 yard double lungs, and some extensive tracking/lost animals. I’ve been a lot happier with broad heads with 1”+ cutting diameters. Most animals were gutted and I’d always find a 50 cal diameter hole through the lungs with no or very little bruising and appeared to be no trauma outside of the hole made. But that’s just me I guess! I did shoot one bull at 15 yards and that seemed to have enough velocity to cause a fair bit of trauma, the same exact load and gun was used on a bull 2 days prior at 50 yards and it was a pitiful performance.

Are we talking all MZ or just traditional style that only use a ball or conical? Because I have complete opposite experience using the correct bullet for the job. There are good expanding options out there.

 

[Jon Boy]

This may be the one of the dumbest things I've ever read on here. Your experiences must be very little and/or you have no business hunting with a muzzleloader.

You have no idea what my experience is in the elk woods and for that, that is the dumbest thing I’ve read on here. I think you misspelled your handle

 

[Jon Boy]

Conicals like a Maxiball are already 54 caliber, 2x a 6.5 bullet - how much more expansion does someone want?


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That’s not how bullets kill. If that was the case every broad head would outperform every single center fire round at a giant margin