Elk load for Wife + potential gun upgrade

[LCguy]

Morning, fellow Muzzleloaders, I have a two-part question for you. I put my wife in for deer and elk and we both drew our first choice muzzy deer and our third choice muzzy cow elk. I put her in for two rifle hunts as her first and second choice, but did not get that lucky. My question is, what would be an appropriate load? The load I use is not particularly fun for me to shoot, and she's around 5'3 120 lbs, so I'd imagine she would not have a great time. I know part of that equation is the gun, I use a 5lb gun, which is a joy to carry around, but not so much to shoot. So my two questions are as follows:

What loads have you used for wives/girlfriends/kids for elk?
I am thinking of upgrading to a heavier gun and using the same load. I am between a T/C Triumph, a T/C Encore Pro Hunter, and a Knight Ridge Runner as those are three within my budget. Any insight on any of those three guns would be much appreciated.

 

[ElDiablito]

Congrats! Which 5lb muzzy are you using? Thats light! I’ve got several in the 6 lb range which are pretty great. What’s your current load?

All those are fine choices I think. You’re likely to have breech plug issues with the Knight and will want to upgrade the plug. I’d also look at the Woodman Arms G3 in that price range. Fantastic rifle.

I’m guessing you’re hunting in NM - so, open sights required and sabots are legal.

As for elk loads, a heavier rifle is probably the best answer. I’m not sure what caliber you’re thinking but, I don’t think there are any great .45 bullet options (bullet-to-bore in .45 or saboted in .50) under 300 gr for elk. A good 300 gr bullet like a swift A-Frame, Nosler partition or Barnes and a moderate charge is about the best you’re gonna do, IMO.

 

[LCguy]

Running a CVA Wolf V2, which is actually 6 lbs, not 5! My current load is 100gr/v Triple 7 with a Barnez T-ex 290gr with crush rib sabots. My sight is an EABCO Peep Rib with a Williams front globe. It's accurate enough to 125, but in a gun that light, it's not fun to shoot (I did kill an elk at 127 this past season). I am also at the point where I would like to squeeze out a little more accuracy, another reason I want to upgrade.

Yes, this is New Mexico so open sights are required. Would definitely go .50 caliber as well.

 

[ElDiablito]

The Wolf is obviously an entry level rifle. All those $1000 ish choices would be a big upgrade.

 

[LCguy]

Yeah, I think I will just upgrade to the T/C Encore and see how the recoil is before I try to change up the load.

 

[SteveCNJ]

When my son was 10 I got him a Traditions Pursuit. The load was 63 grains by weight of BH 209 and Barnes TEZ 250 gr sabot. Worked well for deer.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

 

[CMF]

I'd consider what gun you can get a muzzle brake on.
We went from an unbroke TC Encore to CVA Accura MRX with a brake, and it made a big difference.
We're shooting 80grn weight BH209 and Powerbelt ELR 330's for elk. I'd probably try a lighter bullet if we were just deer hunting, but only elk so far. It shoots Thor 300's just as good.
The wife and kids hunt with it.

 

[swavescatter]

I put together a CVA Accura LR/X with an arrowhead brake in 45 cal with Parker Black Max Bullets.

Arrowhead LRMP conversion kit with 75 grains of BH209 (weighed). Shot 1 MOA at 100yds and was a quick one-shot kill for my young son on a cow tag here in NM.

Not sure there's a milder load setup out there.

 

[ElDiablito]

A guy can add a brake to just about any muzzy by having it threaded and buying a brake suitable for the bullet or sabot he intends to use.

Thors are a great elk bullet. Powerbelts - not so much…..

 

[LCguy]

I ended up purchasing a T/C Encore Prohunter. Great decision as I was getting clovers at 50 yards out of the box.

Assuming I would add a muzzle brake to this gun, would I need to get the QLA cut off and the barrel recrowned? Are there specific brakes you guys would recommend for sabots? I am shooting 290 gr. Barnes T-EZ