Muzzleloader Elk in Colorado - Bullet Choice

[cvbot]

what is everyones favorite bullet for Colorado muzzleloader elk?

 

[Brett8133]

Thor bullets and black horn 209 is a deadly combination . I’ve killed 2 elk with it and the Thor in my opinion is the best muzzleloader bullet out there very accurate and holds 98 percent of its weight retention with superior mushrooming


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[TomAZ]

No question. Thor


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[Austink47]

Barns copper in whatever weight and configuration your rifle likes. Mine likes the 300 grain expander MZ with 100 grains of triple 7. The barns have worked well on elk for me and several buddies. there may be something better out there but I have not had a reason to go look for it. I like how well the copper stays together and I rather not worry about feeding my daughter and other critters lead.

 

[MuleyFever]

You could check one of the many bullet threads in the muzzloader forum.

 

[triggertrav]

Thor and black horn. Even continued to use it here in mn.

 

[jpsobba]

Thor! Hands down!! Stay away from powerbelts!!

 

[67bronco]

If no excuse conicals are legal give them a try.

 

[Newtosavage]

What's the difference between Thor and Barnes?

 

[67bronco]

I took my knight mk85 after elk in NM last dec. i was loaded with 90gr of black mz, a felt wad and a 460gr no excuse bullet ignited by a no11 cap. With williams peep and firesight front i was 3” high at 100 and had sight marked to 200. It dropped 19” at 200 but i could put them in 4” circle and they still had enough power to go 12” in the dirt backstop. I didnt get a shot at an elk but i have no doubt it would have put 2 holes in one at 200 or less. I did shoot a whitetail doe with the combo in oct at 96 yds. She didnt handle it very well lol. My understanding colorado requires open sights and no sabots.

 

[Marine4life]

What's the difference between Thor and Barnes?

The guy who owns/sells Thor is in Texas and when I called him to talk about the sizing he said Barnes actually makes the bullets. So they are likely the same copper but what makes them unique is the size options which allow for optimal pressure seating of the gas check. They shot great out of my Encore and I still use them for whitetails. Recommend you experiment with different powder charges and you will find what your rifle likes.


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[TomAZ]

What's the difference between Thor and Barnes?

Thor’s are made in different diameters so you can ensure a good bullet to bore fit without a sabot.


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[Newtosavage]

Thor’s are made in different diameters so you can ensure a good bullet to bore fit without a sabot.


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Thanks.

I got the Thor sizing kit and plan to try them. Funny thing was the size that seemed to fit best was the same diameter as the Hornady FPB's that shoot great out of my Ruger 77/50 but not so great out of my CVA Optima V2. So I guess I'll give the Thors a try and see if my Optima likes them any better than it does the Hornady FPB's, as I bought that stainless Optima V2 just for elk hunting.

 

[Thomas11]

I shot the Hornady fpb last yr. they shot well but I’m thinking they quit making em this yr. the Thor’s seem very popular. They are just pricey

 

[Brett8133]

Because the bore diameter in the cva is probably bigger and the bullet wobbles coming out of the barrel . I learned this about 12 yrs ago I bout a brand new traditions pursuit xl and tried shooting platinum power belts out of it . I couldn’t get a consistent group I called traditions and he explained the bore is .001 bigger and I have to use a sabboted bullet or bullet like the Thor that was the correct bore diameter . It shoulda hornady sst sabboted bullets great tack driver same with the correct size Thor bullet which I shoot now when I go to CO


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[Newtosavage]

Because the bore diameter in the cva is probably bigger and the bullet wobbles coming out of the barrel . I learned this about 12 yrs ago I bout a brand new traditions pursuit xl and tried shooting platinum power belts out of it . I couldn’t get a consistent group I called traditions and he explained the bore is .001 bigger and I have to use a sabboted bullet or bullet like the Thor that was the correct bore diameter . It shoulda hornady sst sabboted bullets great tack driver same with the correct size Thor bullet which I shoot now when I go to CO


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you're right - the CVA is slightly larger bore than the Ruger. That Ruger is a great shooting rifle, regardless of what I feed it though. It's always been like that. Last deer I shot was a doe at 140 yards and I center punched her. But I hate to take that Ruger in the mountains because I don't want it to get rusted and it doesn't have a closed breech (was made to be legal in all 50 states despite being an in-line). I got the CVA for the closed breech and stainless barrel, but have yet to find a great shooting full bore bullet for it.

 

[Brett8133]

The Thor will not let you down I promise you !! I have used the 250 grain on a cow and the 300 on the bull in my pic. I shoot a 100 gr of Black horn 209 with both and at 100 yds with open sites I can put a 50 cent piece over all 3 holes with a scope they are damn near hole in hole . I believe the cva is a .050 bore where my traditions is a .051 it’s amazing how that small
Of a difference makes but it does . Good luck and I hope you kill one .


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[cnelk]

Are you guys using the lubed pad at the base of the Thor bullet?

 

[swampokie]

THOR

 

[Newtosavage]

Are you guys using the lubed pad at the base of the Thor bullet?

Was wondering the same thing