Muzzleloader elk question

[Andrewlonghi]

Going into the draw for 2026 with 3 points and going try to cash them in on a muzzleloader elk tag. Been reading up on the rules/regulations for Muzzleloader’s and wondering what’s everyone’s choice of bullet….im going to purchase a CVA Optima if I get drawn and more then likely use BH 209 as that’s what I use in my knight muzzleloader now.

 

[Phaseolus]

Just don't use Powerbelt Bullets, they aren't made for elk even though a lot of people use them.

 

[OlderGobbler]

Just don't use Powerbelt Bullets, they are made for elk even though a lot of people use them.

I'm curious, what are they made for?

 

[Live_weighT34]

I'm curious, what are they made for?

Deer, pronghorn, small hogs, spring & summer black bears.
They’re a great bullet for small and light skinned game but they fall apart to fast IMO for bigger stuff like elk. The extra hair, hide thickness and tissue gets powerbelts expanding almost instantly.

 

[Live_weighT34]

Parker Fury’s or the Hornady Bore Driver ELDX get my vote. Or if you can use sabots, the Barnes TMZ or Hornady SST are two I’ve used with great effect.

 

[06 SB]

Just don't use Powerbelt Bullets, they are made for elk even though a lot of people use them.

Funny, I have killed a half dozen elk with PBs. My family has more too. We have never lost one. We don’t shoot through shoulders either. Mine were all .54 cal but my family uses .50cals.

 

[mtnbound]

Going into the draw for 2026 with 3 points and going try to cash them in on a muzzleloader elk tag. Been reading up on the rules/regulations for Muzzleloader’s and wondering what’s everyone’s choice of bullet….im going to purchase a CVA Optima if I get drawn and more then likely use BH 209 as that’s what I use in my knight muzzleloader now.

I have only taken 1 bull with Powerbelts (the solid-lead non-hollow point version). The bull was bedded and broadside when I fired the first time. He heard me or saw me as I was bringing my rifle up and started to get up, so I aimed for a high shoulder shot, hoping to stop his ability to get up. It worked as he struggled to get to his legs. I conducted the fastest reload that I have ever done, and the second round hit his CNS, stopping him for good. First shot was 50-60y and the second was probably 15y.
A buddy shot a cow with a PB hollow point and lost the animal (we found it, but lost all of the meat) due to poor penetration. I would use them again, but only the non-hollow-point versions.

 

[Andrewlonghi]

Funny, I have killed a half dozen elk with PBs. My family has more too. We have never lost one. We don’t shoot through shoulders either. Mine were all .54 cal but my family uses .50cals.

Which PB bullet do you use?

 

[SwiftShot]

The powerbelt complaint is valid. It will work well if and I repeat if you get a great roadside and hit nothing but lung. If that happens it will work. Someone I know shot one and hit the shoulder. This is in PNW where it is thick. It was found 2 days later still alive but it was just bad. It exploded on the front shoulder and just mangled it.

Anyway my son uses Hornady SST. They are working great 3 bulls no problems. All under 150 yard shots and all fell where they stood.

 

[schur7559]

Thor gets a lot of love on this forum but I could never get them to group well with my Optima. Switched over to Fury bullets and they’ve been light years better (320 grain Universal Fit).

 

[brancher147]

I don’t know about elk but have shot a lot of deer with Harvester Muzzleloader 300 grain scorpion PT gold. They shoot better than anything else I have tried with blackhorn 209 and never had a deer go far. I understand elk are bigger so someone else might have to chime in on that, but those bullets are very accurate. I wouldn’t shoot powerbelt even for deer, definitely wouldn’t want that for elk.

 

[Phaseolus]

I'm curious, what are they made for?

Dinky Dog Deer

 

[Phaseolus]

If your rifle will shoot them well No Excuses makes great elk bullets.

 

[highcountrymuley]

Just say no to powerbelts! Shot a deer at 40 yds and bullet splattered/fragmentd on impact. Got the deer but had lost an elk the day before .... I shoot a cva Accura v2 (bought in 2018) Federal Bor Loc 350 gr lead bullet (it is an alloy that is a little harder than only lead, I think). BH 209 at 95 gr by volume . Cci 209 primers

 

[06 SB]

Which PB bullet do you use?

348grs hollow point plated from my Remington inline and 405s all lead from Lyman Trade Rifle Flintlock. My family members have all used HP Plated in their 50 cals but I do not know he grain weight. Pretty sure they were 300 something.

We initially used Pyrodex but switched to 777 when it came out. Inline was set up for musket caps then 209 primers.

 

[CoHntr82]

Hornady 290gr bore driver is great bullet. I try not to take risky shots and have had great luck matched with 209. I shoot an optima as well

 

[dsotm]

Going into the draw for 2026 with 3 points and going try to cash them in on a muzzleloader elk tag. Been reading up on the rules/regulations for Muzzleloader’s and wondering what’s everyone’s choice of bullet….im going to purchase a CVA Optima if I get drawn and more then likely use BH 209 as that’s what I use in my knight muzzleloader now.

Not that I'd ever try to talk someone out of a new gun but why not use the Knight? Fury makes a good bullet, I might try the ELDX out this year in the .45.

 

[Billdoe]

What state?

 

[Andrewlonghi]

Not that I'd ever try to talk someone out of a new gun but why not use the Knight? Fury makes a good bullet, I might try the ELDX out this year in the .45.

I would use it but doesn’t have iron sights on it