Youth Elk Hunt/Load Data

[JTBHunter]

My 13 year old daughter drew the apprentice Fort Hunter Liggett elk tag. I spoke with the game warden and he recommended that we come prepared with a muzzleloader in case the elk get pushed into one of their primitive weapon areas.

I have a T/C Pro Hunter FX .50 cal and must admit, I am a rookie when it comes to black powder. I have only shot this thing about a dozen times at a paper target.

I have 209 primers and Pyrodex RS FFG. My local gun shop has some copper bullets for me to come check out.

So what kind of loads should we be practicing with?

Thank you all in advance!

[edgerly779]

Use 44 mag in a sabot. Remember non lead only

[THBailey]

What is she used to shooting otherwise? Muzzleloaders with an elk worthy load can kick like a mule. Back when I started my boys, paper punching was always with puff loads and then the full power stuff when they hunted. We use Harvester Crush Rib sabots with 300 gr .452 Hornady XTP bullets over 100 gr (measured) Pyrodex RS. This load shoots well for us out to 150 yards. But of course these bullets are now verboten for hunting in our enlightened state, but over 45 gr of powder would make a good practice load at a 50 yard target for your youngster. Then I would try some Barnes 45 cal pistol bullets in the same sabot, but I have never tried it. You might check out https://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/ for some further answers from folks who will probably forget more than I will ever know. I wish your daughter good hunting!

[socom2shooter]

Congrats on your daugter drawing a once in a lifetime hunt.

[CVShooter]

In .50 lead free, you'll want to get pretty heavy if you can. I don't know what the rate of twist is on that rifle but my 1:48 can't stabilize long bullets like Barnes. I took a Thor 247 gr over 90 gr Pyrodex FFG on my late season hunt last year. First shot went high just under the spine & dropped the buck. Bullet sailed clean through without any apparent expansion. No bones were hit. shot was at about 80 yards. Second shot was to finish so was at about 10 yards into the shoulder. The bullet was recovered under the offside rib fully expanded. I'm thinking that these things are like pistol bullets in that you can get expansion or penetration but neither together. I would want something more robust for elk, personally. This was just a 130-lb blacktail.

But if you can shoot sabots in your rifle, then go for it. If it were me with my 1:48, I'd probably opt for an ITX round ball. I heard it's an iron/tungsten alloy. Whatever it is, it's darned hard. I've recovered a few balls from the dirt behind my target and they all have zero deformation or weight loss. I saved them and will reshoot them. It would be one of those times where I'd give up the expansion completely but gain some decent penetration. But if your rifle has a more modern twist, then there are better options at your disposal.

I doubt you'll need to do more than 100 grains, though. 150 will give you more oomph but not proportionately more. 100 grains Pyrodex over a 300 grain bullet will kick some. But it's not too bad. If you're worried about your kid shooting a heavy kicking load like that, sight it in yourself with the full hunting load. Then load up some lighter loads and lighter projectiles for your kid to practice with. To me, a 177 grain round ball over 50 grains Pyrodex recoils like a .223. 70 grains Pyrodex is more like a .243 or maybe a 30-30. I've never heard of anybody noticing recoil when shooting at game animals. Load up the hunting load and hit the field.

[THBailey]

The T/C Pro Hunter FX .50 has a 1/28 twist.