Question re: ballistics and elk

[longarm]

Would you consider a 300 grain castcore bullet moving at ~1200fps with ~1000ft/lbs of energy sufficient to take an elk humanely? Assume appropriate bullet placement.

[nevermiss]

Bullet placement is always the most critical factor, but with the info you supplied I don't see any reason why a well-placed shot wouldn't work.

[Grantspastor]

Elmer Keith always thought so

[Charlie Storey]

black powder .45-70?

[WSU]

What is the average speed of a muzzleloader load with say a roughly 380 grain bullet and 100 grains of pyrodex, 777, black powder? Anyone know?

[Hunt'nFish]

Yes, out to 100yds.
http://www.n4lcd.com/calc/
http://www.handloads.com/calc/

[Chesapeake]

Are we talking about impact velocity, or muzzle velocity?

I personaly think 300 grains is the lower end for a muzzleloader type elk bullet. I much prefer 360 grain to about 430 grain.

I shoot a 375 grain pill leaving the muzzle at 1700 FPS or so. It is good in mind out to 150 yards. Much more than that and its lost the velocity it need to be effective. At 150 yards it has about 1000 ft/lbs of energy.

But I've shot elk out 100 yards with a 54 caliber round ball (about 230 grains) launched at about 2000 fps and it killed them just as dead.

If your talking muzzle velocity I say your load is a 50 yard load at best. If your talking impact then that range your talking about is max. I realy like to have that 1000 ft/lb of energy on my loads.

With the values you listed at impact you will find a quality bullet against the hide on the far side of an elk if no bones bigger than a rib are hit. Its like hunting with a bow. Your not counting on hydrostatic (?) shock from the bullet, your counting on ventilating the lungs or the heart.

[Chesapeake]

Originally Posted by WSU

What is the average speed of a muzzleloader load with say a roughly 380 grain bullet and 100 grains of pyrodex, 777, black powder? Anyone know?

Your looking at about 1700 fps out of a 26-28 inch tube with a sabot. Maybe 1550 to 1650 with conical. The black powder may be a bit faster than the 777 depending on grade.

[WSU]

I've always wanted to know this. I shoot 130 grains of pyrodex pellet and a 385 bullet. How fast is this going?

[longarm]

Thank you for your responses.
The gun is a .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver (629-2 Classic Hunter with 8.375" barrel). I have been working with this gun and ammo for several years and have developed the desire to hunt elk with it. The fps and ft-lbs I listed were at 50 yards.
Again, your input is much appreciated.