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Muley Hunter

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I'm not quite sure how to figure this out without a chrono. You guys are better at this. A couple of things have changed.

My best friend is a full blooded Lakota. Very old school and still lives in a tipi. He only hunts with a longbow and arrows he makes. He only hunts for elk. We were going to hunt together so he could help me get the meat from an elk out. Which has become a chore at my age. He thought he was going to have to go back to So Dakota to handle some tribe business and would be gone for the hunt. It turns out he won't have to after all and we can go hunting together for elk.

So, here's the deal. I need a good elk bullet and was going to use the Aerolite 300gr because I can't sell them. However, I never felt good about it. I really bought them for deer which I won't be hunting anymore due to CWD and the testing needed to be done.

So, this is what i'm thinking and need help with. I have a box of NoExcuses 420gr .504. They fit my bore good and won't move off the powder. I tied them with 60 and 70gr of BH. Keep in mind i'm using a 6lb Wolf. The 60 gr was a good recoil. The 70gr was out of the question and rattled my teeth. I'd start to flinch with that load. I know i'm a wimp but i'll use the excuse i'll be almost 78 for the next hunt.

I'm thinking of using a softer recoiling powder like Goex 2F, I can switch to a Northwest breech plug and shoot musket caps (RSW). My range will be 50-60 yds since i'm going back to a peep sight.

How much powder do you think I need for a 60yd shot at a cow? (Goex)
 
80-85gr of Goex. That probably wont be much over 1300fps if at all. Keep in mind that is still more than a 44mag and 50A&E but less than 500S&W.
 
Even with that heavy conical? I was hoping the weight would make up for the lack of speed better.

What do you think the 60gr of BH will do.
 
1250fps with a 430gr is around 1500fpe and still over 1200fpe 50yards out. Goex has one huge advantage....You know for sure its going bang but ive had great luck with lighter loads of BH209 also with conicals.

60gr of BH209 will be close enough to 85gr of Goex. Speed will probably be close but the actual powder weight will be less. So felt recoil (according to calculators) will be less.
 
Maybe i'll just stay to the 60gr of BH. Like you say it may not be as reliable as the Goex. I could save some money by using Pyro RS and gain a little more power but still softer shooting than the BH. Maybe just use a T7 primer instead of the musket cap. That should be really reliable and the longer primer will help the blowback on my present Fed 209a primer.

NoExcuse 420 gr, T7 primer, 80gr PyroRS for a cow at 50yds sound like a good plan?
 
Sounds like a good start if the recoil feels better. I would not be too concerned about a WinT7 using Pyro. A regular Win209 should be fine for a couple shots.
 
Those look nice but I hate to bother anybody to make me bullets. I have the NoExcuses and I know they work in my gun. Plus it's hard to beat the price when I need more. :)

Thanks for the help. When I get away from the PRB i'm a little lost.
 
I won an in-line match subsonic and wouldn’t blink at shooting game with it under 100yds when you know where it going to hit.. I used 35grW BH209 in my 45 shooting my 540grHP hunting bullet at 1100fps.
I agree with your heavy bullet thoughts.

In the ‘sticky’ section of this forum, White Rifle Conical BC. Shows a NE 460gr BC of 0.202
Your 420 will be slightly less, let’s say 0.19

The MV of your 420 most likely will be over 100fos faster than my 540, but let’s just leave it at 1200fps.
Here’s your data.
08BE7D61-174A-40B7-A8F8-DE8DBE929472.jpeg
 
Thank you. It looks like it will have enough fpe.

Just to compare. I was going to use the Powerbelt Aerolite 300gr with 80gr of BH. BC is .222. How does that look?
 
BH data shows various 300gr bullets with 80grV (56w), I used 1650fps and your BC.
C801B42A-615D-4D60-9633-18C13511B148.jpeg
 
Muley:
My 1st post was estimated with my sub-sonic load. Here is probably your initial load you posted of 60grV (42w).
DCC21F02-B900-49B1-8685-21072192DC64.jpeg
 
Thanks again buddy. Too bad the construction of the Aerolite isn't better. The ballistics are good and recoil with 80gr is much less than the NoExcuses with 60gr. No guessing with that. I've shot both loads.

One thing that bothers me a little is the NoExcuse probably won't expand at those speeds. I seem to remember Ron tested the NoExcuses with 80gr of BH and it didn't expand and that was at 25yds.

I wonder what the Aerolite would look like with 70gr of BH. Would it stay together at those speeds and still have enough fpe for a cow?

If I left the scope on the Wolf I could extend my distance to 100yds. It still looks good at that distance.
 
I like the looks of the NoExcuse with 60gr of BH. I'll leave the scope on it and extend my range to 100yds. Which is pretty far from my normal max range. I ordered another box of 420gr. That gives me almost 100 bullets. Plenty for this year. If I can get through the process of sighting in with BH with no ignition problems. I'll stay with BH. I like it if I have to hunt with a fouled bore. I wouldn't try that with Pyro.

Ok, i'm all set. Thanks guys. :)
 
Back to the peep and close shots. I just can't stand scopes. I'm not sure why I keep trying them. Now, I have a good cheek weld again.

Happy old man.
 

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