Anyone shooting .54 for elk?

[mx'r]

Looking for some bullet/ball suggestions for a .54 Thompson Center that I'll be hunting with in September. Bullet weight/size for elk, and powder charges would be a good start. I'm gonna be spending lots of time at the range with it, but some knowledge before hand would be helpfull. Looking at shooting maxi-balls but dont know where to start for weight. I'll be shooting less than 100 yards with light vegitation. T/C recomends 430g maxi-ball with 110g of FFg. 1100FPE @ 100 yards moving @ 1550 FPS.

[mwmjones]

Winchester Power Belts by far are the easiest and best IMHO just pick the weight and practice to see how your ML shoots them

Good Luck

[Pike10]

I've been shooting 295 gr HP Power Belts over 100 gr of Pyrodex RS in my TC Hawken .54. I get excellent accuracy at 100yds.

[Colorado Osprey]

Winchester Power Belts by far are the easiest and best IMHO just pick the weight and practice to see how your ML shoots them

Good Luck

I know at one time they were considered sabots by Colorado DOW making them illegal for hunting. Did that change?

[Colorado Osprey]

I haven't used my 54 for a few years. Back when I used it I used 430 gr TC maxi hunters and Buffalo Maxi-ball and Ball-et over a 110gr of FFG. Both worked very well.
Most guns shoot the Buffalo Ball-et very well although they are pricey compared to many.

[Pike10]

I know at one time they were considered sabots by Colorado DOW making them illegal for hunting. Did that change?


I am pretty sure that power belts are NOT considered sabots in the Colorado reg. I scratch my head every time I go to the store for power belts and the rack is full of sabots...I guess alot of guys a hunting out of state where they may be legal.

[Mtn.man]

Cabelas 210 grain conical shaped bullet. 125 grains of powder has worked well fo us and we spent a ton of time and $$ in our quest.
Anythig heavier and the speed of the projectile is so slow you can see the bullet when you are sighting in.

[sniper7]

I shoot a 50. 385 grain hornady solid lead. 3 years and 3 elk speak for them. I know they are heavy but they do the job

[DeadElephant]

I've been wondering about the .54 vs the .50 myself. I was concerned about availability of decent bullets for the .54. Wasn't sure if anything but round ball was available. Good to know.