454 Casull for elk?

[Jacks Grampa]

I can push 240gr. bullets to about 2000fps. I'm wondering if that's enough for elk inside 100 yards. Thanks, James

 

[ebb]

The outfitter I hunted with killed 2 or 3 every year for his freezer with a 30/30.

 

[DogBuster]

Elk are tough critters even inside 100 yds

 

[TonyinKY]

I’d use a heavy super hard cast bullet anytime over a 240 gr JHP if that’s what you have in mind. You want to put an elk down fast so you’re not hauling it any further than necessary. I’d buy or try to duplicate something like these:

454 Casull

 

[Downhill]

It will be far better than an arrow.

 

[dakor]

I can push 240gr. bullets to about 2000fps. I'm wondering if that's enough for elk inside 100 yards. Thanks, James

I would hope so a 44 mag and 45 long colt have killed lots of them. You will have no issues with that handgun. It will kill Grizzly's no problem and they kill elk.

 

[jds holler]

I can push 240gr. bullets to about 2000fps. I'm wondering if that's enough for elk inside 100 yards. Thanks, James

Not if you can't hit him outside 50 yards. jd

 

[GotRDid]

I am a fan of the 300 gr Hornady XTP-Mag projectile.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Elmer Keith shot quite a few Elk with his Smith & Wesson model 29 with his big hard cast semi wad cutter.

Or at least he claimed to have.

 

[ELR LVR]

I can push 240gr. bullets to about 2000fps. I'm wondering if that's enough for elk inside 100 yards. Thanks, James

Shot placement
I knew of one guy who used to use even smaller less powerful caliber in the head for deprevation
I think you're good

 

[ebb]

^^^^ shot placement? I get what you are saying, you can't hit one in a leg and expect it to die right there. BUT the vital area on an elk is as big as a beach ball. In my very limited experience, I never got within 200 yds of a live elk, so I had plenty of rifle. A close shot (unheard of where I hunted, or maybe the way the outfitter had us hunt) and avoiding big bones, I don't see them as being hard to kill. Expecting torches and pitchforks with this statement.

 

[xr650rRider]

It will be far better than an arrow.

You might get shot with a bullet and survive. You get shot with a broadhead, you'll bleed out before anyone can help you.

 

[spencerhenry]

It will be far better than an arrow.

You haven't killed an elk with a bow then.

I have killed around 45 to 50 elk. Most of them with a bow. I have used 7mmBR on 5, 405 WIN with cast bullets, 45-70 with cast bullets, 270WIN, 308WIN, 475 Wildey, and probably some rounds I have forgotten. Unless that bullet hits the spine, or head, arrows to the chest put them down quicker than bullets on most occasions. An arrow to the lungs or the heart puts them down quicker than a similarly placed bullet. Of all the guns I have killed elk with, the 7BR usually put them down quicker.

Crappy shot placement makes it tough for arrows, but then I have found a few elk shot with bullets that no one ever found.

 

[BTP]

What bullet are you using?

 

[Jacks Grampa]

What bullet are you using?

Hard cast with gas check. Looking for a source now.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

On our family ranch in central BC (Circle H), my family killed deer, bear and elk on a regular basis with an old 1894 Octagon Winchester in .30WCF and a couple of 'sporterized' Enfield .303's.

'Nuff said?

 

[TonyinKY]

I’d go up in weight from that 240gr then. Giving up velocity for a front shoulder shot. And nothing wrong with follow up shot(s).
My experience and $0.02

Hard cast with gas check. Looking for a source now.

 

[jds holler]

Is your handgun scoped or irons? jd

 

[Jacks Grampa]

Is your handgun scoped or irons? jd

Scoped Freedom Arms 83 in 454 Casull.

 

[dakor]

Are we really still having this conversation? He is shooting a 45 cal. 240gr bullet faster than most inline muzzleloaders can. No need to go with a heavier bullet you are hunting Elk not Elephants.