The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Who here has hunted elk with a muzzleloader?

big al hunter · June 4, 2014, 10:59 PM

I have taken 2 elk with my Knight inline 50 cal. Both with conicals, both heart/lung shots. I have been present for 3 other elk taken with 50 cal ML. All were in Washington.

Keep in mind that elk are big, and the kill zone in the neck is very small. My first elk was still alive when I tracked it down after the first shot. I tried to finish it with a neck shot facing me. All I had to do was put it dead center...I was excited and I pulled it left 1 inch. He jumped up and ran another 30 yards. luckily the lung shot had him really weak and he expired without going farther. The bullet hit the spine and cracked the bone but did not break the spinal cord. Your target in the neck is only 2 inches wide. The lungs are a much better target.

June 4, 2014, 10:59 PM	#10
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	I have taken 2 elk with my Knight inline 50 cal. Both with conicals, both heart/lung shots. I have been present for 3 other elk taken with 50 cal ML. All were in Washington. Keep in mind that elk are big, and the kill zone in the neck is very small. My first elk was still alive when I tracked it down after the first shot. I tried to finish it with a neck shot facing me. All I had to do was put it dead center...I was excited and I pulled it left 1 inch. He jumped up and ran another 30 yards. luckily the lung shot had him really weak and he expired without going farther. The bullet hit the spine and cracked the bone but did not break the spinal cord. Your target in the neck is only 2 inches wide. The lungs are a much better target. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!