Lil Gun is my main magnum pistol powder. I've used several pounds over the years in the same guns with good accuracy, lower pressures, and no damage of any kind.
Heavy Duty ELK loads for .41 Magnum
- Thread starter CelticArmor
- Start date
A bull elk shot between the eyes with a 22 lr will drop like a rock. A bull elk shot in the guts with a 338WM will go a long ways. Power is fine, accuracy is final. Plus, it isn't all about ft/lb. A 255 gr SWC 45 Colt at 1000fps (566ft/lb) and a 53 gr hp out of a 22-250 at 3800fps (1700ft/lb) are 2 completely different deals. No way is the 22-250 3 times as deadly on elk. To me it is another stupid law.
You can not legislate good sportsmanship or make up for poor shooting or hunting skills with caliber or power requirements.
Face it a really good bow hunter could kill elk with a 22 and really bad rifle hunter could wound one with a 460 Weatherby
I do believe in using "enough gun". But, Montana has no caliber restrictions except that if you use a muzzle loader it must be a 50 cal. If you draw a moose tag you could legally kill it with a 22 short, a sling shot or a ball peen hammer. How wise any of those choices are is of course debatable. I have seen several bull moose I could have easily shot between the eyes with a 22 though. The problem here isn't getting a moose it is getting a moose permit.
I highly doubt any CO game warden is going to take your 41 mag to a ballistic lab, fire it over a chronograph and weigh your bullets then issue tickets over a few ft/lb of energy.
PS, years ago I was with my brother when he shot a small bull elk in the head at less than 50 yards with a 55 gr soft point 223 from a Ruger mini 14. It of course dropped right in its tracks. Ir was perfect because we didn't have to pack it anywhere, just get it loaded in the back of my jeep.
We were just sitting there deciding which way to go when it stepped out of some trees and stood there looking at us. The 223 was right there handy. Bang.
You can not legislate good sportsmanship or make up for poor shooting or hunting skills with caliber or power requirements.
Face it a really good bow hunter could kill elk with a 22 and really bad rifle hunter could wound one with a 460 Weatherby
I do believe in using "enough gun". But, Montana has no caliber restrictions except that if you use a muzzle loader it must be a 50 cal. If you draw a moose tag you could legally kill it with a 22 short, a sling shot or a ball peen hammer. How wise any of those choices are is of course debatable. I have seen several bull moose I could have easily shot between the eyes with a 22 though. The problem here isn't getting a moose it is getting a moose permit.
I highly doubt any CO game warden is going to take your 41 mag to a ballistic lab, fire it over a chronograph and weigh your bullets then issue tickets over a few ft/lb of energy.
PS, years ago I was with my brother when he shot a small bull elk in the head at less than 50 yards with a 55 gr soft point 223 from a Ruger mini 14. It of course dropped right in its tracks. Ir was perfect because we didn't have to pack it anywhere, just get it loaded in the back of my jeep.
We were just sitting there deciding which way to go when it stepped out of some trees and stood there looking at us. The 223 was right there handy. Bang.
Last edited:
Similar threads
