Anyone shooting .54 for elk?

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.

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'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.

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Originally Posted by 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

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

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.

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Originally Posted by Colorado Osprey

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

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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.

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.

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

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.