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TC Encore *
Ruger 10/22 * Ruger Mk III/IV *
Savage
Rifle Barrels
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Colorado Muzzle Loading Rules - Its important to
remember that in Colorado, you can't use a riflescope, sabots, or pellet style powder when muzzle loader hunting. So, I
set up my Encore with one of our PeepRib™ Sights to get the most precise open sight aiming capability. My load was 90
grains of Pyrodex RS loose powder under a
Thompson Center Maxi-Ball 320 gr solid lead conical bullet with a
VariFlame
209 Primer adaptor using CCI small rifle primers. I used the same EABCO Muzzleloader Accuracy Loading Method we
developed for sabots and sighted my rifle in for 3" high at 50 yards. ![]() The clearing was about 200 yards across so we looked for a major trail we might set up on to get a 30-40 yard shot. That put us up on a hillside behind some scrub brush. After an hour or so, the sun started going down and son-of-a-gun... Two Elk came out of the woods. Not on the close-in trail but way on the other side of the clearing, 200 yards away. One of them spooked but the other began walking and angling closer to us. I waited until it got to about 150 yards away and decided that was good enough to try a shot. From a sitting position, I was resting pretty steady with my elbows on my knees. Sighting through the PeepRib aperture, I put the fiber optic front sight right on the shoulder-spine and squeezed the trigger. When the smoke cleared, the Elk was down... Shot right through the spine at 150 yards! We did our best to accurately pace off the distance as we hiked over to see our Elk. As we got close, I said "Gee, I thought they were bigger than that." Sure enough, I had shot a young one. But the son of a gun was still bigger than the biggest deer I've ever shot. Way too heavy to drag. |
It was getting dark and we had a two hour hike back to camp, so we filleted out the back
straps and quartered the rest to pack out in two trips. We hiked back to camp by moonlight and arrived around 9:00 PM...
I was soaked with sweat and nearly exhausted. But I absolutely LOVED every minute of it!![]() For my first Elk hunt, I am thrilled to have seen one, shot it, and brought it home. More than that, I did it hunting alongside my son Hector... Who was an excellent host and good natured partner... Packing out on one of our rest stops I asked, "How much do you figure this hind quarter weighs?" He said, "Right around now I'd say 250 Pounds!"... Yes, we were pooped! Equipment Used - I shoot a stainless Encore 209x50 muzzleloader with 26" barrel, PeepRib rear sight and fiber optic front. I dressed it up this year with a new set of Pro Hunter thumbhole stocks and sling... A very nice rig. My Colorado load is the 320 Grain 50 caliber TC Maxi-Ball conical lead bullet over 90 grains of Pyrodex RS loose powder, ignited by a CCI Small Rifle Primer in a VariFlame adaptor. Consistent accuracy is attained using the Accuracy Loading Method described in our EABCO Free Tech Reports. If you get a chance to go Elk hunting, I encourage you to do it! |
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