AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: HighUintas on October 03, 2025, 04:53:15 AM
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I drew a limited entry muzzleloader bull elk tag for the Manti unit in Utah this year. I was a little worried about being able to shoot my flintlock well enough to be able to have a chance at a bull on this unit after talking to some people who've hunted it before.
I posted earlier this year about being frustrated with my 58cal flintlock I built and not being able to shoot it very well. Various people gave me some pointers and I worked on it over the summer. I wasn't able to completely conquer the flinch, but I was confident I could hunt with it out to 100 if I had a good rest. I picked up a Santa Fe Hawken as a backup, which I could shoot easily out to 125 or maybe 150. However, after I got out to the area I'd planned to hunt and got to chasing bulls the first day, I realized that my shot distance would very likely be 100 or less, so I carried my flintlock, because, well I built it and I had to.
After a few days of carrying it around chasing big big bulls, I realized that I'd enjoy the experience getting to carry it even if I didn't fill my tag.
But, on day 9, everything went as planned! 50 yards off hand. A frontal shot went a little high and got neck and spine instead, which dropped him and provided a tracking free job. The photo in the field is not very good. I was solo the whole time and it's hard to get a good picture solo without a tripod.
Thanks to all who've helped me in becoming a more proficient flintlock shooter.
(https://i.ibb.co/W4NT9W6Q/PXL-20250930-145554155-PORTRAIT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Vc0KyWtd)
(https://i.ibb.co/N2JY37Zq/PXL-20251003-003140875-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XxKJ4VSP)
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Awesome! Great bull. It may well be difficult to get a good pic alone without a tripod but it ain’t as hard as packing that guy out alone! Well done & congratulations.
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Fantastic! Thanks for sharing the photos.
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Awesome Possum!
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Great job! Congratulations!
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Outstanding!!!
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Congratulations!!! Great job, and I see nothing wrong with your pictures
Tony
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Congratulations, that's a real nice bull. Good looking rifle too.
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Excellent work. Way to stick with it and accomplish your dreams.
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Congrats! That's a nice bull!
8)
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Any elk with a flintlock is a trophy but a fine looking 6x5 is way above the call of duty. Congratulations on a great elk done the hard way. I am happy to send you my address if you don't have enough room in your freezer for a package of steaks, a roast or even a package of stew meat. Thanks so much for posting it. With my heart reconstruction surgery I am stuck at home this year here in Oregon. Going to try and shoot at my first post surgery trail walk tomorrow.
"Muskrat" Mike
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Way kool !! That would be a dream come true for a bunch of us. BJH
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I congratulate you on your perseverance both with shooting to overcome the yips and for using the gun you built to kill a bull. Many years ago I got an opportunity to hunt elk and my buddies told me I’d get a 300 yard shot so they convinced me not to take my flintlock. I had been hunting exclusively with a flintlock for many years at this point but caved and carried a modern gun.
Well the first morning here he comes, broadside at 70 yds!
Again good for you!!!
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most excellent!
and while wearing short pants no less ;)
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Well Done! Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.
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most excellent!
and while wearing short pants no less ;)
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That is how I was able to stalk in so close to the herd! My pants were just way too noisy against the brush. Try it, and you may never go back ;)
Thanks for all the congratulations everyone! I owe a lot to everyone on this site for everything I've learned and been able to do in the last few years.
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Memories for a lifetime . Nothing like taking game with a rifle you built. Big Kudos. Who got the meat out , you and ...... or you solo the whole way??? StevenV
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CONGRATS ON GREAT HUNT AND EXPERIENCE--JEFF in TEXAS
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Memories for a lifetime . Nothing like taking game with a rifle you built. Big Kudos. Who got the meat out , you and ...... or you solo the whole way??? StevenV
Yes I was solo the whole hunt. This one was easier because it was only 3/4 mile from an ATV road so I finished the hauling with my four wheeler. I usually backpack elk hunt the over the counter tag and that is a whole different ball game. I'm way into the wilderness area in that one so it is all hiking.
I do need a hunting partner, but finding a good one is almost like finding a wife.
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Nice work. Can you tell us what load you used? BTW good luck finding a good hunting partner or a good wife ! ;D
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Nice work. Can you tell us what load you used? BTW good luck finding a good hunting partner or a good wife ! ;D
I ended up using 0.570 balls, 100gr swiss 2f, and 0.020 minute men non-coated patching lubed with frontier bear lube. This load produces about 1775fps (probably 1790ish from muzzle) using a shoot through chrono. It shoots great and is about 4" at 100 yards, which is the best I can do so far with a flintlock with traditional sights. If I were able to completely eliminate my flinch, I'm guessing it would be much better.
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Excellence! Congratulations!
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Well done!
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That's really cool. You took an elk on a do it yourself hunt with a do it yourself rifle! Very cool for sure. Congratulations on a nice bull and enjoy the meat.
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CONGRATS!! QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT!!!! ;)
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Good job. I have a pair of polar fleece camo 'trousers' that I prefer to wear - dead quiet, not even as noisy as bare legs would be.
Besides, it's usually too cold here to hunt in shorts.
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Congratulations! I am very happy for you!
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Heck yeah! That's awesome. Congrats.
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Congrats! Great job!
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Well done! Congratulations! I too hunt solo for the same reasons you do. One hunter is so much quieter than two. This year I'm hunting with a very new 58 J. Henry Scroll Guard. I have been watching your progress with the new rifle very closely as it was/is matching mine. Again, Congratulations!
Doug T.
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I missed this thread until now. Great to hear about and see your hunt! You can remember this your entire life.