nice bull at 1030 yards

Idaho Sawyer · #1 11-02-2010, 12:06 PM

So i just got home from a 10 day hunt with my cousin in central Id and was fortunate enough to find a couple nice bulls. The bull on the right gave me a good shot at 860 yards 16 degree uphill slope, no wind. I dialed appropriately and sent one on the way from my 7 mag with 168 berger. I watched the impact, he was quartering away and it entered the chest and just missed the far shoulder. He didn't like it much but he was still on his feet so I sent another one on the way. Another good hit in the boiler room and into the timber he went. Well I was feeling pretty good about the shots when he reappeared on the far edge of the timber leaking fluid but still upright. I range it at 1030 readjusted and sent another on the way this one hit his shoulder and knocked him down. He got back up, I sent another on the the way and just missed right over the top (my bad, I was getting a little fired up by now!) settled down and sent the final shot on the way. Sent another one into the shoulder and that did the trick. When all was said and done the first 2 shots zipped through the vitals doing damage but probably going to slow to open up. The last 2 I found in the far shoulder one had opened up, one had not. Definitely MAX range for the 7 Mag. I think I need an EDGE! The Bull green scored 318. My cousins bull was anchored at 500 yards with a couple 200 gr. Accubonds from his 300 ultra. It was a great trip!

the444shooter · #2 11-02-2010, 12:46 PM

Congratulations and thanks for the details on bullet performance! Nice shooting! I've got a Savage 111LRH in 7mm Mag on the way, and HSM just delivered my two boxes of 168gr Berger ammo, so I'm anxious to test it out. How did the 200gr Accubonds perform? Both exit?

elkaholic · #3 11-02-2010, 12:47 PM

Congrats on a nice bull and some good shooting! Also, some good info on the Bergers which I think verifies what some of us have stated in the past. When shooting at long range you need to aim for the shoulder to get expansion from the Bergers and even more so for the SMK's......Rich

ATH · #4 11-02-2010, 01:27 PM

Great shooting. One would have to run the numbers but perhaps the Accubond would open up a little better at that range? Elk are tough critters and really seem to soak up the lead at longer ranges unless you break something. No doubt Bergers are great bullets but if you need a shoulder hit to prompt it to open up at the desired range, you just shrunk your target zone considerably...

elkaholic · #5 11-02-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATH

Great shooting. One would have to run the numbers but perhaps the Accubond would open up a little better at that range? Elk are tough critters and really seem to soak up the lead at longer ranges unless you break something. No doubt Bergers are great bullets but if you need a shoulder hit to prompt it to open up at the desired range, you just shrunk your target zone considerably...

You are correct about shrinking the target zone. Unfortunately, the AB's don't open any better at the velocities he was running, and in fact, because of their lower B.C., reach that lower velocity sooner. I use to shoot AB's and they are a good bullet at less than the distances in this post. I started making my own bullets several years ago after having less than desirable results with 200 gr. AB's in my ultra mag. It has been my experience that AB's pretty much just blow the nose off with no increase in diameter when the velocities are under 2000' or a little higher. One of the best factory bullets out there may well be the A-Max at extreme ranges primarily because of the ballistic tip. I say this from testing in media only, as I have never personally used them for hunting since I started making my own. For what it's worth

......Rich

Idaho Sawyer · #6 11-02-2010, 01:58 PM

The AB's did not exit. Both of them were in the far shoulder adn both had opened up nicely. between AB's and Ballistic Tips I personally much prefer the BT's due to there reliable opening at low speeds. But my gun was throated for bergers and it shoots them very well, I guess we all just need to be aware of are bullets low end opening speeds and shoot appriately. Ya I cant agree more I have seen a lot of bulls soak up a lot of "perfectly" placed shots. Were we hunt it is incredibly steep so anchoring a bull is the goal no matter how good of shot you make. KEEP SHOOTIN TILL 4 LEGS ARE STICKIN STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR!

elkaholic · #7 11-02-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idaho Sawyer

The AB's did not exit. Both of them were in the far shoulder adn both had opened up nicely. between AB's and Ballistic Tips I personally much prefer the BT's due to there reliable opening at low speeds. But my gun was throated for bergers and it shoots them very well, I guess we all just need to be aware of are bullets low end opening speeds and shoot appriately. Ya I cant agree more I have seen a lot of bulls soak up a lot of "perfectly" placed shots. Were we hunt it is incredibly steep so anchoring a bull is the goal no matter how good of shot you make. KEEP SHOOTIN TILL 4 LEGS ARE STICKIN STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR!

+1 on the BT's. I'd take a BT over an AB anyday at 500+ yds.