7mm bullet on elk

[upacreek]

Since I am new to this desktop shooting stuff I would like to ask a question. Why is there sooo many concerns on this forum regarding 7mm for elk? I have been killing elk since '89 with a 7mm. Since '98 I have used 160 game kings strickly. Bullet goes in, explodes, dead elk. Never had a bullet exit. My dad has pumped 8 220gr 300h&h holes clean through an elk before it fell. 2 years ago my bull took 2 game kings at 528yrds. First shot made it fell in its tracks, second in the neck, flat elk. My real world experience gives me full confidence to 500 with a 7mm. My effort to up the anty and reach out to 600yrds has me scared to try anything besides what I have proven to my self. The BC has room to improve in the game kings. I want a 175-180 bullet that is effective. All the concern about 7mm on elk.....is it bullets not causing adequate damage interally? Bullet perfomance on impact? Or is it desk jockys looking at numbers in print and making 'scientific' descisions? The only elk I ever wounded and never recover was 620 yrds shooting up hill and I figured the game kings BC lost too much energy, or bullet placement. Does anyone have real life experience killing elk with 175-180 7mm? What do the recovered bullets look like? I am trying to educate myself. Any input is appreciated.

 

[imohunting]

I outfit in Wyoming and for the past 5 years have been carrying a 7mm long range setup to pass to clients with the 168 grain bergers. These bullets expand rapidly and you will find pieces everywhere. They are devistating on elk even at long ranges! Have seen average of 4-5 bulls a year taken with this setup and another 6-8 cows. Have never lost one, longest shot 940. Hope this helps

 

[mrb1982]

I outfit in Wyoming and for the past 5 years have been carrying a 7mm long range setup to pass to clients with the 168 grain bergers. These bullets expand rapidly and you will find pieces everywhere. They are devistating on elk even at long ranges! Have seen average of 4-5 bulls a year taken with this setup and another 6-8 cows. Have never lost one, longest shot 940. Hope this helps

Sweet. I am kinda new to long range hunting, but it seems like a buddy told me once(before I got into this stuff) that BOTW was pretty hardcore about the 168 Berger in the beginning with 7RM's, weren't they? And they were shooting some large animals that those sorts of ranges. I have some 168's that I am thinking about loading right now, but I am also thinking about seeing is someone has some 180gr Hybrids that they would want to trade me because I think in the end those would work well too. Who knows.

 

[AZShooter]

Twist is a factor when considering the 180 Bergers in either VLD or Hybrid. Need a minumum of 1 in 9. Did see an older 7 RUM LSS that would shoot the 180 VLD with its 1 in 9 1/4 twist but it is only the exception I have witnessed. 7 Rem Mags with same twist wouldn't shoot the 180s AND the shooting is done at 3000 ft elev. Too bad Rem cannot make their barrels with just a bit more twist. Guess we could say that for many of the factory offerings.

 

[Joe King]

Twist is a factor when considering the 180 Bergers in either VLD or Hybrid. Need a minumum of 1 in 9. Did see an older 7 RUM LSS that would shoot the 180 VLD with its 1 in 9 1/4 twist but it is only the exception I have witnessed. 7 Rem Mags with same twist wouldn't shoot the 180s AND the shooting is done at 3000 ft elev. Too bad Rem cannot make their barrels with just a bit more twist. Guess we could say that for many of the factory offerings.

Thats not exactly accurate, I'm working up a load now with 180gr Hybrids in my 7mag it has a 1 in 10 twist and it is stabilizing them. My rifle is not factory any longer though. I firmly believe my GS's skill has a lot to do with it. My theory is that a skilled GS will get your custom chamber and bore as inline and concentric as possible, as well as a few other things, which all add up to your rifle performing outside of the expected norm. I have other rifle that have had this guys magic done and hey do similar things. I'm also at a very dry 2600ft.

 

[AZShooter]

That's an interesting idea on perfect allignment helping with stabalization Joe. I was just using Berger's suggested minimal twist taken from their website and my experience with factory rem barrels. Guess we will have to say "your results may vary" .

 

[Joe King]

lol yea, and it doesn't hurt to have a very talented GS. don't get me wrong though when ever that barrel goes south it will be replaced with a 1 in 9 twist barrel, maybe 8, see what kind of results folks get with up and coming 195'sgun)

 

[Nimrodmar10]

Joe
Have you ever actually measured the twist rate in your barrel? Rusults may vary in barrel twist rates too.

 

[Joe King]

Joe
Have you ever actually measured the twist rate in your barrel? Rusults may vary in barrel twist rates too.

yes multiple times

 

[upacreek]

So back to the topic of the thread, what 7mm bullets are having success or failure on elk beyond 400yrds? Any one shoot hornady, sierra, Barnes? Or is berger so good its the end all, be all bullet on elk?

 

[mrb1982]

So back to the topic of the thread

Good point hahaha

I am no master, but I have heard of a lot of people shooting elk up to 1000yds with a 168gr Berger. If it is any guidance for you, I shoot a 7RM Sendero and will be hunting long range mule deer and elk(hoping to be good enough to shoot out to 1000yds with practice) and I am gonna shoot the 168gr Berger. I really want to try the 180 hybrid, but I don't have the cash right now to start buying a bunch of boxes of bullets to test out. I have 2 boxes of 168's, I'm gonna work up a load, shoot like crazy, and then when the 2 boxes are gone, I will consider the heavier stuff. These match the twist in my barrel best so I am confident I can find a load for them, and if I ever decide to step up more, I will wait till Berger comes with that 195gr, rebarrel, and then bore it out to one of those 7mm-300win mags that I have read about on here and have all I would ever need to kill out to 1300-1500yds. Like I said, I'm no master, just a beginner, but have read so much of this stuff in the last year that it could almost make my head spin. hahahaha

 

[lhouston78]

168 bergers, 180 bergers, 160 accubonds, 162 amax all will do the job out passed 600 yards but that is all I can say from use. Some guys just believe in the big is better idea (I also have a 338 lapua imp), but the 284 caliber is more than capable.

 

[upacreek]

Do you recall the range of the accubond and amax? Were they recovered? If so what condition were they in? Did the amax hold together or come apart?

 

[lhouston78]

The amax shot a cow this year at 640 something and it did great she took a few steps and died, didnt see the bullet. The accubond does great out to 800 and holds up good just not as high of bc.