Ranger Rick
Well-Known Member
I have been blessed with 23 one-shot elk kills with 130gr .270 up to 168gr 7mm mag. All but two dropped in their tracks. IMO you don't need at least 190gr
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300 wsm LR mountain rifle
- Thread starter Bucklowery
- Start date
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I and a good friend use Federal TBTs and now TLRs since they came out. These bullets have been very reliable in their performance on elk usually penetrating completely but occasionally ending up on the far side hide of the animal, indicating full expenditure of energy in the animal. The bullets we were able to recover have been fully mushroomed in all cases. No animal has traveled more than 50 yards from POI. My friend is currently shooting a Sako in 300 WSM loaded with the 200 grain TLR just under 3000 fps. BTW, no shots over 400 yards yet. We have tried Accubonds and ELRs which have put the animal down but for some calibers appear to break apart more after entering the animal and don't necessarily achieve full penetration in our experience. We prefer full mushrooming without severe bullet weight loss during penetration. The idea being to preserve more usable meat.
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freddiej
Well-Known Member
Buck, With your constraints; I have general suggestions for you.
24" barrel, maybe 26" (get the best chance of full burn on powder)
#5 taper (stiff enough for long shot without being too heavy)
1:8" twist for long range and heavier, above 175 grain slugs.
The best brakes I know come from Precision Armament their M-11 brake works well (I own 4). Their M-41 brakes I hear are even better.
My best bud and hunting partner swears by Badger Ord. brakes.
Most of my clients recommend Holland's quick discharge brakes.
It's your choice but these are the ones I know about and have heard nothing but good things about.
as for slug selection.. I have never gone wrong with Barnes X or TSX/TTSX
I know nothing about Hammer slugs. I do know a fair bit about Cutting Edge and Woodleigh. I would use them in a heartbeat. I like Nosler Accubond. if you are shooting over 400 yards, I am very impressed with Berger VLD hunters. I put them to good use in many hunts with my 25-06, 270 Win, 270 WSM, and 300 Win Mag. also one Elk hunt in Western Montana with my 338 win mag.
forgot to tell you.. any slug above 168 grain 30 caliber will down an elk easily. the last time I hit an elk with a lead core slug it was a 175 grain Berger. dead in its tracks with a high neck shot. my 270's have dropped Elk with both Berger 140's & 150's and Barnes 140's. 338 Win is any slug I care to use. the 165 Grain Barnes I normally use for deer but work on Elk as well.
my 2 cents worth.
later,
24" barrel, maybe 26" (get the best chance of full burn on powder)
#5 taper (stiff enough for long shot without being too heavy)
1:8" twist for long range and heavier, above 175 grain slugs.
The best brakes I know come from Precision Armament their M-11 brake works well (I own 4). Their M-41 brakes I hear are even better.
My best bud and hunting partner swears by Badger Ord. brakes.
Most of my clients recommend Holland's quick discharge brakes.
It's your choice but these are the ones I know about and have heard nothing but good things about.
as for slug selection.. I have never gone wrong with Barnes X or TSX/TTSX
I know nothing about Hammer slugs. I do know a fair bit about Cutting Edge and Woodleigh. I would use them in a heartbeat. I like Nosler Accubond. if you are shooting over 400 yards, I am very impressed with Berger VLD hunters. I put them to good use in many hunts with my 25-06, 270 Win, 270 WSM, and 300 Win Mag. also one Elk hunt in Western Montana with my 338 win mag.
forgot to tell you.. any slug above 168 grain 30 caliber will down an elk easily. the last time I hit an elk with a lead core slug it was a 175 grain Berger. dead in its tracks with a high neck shot. my 270's have dropped Elk with both Berger 140's & 150's and Barnes 140's. 338 Win is any slug I care to use. the 165 Grain Barnes I normally use for deer but work on Elk as well.
my 2 cents worth.
later,
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Loaded 165 Sciroccos for my buddies Wyoming hunt. Shooting a stock Browning A-Bolt. They Are .6MOA to 450 and he killed a monster at 390 with complete penetration and the show was over in less than 2 minutes. Stiff legs, wobble too and fro, and down without a twitch.
dougduey
Well-Known Member
My dedicated elk rifle is a Sako 75 300 WSM. It weighs 8 lbs fully loaded including sling and bipod. It's a joy to carry up and down the mountains chasing elk. I don't notice it on my shoulder at all.
I've killed almost all of my elk with the 180 gr Accubond. Great bullet. Changed over to the 200 gr ELDX when they first came out. It dumped the bull I shot with it. Looked like he got struck by lightning. I'm getting 2952 fps with RL17.
That being said, I changed over to Hammer Bullets for hunting in all of my rifles now. They are very accurate and totally devastating on game. Everything is either DRT or dies within 10-15 yards. I haven't drawn an elk tag in 3 years, so I haven't used a Hammer bullet on elk. But, I did take a Kodiak Island mountain goat with the 213 gr Hunter in my 338 Lapua. Went through both shoulders leaving about a 1.5-2" exit wound. He did a 180 upon impact and fell over before I could rack another round. Vitals were liquified. They now have a bullet specifically for short actions. It's either a 174 or 178 gr bullet. It will be fantastic in the WSM.
I would go a minimum of 1:10 twist and 24-26" barrel, with a preference for 26". I love the Area419 Hellfire or APA Littke Bastard brakes I have on multiple rifles. The Hellfire is easy to move from one rifle to another as long as you have an adapter.
I've killed almost all of my elk with the 180 gr Accubond. Great bullet. Changed over to the 200 gr ELDX when they first came out. It dumped the bull I shot with it. Looked like he got struck by lightning. I'm getting 2952 fps with RL17.
That being said, I changed over to Hammer Bullets for hunting in all of my rifles now. They are very accurate and totally devastating on game. Everything is either DRT or dies within 10-15 yards. I haven't drawn an elk tag in 3 years, so I haven't used a Hammer bullet on elk. But, I did take a Kodiak Island mountain goat with the 213 gr Hunter in my 338 Lapua. Went through both shoulders leaving about a 1.5-2" exit wound. He did a 180 upon impact and fell over before I could rack another round. Vitals were liquified. They now have a bullet specifically for short actions. It's either a 174 or 178 gr bullet. It will be fantastic in the WSM.
I would go a minimum of 1:10 twist and 24-26" barrel, with a preference for 26". I love the Area419 Hellfire or APA Littke Bastard brakes I have on multiple rifles. The Hellfire is easy to move from one rifle to another as long as you have an adapter.
adk hunter
Well-Known Member
PLEASE knock on wood!!! With your head if necessary. Crazy to taunt the 23 one shot elk Gods...
WyoMSRHunter
Member
I've used 180gn Accubonds on elk with great success. I've just developed a load for 200Gn accubonds for an upcoming bison hunt. I like the performance of the accubonds and believe they will perform well on bone or soft tissue. I have shied away fro Bergers as some have reported they can be pretty fragile against bone. BTW I shoot a 300 Win Mag.
floyd kittrell
Well-Known Member
The TLR EDGE is a fantastic bullet , they will crush an elk ! I love them ! I had my Patriot 30 cal. short mag set up as single shot and will be loading the 30 cal TLR for it .
David Emerson
Well-Known Member
Beware the 200gr accubond. It might be great in an 06 but in the magnums it is too soft. Unless you are far far away. For buffalo use the 200 partition.
David Emerson
Well-Known Member
Bergers. Sierra MK. I will get beheaded for this but they are NOT game bullets. Basically if the nose does not fold over they penetrate 4 inches and blow up. Really? I have never lost an animal from too hard a bullet. But I sure have from too soft a bullet. Nosler partitions, trophy bondeds, hammers, Barnes , North forks. These are real game bullets
David Emerson
Well-Known Member
I forget Woodleigh protected points. Another excellent bullet
David Emerson
Well-Known Member
I think this berger madness started with deer hunters. Doesn,t take much to kill a deer. A big bull elk is a different creature. It takes deep penetration with bone smashing controlled expansion bullets. Bison, moose, bears. More of the same. Our great game animals deserve better. Unless you are a sadist that enjoys watching wolves eating an animal while it is still alive.
Bucklowery
Well-Known Member
I shoot a lot of deer at home sometimes 30 or more a year. Hogs are a little different animal and I have not shot any at a distance of more than 200 yards. I get to see lots of results. I have shot both types of bullets and agree hard bullets always work. I typically shoot more frangible ones at home because our deer are small, thin and soft. I can shoot just about anything. I shoot ballistic tips a lot especially at distance for better expansion at slower speeds. I am sure whatever bullet I choose it will be effective on elk. I am more concerned about building a very accurate gun around a bullets that feed reliability without starting over several times. I am feeding off all of the experience here and greatly appreciate the input. I have several guns that will kill an elk but I am wanting to build a rifle more specific to task. I have settled on the wsm and with adl or bdl bottom metal. I may have to give up bullet weight to make it short enough to feed reliably.
thanks
buck
thanks
buck
