Help With Bullet choice ...

[bachekermooni]

I am setting up my Kimber 8400 in 300 WSM for a WY elk hunt this Nov. I had previously used Hornady 165 IB, but there is just a few of them left. I have one new box of each:
1. Barnes 165 TTSX
2. Berger 168 Classic Hunter
3. Berger 180 Elite Hunter

I would like to use this load for potential Moose and African PG as well. Which should I go for? Scarcity of primers, powder, and lack of desire to get kicked in the shoulder 100 times prevent me from playing with all three.

Please share your experience with the above bullets. I am comfortable going out to a max of 600 yards in ideal field conditions.

Thanks.

 

[Vol1975]

Beg, borrow or steal and find some lead over 200 grains
berger 215
accubond 200 plus
etc

if you are going after large game as described above I always error on extra lead. Will lighter bullets kill if properly placed. Sure.

never hunter Africa but have killed truck loads of game With the above bullets and they are performers on animals.

 

[Wedgy]

I run the 181 Hammer Hunter ~2,950 fps out of a 20" barrel with H4350 but you might check out some of the Absolute Hammers for their increased speed. The Hammers have had several trips to Africa and bagged tons of animals. Check out their forum and load data for the Absolute; 178 grain @~3,150 fps or a 162 grain at 3,300 fps.
They are among the easiest bullets to load for, see the spread sheet on post #2

Absolute Hammer load data

I think this will work. @GLTaylor has been compiling load data from folks working up loads with the new Absolute Hammer bullets. Thanks to him for his hard work. I figured I would post it in a place where guys can find it more easily. If my link doesn't work then George can put his link in here.

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Shane Lindsey]

IF you are willing to limit your shots to keep impact above 2000 FPS. The Barnes would work.
To reach your 600 yard cap, I would load the 180 Berger.
For the ones you have.

However, 152gr Hammer Hunters would be my primary choice and they are available.

 

[dogz]

I am setting up my Kimber 8400 in 300 WSM for a WY elk hunt this Nov. I had previously used Hornady 165 IB, but there is just a few of them left. I have one new box of each:
1. Barnes 165 TTSX
2. Berger 168 Classic Hunter
3. Berger 180 Elite Hunter

I would like to use this load for potential Moose and African PG as well. Which should I go for? Scarcity of primers, powder, and lack of desire to get kicked in the shoulder 100 times prevent me from playing with all three.

Please share your experience with the above bullets. I am comfortable going out to a max of 600 yards in ideal field conditions.

Thanks.

Any of those 3 will fold up an elk just fine. Put the bullet in a good place and good things will happen (at least for you

 

[FEENIX]

Another vote for the 215 Berger, if you can get them as @Vol1975 noted. Mine propels them out of 24" at 2850 FPS using RL17. If you run the numbers the KE is quite impressive to 1KY. Berger 205 is also a very good alternative.

 

[bachekermooni]

Another vote for the 215 Berger, if you can get them as @Vol1975 noted. Mine propels them out of 24" at 2850 FPS using RL17. If you run the numbers the KE is quite impressive to 1KY. Berger 205 is also a very good alternative.

215? Target bullet? The 205 EH, right?

 

[Old Rooster]

I have not killed an elk at 600 yards plus but I have killed 2 mule deer,one at 610 and one at 601 with a 180 gr Nosler Accubond out of a 300 win mag and it's impossible to die any quicker.I have killed several elk and too many mulies to remember with the 180 gr Accubond as well as 180 gr Partitions but I have learned that over longer distances heavier bullets retain their energy better than lighter bullets

 

[Calvin45]

I am setting up my Kimber 8400 in 300 WSM for a WY elk hunt this Nov. I had previously used Hornady 165 IB, but there is just a few of them left. I have one new box of each:
1. Barnes 165 TTSX
2. Berger 168 Classic Hunter
3. Berger 180 Elite Hunter

I would like to use this load for potential Moose and African PG as well. Which should I go for? Scarcity of primers, powder, and lack of desire to get kicked in the shoulder 100 times prevent me from playing with all three.

Please share your experience with the above bullets. I am comfortable going out to a max of 600 yards in ideal field conditions.

Thanks.

I always appreciate when people stick to options I've listed in my original posts so I'll do unto others as I'd have them do unto me:

of those options the 165 ttsx seems the wisest choice in my opinion. At true long range that changes but it seems a lot less stupid to try getting closer to an animal that's too far for optimal performance than to try to get further away from an animal that's too close haha . Plus the monometals ability to penerate adequately from just about any shot angle: you'd regret having to pass up the trophy of a lifetime because it wasn't broadside and you weren't confident the bullet could get the job done, or worse, you shot anyways and horrifically wounded a majestic creature causing a long and cruel death and tracking job.

now that I've picked one of yours and explained my reasoning I just gotta say…everyone on here has nothing but good things to say about the hammers and they're available.

also, if you can find them, the federal trophy bonded tip and newer federal terminal ascent truly are the best of all worlds if your rifle shoots them well (my moneys on the trophy bonded tip for that). They open really well at low velocity and have no trouble busting through big ungulate shoulders at 3000 plus FPS. Probably what I'm going to choose for my own elk hunt this year, 180 grain in .300 Winnie.

 

[MagnumManiac]

All 3 will get the job done, but I think the 165g TTSX is the go for 600 and in.
That's what I'll be using this Spring on our Samba deer out of my 300RUM.

Cheers.

 

[FEENIX]

215? Target bullet? The 205 EH, right?

Yes! If you doubt the 215 for hunting, do a quick search on Broz's post on Berger 215/230 and .300 WM real-world successes.

 

[stovepipe]

Red river reloading has 165 grain accubond in stock if you like them...they would work just fine

 

[KMLampson]

Given the three choices of the bullets that you already have, I would hunt with the 165 TTSX. I have found that bullet easy to load for, and it has worked well for me on game out of a 300 win. I have zero hesitation shooting an elk with that bullet.

 

[wyogeargeek]

I have a lot of experience on elk with Barnes bullets on elk with both the 130 gr. TSX in 270 Win. And the 180 gr. TSX in 300 RUM. Performance has always been exceptional and consistent. Never tried Bergers cause I felt there is nothing to gain on my Barnes experiences. Just some real life input for your consideration.