Idaho Trecker
Well-Known Member
Finally after 30 or so days of hunting on an early elk tag, that is basically a depredation hunt to help farmers, I was able to have some elk stay on the property I had permission for. Even hunting private land I put in a ton of time and miles hiking around and I'm pretty sure the elk know property lines haha.
At 10 minutes until shooting hours closed I finally saw an elk head pop up above the skyline, and another until there were seven elk in view on the wrong property. Luckily they headed my way and crossed the magic line which gave me time to get the leica and kestrel up and rifle settled. Unfortunately it was to dark for the camera to video. I picked out a good looking cow and ranged her up at 780 and dialed up the 270ss. I dialed up 20.25 minutes and sent the 175 grain gamechanger starting out at 2750 fps from the 19.5" barrel. She took a few hesitant steps and then trotted for a second but didnt act hit. Ranged again at 730 yards and sent a second. She trotted for 30 yards or so and tipped over for the end.
After having got to her and gutting her out I then had to do a vehicle swap and get the horses and trailer loaded up. The horses dragging her out was pretty uneventful luckily but by the time we got her back home, quartered, and hung it was 2 am.
I was able to recover one bullet and still need to do more looking to see if I hit her with both shots or just one and the bullet went in and did a 90degree turn. The recovered bullet was 136 grains. The core of these is a pretty hard alloy and with my speed starting out and the retained speed and energy I'd say 800 yards is probably max for my setup. I'd have no hesitation to shoot an elk or anything big even up close through heavy bone with the construction of the bullet.
At 10 minutes until shooting hours closed I finally saw an elk head pop up above the skyline, and another until there were seven elk in view on the wrong property. Luckily they headed my way and crossed the magic line which gave me time to get the leica and kestrel up and rifle settled. Unfortunately it was to dark for the camera to video. I picked out a good looking cow and ranged her up at 780 and dialed up the 270ss. I dialed up 20.25 minutes and sent the 175 grain gamechanger starting out at 2750 fps from the 19.5" barrel. She took a few hesitant steps and then trotted for a second but didnt act hit. Ranged again at 730 yards and sent a second. She trotted for 30 yards or so and tipped over for the end.
After having got to her and gutting her out I then had to do a vehicle swap and get the horses and trailer loaded up. The horses dragging her out was pretty uneventful luckily but by the time we got her back home, quartered, and hung it was 2 am.
I was able to recover one bullet and still need to do more looking to see if I hit her with both shots or just one and the bullet went in and did a 90degree turn. The recovered bullet was 136 grains. The core of these is a pretty hard alloy and with my speed starting out and the retained speed and energy I'd say 800 yards is probably max for my setup. I'd have no hesitation to shoot an elk or anything big even up close through heavy bone with the construction of the bullet.
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