Best Elk Bullet...

crazyhorse said:
As I hit enter and let this thread go, I'm simultaneously taking cover under my desk the way they taught us in grade school in case we got nuked by the Russians!

Seriously, I've used the search function and found tons of helpful info but new technology and bullet offerings drop nearly every week and I'm wanting the most recent opinion of those here who shoot elk on the regular.

I was very fortunate to draw what for me will be a bucket list elk tag in NM this year and I'm likely over thinking this for that reason, but here goes...

Ill be using my customized 300WM M700 w/Bartlein 10t bbl. I was told to expect shots from 50 to 500yds, with 150 to 250 being the most common and elevation ranging from 6500' to 11000'. The rifle shoots the 215 Berger amazingly well with regular fist sized groups @ 1000yds. Will the Berger be a liability under 200yds? I've also started load development with the 181 Sledge Hammers getting sub-moa results on the first outing but worry about its performance if I need to get close to my self imposed max range of 500yds.
I've killed one cow elk about 10 years ago and used a 7RM with 160 Accubonds and a perfect boiler room shot sent her running up the mountain with my only follow up being a texas heart shot stopping her immediately on impact (go figure).
I guess what I'm asking is for the people who hunt/shoot elk the way I do deer, if you get the same opportunity, what bullet are you shooting and why?
Click to expand...

I'll be using a 280 AI in Craig CO in Nov. My bullet is the Hornady 162 ELD-x
 
Will the 215 hybrid work under 200? Yes!
My group shot 2 elk (156 and 208 yards) with the 215 hybrid @2905 fps from a 300 wm. Mine flopped (6x6) where he was shot and the other bull (5x6) took 17 steps. The 156 yard shot went thru the bull and killed the cow about 25 yards behind it as well.
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure if this will help you, but maybe some one else will find it useful. It seems the Nosler AccuBond has been mentioned several time. I was able to use one very successfully a few years ago. I was shooting a 165gn. AccuBond out of a .308 Win with a 20" barrel (1 in 10" twist) at 2650fps. I shot a small bull (4x5) at 75yds. Extreme quartering away shot, but it was all I had to work with and I knew by experience in all my deer hunting that the shot would work if it was placed right. Anyway, the bullet went through 44" and ended up just under the skin in his neck. He ran 10yds.
 

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500 yards isn't long range so forget about BC and go with bullet construction. There are lots of great bullets in all price ranges going from Hornady Interlocks to the monos. Depending how close to hunting season you are and how much time you have to develop a load, I'd almost stick with what you have that works and you have confidence in. I don't switch bullets before a season as I prefer to practice a lot with the load I have chosen.
 
crazyhorse said:
As I hit enter and let this thread go, I'm simultaneously taking cover under my desk the way they taught us in grade school in case we got nuked by the Russians!

Seriously, I've used the search function and found tons of helpful info but new technology and bullet offerings drop nearly every week and I'm wanting the most recent opinion of those here who shoot elk on the regular.

I was very fortunate to draw what for me will be a bucket list elk tag in NM this year and I'm likely over thinking this for that reason, but here goes...

Ill be using my customized 300WM M700 w/Bartlein 10t bbl. I was told to expect shots from 50 to 500yds, with 150 to 250 being the most common and elevation ranging from 6500' to 11000'. The rifle shoots the 215 Berger amazingly well with regular fist sized groups @ 1000yds. Will the Berger be a liability under 200yds? I've also started load development with the 181 Sledge Hammers getting sub-moa results on the first outing but worry about its performance if I need to get close to my self imposed max range of 500yds.
I've killed one cow elk about 10 years ago and used a 7RM with 160 Accubonds and a perfect boiler room shot sent her running up the mountain with my only follow up being a texas heart shot stopping her immediately on impact (go figure).

I guess what I'm asking is for the people who hunt/shoot elk the way I do deer, if you get the same opportunity, what bullet are you shooting and why?
Click to expand...

You and I have the exact same set up, and I mean exact. 215's for target, barrel, action, all of it. I hunt and live just north of your hunting area in southern Colorado. While you'll hear (and I agree) shot placement is EVERYTHING, just about any medium weight (175-190gr) projectile will do the job. I haven't done exhaustive testing on a variety of projectiles, I just don't have that kind of time. I chose one and worked it up the best I could. I chose Barnes TTSX 180 hrs. off the advice of some friends who have hunted with. I have no complaints, even with less than perfect shot placement (I'm human after all). Hope this helps, and good luck! I'll be out there for third rifle.
 
I have used the accubond successfully on 6-7 bulls from 150 to 455 with good results. I had to use a non lead bullet on the National Elk Refuge for Bison a number of years ago and my 300 RUM liked the Nosler E-Tip. Killed the bison with one shot and I killed a big bull elk in AZ with it thensame year. It was 425 yards and it broke both femur knuckles and took out the heart. The bullet didn't exit but was on the hide on the off side. Awesome performance. Didn't go 10 feet.

I believe you are on task and the most important thing is now confidence. And that comes with practice in the field, not just the range.
 
crazyhorse said:
As I hit enter and let this thread go, I'm simultaneously taking cover under my desk the way they taught us in grade school in case we got nuked by the Russians!

Seriously, I've used the search function and found tons of helpful info but new technology and bullet offerings drop nearly every week and I'm wanting the most recent opinion of those here who shoot elk on the regular.

I was very fortunate to draw what for me will be a bucket list elk tag in NM this year and I'm likely over thinking this for that reason, but here goes...

Ill be using my customized 300WM M700 w/Bartlein 10t bbl. I was told to expect shots from 50 to 500yds, with 150 to 250 being the most common and elevation ranging from 6500' to 11000'. The rifle shoots the 215 Berger amazingly well with regular fist sized groups @ 1000yds. Will the Berger be a liability under 200yds? I've also started load development with the 181 Sledge Hammers getting sub-moa results on the first outing but worry about its performance if I need to get close to my self imposed max range of 500yds.
I've killed one cow elk about 10 years ago and used a 7RM with 160 Accubonds and a perfect boiler room shot sent her running up the mountain with my only follow up being a texas heart shot stopping her immediately on impact (go figure).

I guess what I'm asking is for the people who hunt/shoot elk the way I do deer, if you get the same opportunity, what bullet are you shooting and why?
Click to expand...
 
Everything that everyone has said so far is gospel to me as far as bullet styles and makes and weights. I've hunted for better than 50 years and taken countless animals at ranges from 20 to better than 500 yards. When I first started hunting it was with Federal ammunition exclusively and then worked into handloads. I've used most popular bullets and powders and primers on the market for all of major periods of ammo development. I've taken one shot kills and some took two shots. I've witnessed some excellent shooting from hunting buddies with various calibers and had to witness one elk kill where this hunter had to shoot a bull seven times, ran out of ammo, his guide shot it twice with a .45, and then they had to endure about five minutes of waiting for this creature to die.
So, to make a long story short, as long as you're using a well made bullet that holds together for terminal effects, using a large enough caliber to do whatever job successfully, bullet placement is key and there is just no replacement for a well made ethical shot. My recommendation is to choose a well made bullet that shoots well and then practice practice practice.
 
crazyhorse said:
As I hit enter and let this thread go, I'm simultaneously taking cover under my desk the way they taught us in grade school in case we got nuked by the Russians!

Seriously, I've used the search function and found tons of helpful info but new technology and bullet offerings drop nearly every week and I'm wanting the most recent opinion of those here who shoot elk on the regular.

I was very fortunate to draw what for me will be a bucket list elk tag in NM this year and I'm likely over thinking this for that reason, but here goes...

Ill be using my customized 300WM M700 w/Bartlein 10t bbl. I was told to expect shots from 50 to 500yds, with 150 to 250 being the most common and elevation ranging from 6500' to 11000'. The rifle shoots the 215 Berger amazingly well with regular fist sized groups @ 1000yds. Will the Berger be a liability under 200yds? I've also started load development with the 181 Sledge Hammers getting sub-moa results on the first outing but worry about its performance if I need to get close to my self imposed max range of 500yds.
I've killed one cow elk about 10 years ago and used a 7RM with 160 Accubonds and a perfect boiler room shot sent her running up the mountain with my only follow up being a texas heart shot stopping her immediately on impact (go figure).

I guess what I'm asking is for the people who hunt/shoot elk the way I do deer, if you get the same opportunity, what bullet are you shooting and why?
Click to expand...
Have used Nosler for years with great results. Changed to 210 Berger last year and shot ~200 yds and bullet went clean through with no deformation. Same results with Berger's on antelope. Back to 190 Nosler this year
 
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