7 mm mag bullet for Elk

milkie62 said:

I had bought Fed premium 168 gr berger bullets for an Elk hunt next month. Also bought the Rem Corlokt 150 gr along with Hornady American whitetail 139 gr. Unfortunately with the shortage of bullets these are my only choices. Well the 139 gr Hornady shoot very well and group at about 2.25 " @ 200 yds. The Fed Premium are about 6" groups and the Remingtons about 4 " groups. Are the 139 gr American Whitetail going to be enough bullet ?

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I use Berger 168 for years always get elk none ever wounded drt

My last two elk were taken with a Sierra 160gr Gameking in a ruger No.1 7mm mag. One at 315 yards and one at 250 yards. Both dropped in their tracks. Both broadside behind the shoulder shots.

If you are only shooting factory ammo, I recommend you buy a couple boxes of 160 gr Swift A-Frame ammunition. They are in stock at Swift online.

You do not want your hunt ruined by a bullet that is not up to the task.

rcg5076 said:

139 are more than enough to kill an elk. I uses 120gr bullets out of my 6.5-06 to shoot an elk last year. I went with the 120 because it group the best, and now i have elk in my freezer.

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I once knew a camp cook that shot a spike with a 22 mag pistol while everyone else stood around and argued who was going to shoot it. 139 will kill and elk but myself I want to be confident in my set up. And 139 does not scream confident to me. I would stay above 160 myself. Good luck and God bless!!

Federal Premium factory w/ the Nosler 160-grain Accubond. Buy, sight in, forgetaboutit.

Get ahold of Gunwerks let them fix you up I bought a box of their 168 grain shells only factory shells I've ever bought other than cheap 223s doing a little research to figure out their combination they shot really well don't let anyone lead you to believe 168 Bergers won't do the job I have had pass through on elk every time with tennis ball exits but I'm not a shoulder shooter I wouldn't shoot a squirrel in the shoulder you waste to much David

OP, if you have resources and time for mail order, there is a slew of 7mm ammo out there. Most brands/weights mentioned by others might be available, if you can get it in time.

Here's a list from Ammoseek.com.


Good luck on your hunt! Post pics when you get back!

milkie62 said:

I had bought Fed premium 168 gr berger bullets for an Elk hunt next month. Also bought the Rem Corlokt 150 gr along with Hornady American whitetail 139 gr. Unfortunately with the shortage of bullets these are my only choices. Well the 139 gr Hornady shoot very well and group at about 2.25 " @ 200 yds. The Fed Premium are about 6" groups and the Remingtons about 4 " groups. Are the 139 gr American Whitetail going to be enough bullet ?

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I load my own ammo and have used 160 gr Nosler Accubond in my 7mm, get a little more than 3000 FPS. I've taken 6 elk, 9 deer and 2 Pronghorn. Most with one shot,got great penetration and good mushroom of the round.

I shoot 180 gr VLDs... I also like the ELDX 162gr. In 308 I have had food success with the TYSX round.

To me there is a difference between an "elk hunt" and an "ELK HUNT"!
I am in line for a premium limited entry elk hunt (many bonus points) and my goal is coming home with a bull of a lifetime. I would not consider using any of the OP's ammo for an "ELK HUNT" of that magnitude. I've settled on the 177g Hammer Hunters in my 28 Nosler for my eventual hunt. I want to know that if a big bull presents only a shoulder shot, I can take it with confidence.
On the other hand, I have taken spike bulls with much lighter medicine knowing I could choose my shot to fill the freezer.
That said, I'd recommend taking the ammo that's most accurate, if it fits the situation.

You are shooting the Hornady well enough and that 139gn bullet will kill elk if placed well enough.

milkie62 said:

I had bought Fed premium 168 gr berger bullets for an Elk hunt next month. Also bought the Rem Corlokt 150 gr along with Hornady American whitetail 139 gr. Unfortunately with the shortage of bullets these are my only choices. Well the 139 gr Hornady shoot very well and group at about 2.25 " @ 200 yds. The Fed Premium are about 6" groups and the Remingtons about 4 " groups. Are the 139 gr American Whitetail going to be enough bullet ?

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I wouldn't use them!

I wouldn't use the 139gr. bullets To light in weight and construction! If these are all you can find go with the Core-Lokts!

milkie62 said:

I had bought Fed premium 168 gr berger bullets for an Elk hunt next month. Also bought the Rem Corlokt 150 gr along with Hornady American whitetail 139 gr. Unfortunately with the shortage of bullets these are my only choices. Well the 139 gr Hornady shoot very well and group at about 2.25 " @ 200 yds. The Fed Premium are about 6" groups and the Remingtons about 4 " groups. Are the 139 gr American Whitetail going to be enough bullet ?

Click to expand...

Try looking on Carolina Munitions website
Classic Firearms also
Gunbot.com
Ammo Seeker also
These sites usually have hunting ammunition