7-300 wby for elk

[bushwackr]

Hello all The stars aligned for me this year again . I got my new barrel and ended up pulling a ND elk tag. Im trying to figure out what a good bullet would be for elk. I will be using a 7-300 wby with 1 in 9 tube it should be over 3200fps 27" tube. I was wanting to use the 162 eldx bullets from Hornady but I will never be able to get them. They tell me there everywhere but I cant find a box to save my life.
I was thinking sierra game kings, swift a frames or maybe tsx barnes. What weight will I be able to get away with?? Can I run a 180 or top at 168

 

[bushwackr]

Im shooting 162 sst now and I getting about 3130 avg 5 shot strings , no pressure signs yet, Im sure I can stuff some more in there but I dont think I need to

 

[EricL]

Any of the bullets you mentioned in your first post will do the trick. I really like sierra bullets but for that round I think if it were mine I would stick with something a little tougher and the barnes and the A-frame both should fit the bill for that. The only reason I say that is in the event of a close shot that kind of velocity can really tear bullets up. I shot a cow elk last season at 162 yards with 162gr hornady SST's, hit her 3 time's (MV was just over 3000) and they came apart a little more than I would have liked and none of them came out. I can stabilize 180's just fine and I have a 9.5'' twist, but I live at 7600' elevation.

 

[bushwackr]

Ok I will prob go with the a frames , I used them last year out my 300 ultra and my moose dropped like it was hit by lighting and that was 311yds bullet pass thru and not really that much damage. There is a chance that it could be as close as a 50 yd shot so I have to be ready for that to 500 or so

 

[bushwackr]

But on the moose it was a very good shot. Prob one of the most accurate placements I have put on any animal. I always try to do my best obviously but this one was pefect

 

[MudRunner2005]

You can stabilize a Berger 180 Hyrbid. The jackets on them are bit thicker and tougher than the VLD bullets, so it might work better on elk. I know Broz uses Berger 215 Hybrids on elk with 100% positive results.

Also, your 7x300 Wby is roughly the same capacity and ballistically the same as the 7mm STW, so, I would say, yes, it definitely has enough horsepower to shoot elk with no problem.

 

[bushwackr]

The only problem I have with berger bullets is no expansion. Used them in a 243 and in a 300 wm the 95 gr were pushed hard , the 190's were pretty mellow loads and they both penciled through little internal damage sure they worked no question but nothing drt. I got gun shy and sold my whole supply. Do the hybrids act diffrent

 

[MudRunner2005]

The only problem I have with berger bullets is no expansion. Used them in a 243 and in a 300 wm the 95 gr were pushed hard , the 190's were pretty mellow loads and they both penciled through little internal damage sure they worked no question but nothing drt. I got gun shy and sold my whole supply. Do the hybrids act diffrent

I haven't use the Hybrids on game yet, but the 1 time I had a VLD not expand, it penciled-through, but the deer flopped over and never moved again. So, my experience with a non-expanding Berger was flawless.

Ask Jeff (Broz) what he thinks about the Hybrids on game. He has shot/witnessed hundreds of game animals shot with them.

 

[Rich Coyle]

The 7-300 Wea is one of my favorite cartridges. I used Nosler 175 Partitions at 3,150 feet per second. Now I think I would try the Barnes LRX. I think it is 145 grains. Its velocity would be in the neighborhood of 3,500 feet per second. I guess this because I made some rabbit loads with the Ballistic Tip 150s running 3,525 feet per second with 85.0 grains of IMR 7828.

 

[bushwackr]

The 145 be enough if it ends up a long shot you think

 

[Rich Coyle]

The 145 be enough if it ends up a long shot you think

You bet! I wouldn't hestate for a second to use the LRX if they were available when I had my 7-.300 Wea. The fastest non-head shot on elk I had with my Short Fat Seven was with the original X 130 grain bullet. That includes the .375 260 grain partition started at 3,100 feet per second.

 

[Cuz]

I have been shooting a 7-300 weatherby with berger 180 hybrids at 3100 fps for a couple years now. One mule deer and five whitetail at ranges of 20 yards to a little over 500. Two pass throughs, one at 150 yards and one at about 300. Both broadside through the ribs with fist size exits. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt elk with them.

 

[jweigel]

Berger VLDs are deadly on ND Elk. My daughter killed hers with a 168 VLD out of a 7RM as did mine. I was with my college buddy last fall using my 7STW when he killed a 390 Bull with his Arizona Governors Tag with shooting 180 VLDs.

If the tip is not plugged the VLDs do fine. I always aim for the pocket (heart lungs) not a high shoulder or "bust the shoulder" shot.

IMHO....I would push as heavy as you can for elk sized animals. You have the horsepower. 180 bergers will be no problem. Maybe even the new 175 ELX. I am testing 195s in my 7STW Sendero. You don't know how they will shot (if your twist is a little slow) without trying them.

What unit in ND did you draw the tag.

jjw
ND

 

[bushwackr]

I drew for E1