Can someone tell me if a 264 win mag with 100 grain bullets is suitable to kill an ELK ??
264 win mag
- Thread starter Illinois_shooter
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Will a 100 grain 6.5mm bullet kill a Elk ? Yes it can ! is it suitable to kill a Elk ?Why would you choose a 100gr bullet for elk when you can go with a 130 or 140gr? I think you need to tall us a little more about your intended shooting situation before this question can be properly addressed. What bullet, what velocity and how far do you intend to shoot.
Wayne is correct about the can of worms, but if you tell us a little bit more, it could be a small can.
Wayne is correct about the can of worms, but if you tell us a little bit more, it could be a small can.
The 100 grainers are good for predators and varmints.
If you insist on using a .264 for elk, go with 140gr Partitions or A-Frames (130 gr Accubonds or Sciroccos, minimum). Also, Norma and Woodleigh offer a few bullets in the 150s to 160 with decent BCs (no round nose).
If you have another rifle ---- .30-06 or hotter, use that instead. Heavier bullets of greater diameter.
If you insist on using a .264 for elk, go with 140gr Partitions or A-Frames (130 gr Accubonds or Sciroccos, minimum). Also, Norma and Woodleigh offer a few bullets in the 150s to 160 with decent BCs (no round nose).
If you have another rifle ---- .30-06 or hotter, use that instead. Heavier bullets of greater diameter.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
You know Illinois_shooter I owe you an apology and here it is I am sorry! you ask a serious question and I imediatly was a smart a@# We have had this discussion before and some guys think you can take elk and cape buffalo with .22 cb caps and target bullets and the likes. some seem to think that thin wall target bullets are better elk bullets that partition style or bonded style or solid hunting bullets.
so to your question, are 100 grain bullets in a .264wm suitable for elk?
Answer, Barns use to make a 100 gr hunting bullet for the 6.5 That would work if you could find any ( they havn't made them for years) but for the most part no they are not suitable. As a matter of a fact I don't believe (IMHO) anything smaller than 30 caliber is not suitable for elk. I have killed elk with a .243 but sugguest bigger if you can handle the recoil. My wife plans on taking her first elk this year with a 7mm-08 and I believe she will. ( I will be there with my .338 for backup)
Wayne.
so to your question, are 100 grain bullets in a .264wm suitable for elk?
Answer, Barns use to make a 100 gr hunting bullet for the 6.5 That would work if you could find any ( they havn't made them for years) but for the most part no they are not suitable. As a matter of a fact I don't believe (IMHO) anything smaller than 30 caliber is not suitable for elk. I have killed elk with a .243 but sugguest bigger if you can handle the recoil. My wife plans on taking her first elk this year with a 7mm-08 and I believe she will. ( I will be there with my .338 for backup)
Wayne.
Short answer in my opinion is NO.
Will it kill an Elk? Yes, if it is close enough, and the bullet holds together, and you place it correctly. I've hunted with the .264 WM for nearly 50 years, and while I have used the 100 grain Sierras for coyotes, I would not consider it a responsible choice for elk, or even deer. The 140 grain bullet is the much better choice for deer, elk, and moose. I have used the 140 Sierra GameKing for deer, but would spend the extra few cents a round to shoot Nosler Partition for elk and moose.
The .264 WM depends on velocity for energy. You need a bullet that can not only expand, but also hold together to use that energy. In my opinion the Nosler Partition and Swift A-Frame do that the best, when hunting big game, where you may only get one shot on a hunt.
Will it kill an Elk? Yes, if it is close enough, and the bullet holds together, and you place it correctly. I've hunted with the .264 WM for nearly 50 years, and while I have used the 100 grain Sierras for coyotes, I would not consider it a responsible choice for elk, or even deer. The 140 grain bullet is the much better choice for deer, elk, and moose. I have used the 140 Sierra GameKing for deer, but would spend the extra few cents a round to shoot Nosler Partition for elk and moose.
The .264 WM depends on velocity for energy. You need a bullet that can not only expand, but also hold together to use that energy. In my opinion the Nosler Partition and Swift A-Frame do that the best, when hunting big game, where you may only get one shot on a hunt.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Ron,
I have a .264wm in a old Huskavarna action that I had bluprinted and bedded, it is scary accurate with 140 grain accubonds and 130 grain tsx and I know it would take a elk easly,let me explain why my opinion is the way it is on elk and caliber of bullets. I live in country very similar and not very far from the snake river hells canyon country. On my ranch the elevation varies from 1260 to almost 5000 feet above sea level. It is very steep very rugged,brushy,nasty country with very limited acess to most of it.With that all said when I shoot a elk @ say 4000' close to a road maybe and it is near the breaks that is 3000' straight down as they often are in my situation I want,no expect,DEMAND that the front shoulders are broken so he go's down,now he might still be alive and I might have to finish him off with a pocket knife,a .22 pistol a slingshot or whatever but I know where he is and that is down where I shot him. Maybe that sounds bad but after you have drug a few out clear from the bottom of a deep hole your thoughts change, and thats why I am so adiment on large caliber heavy well put together HUNTING BULLETS. I know best of the west and others use paper punching smks and bergers with great success, I have even witnessed it so I know they can and do kill elk with them if shot in tissue not the shoulders.The 960 yd shot you always see them make on the elk on best of the west they call rugged country,HAAA, thats flat ground where I come from. If there are some bone fragments in the meat..CLEAN it up you will get most of it,and its better than loosing it all. My thoughts and opinion will not change. Happy hunting to all ;D
Wayne.
I have a .264wm in a old Huskavarna action that I had bluprinted and bedded, it is scary accurate with 140 grain accubonds and 130 grain tsx and I know it would take a elk easly,let me explain why my opinion is the way it is on elk and caliber of bullets. I live in country very similar and not very far from the snake river hells canyon country. On my ranch the elevation varies from 1260 to almost 5000 feet above sea level. It is very steep very rugged,brushy,nasty country with very limited acess to most of it.With that all said when I shoot a elk @ say 4000' close to a road maybe and it is near the breaks that is 3000' straight down as they often are in my situation I want,no expect,DEMAND that the front shoulders are broken so he go's down,now he might still be alive and I might have to finish him off with a pocket knife,a .22 pistol a slingshot or whatever but I know where he is and that is down where I shot him. Maybe that sounds bad but after you have drug a few out clear from the bottom of a deep hole your thoughts change, and thats why I am so adiment on large caliber heavy well put together HUNTING BULLETS. I know best of the west and others use paper punching smks and bergers with great success, I have even witnessed it so I know they can and do kill elk with them if shot in tissue not the shoulders.The 960 yd shot you always see them make on the elk on best of the west they call rugged country,HAAA, thats flat ground where I come from. If there are some bone fragments in the meat..CLEAN it up you will get most of it,and its better than loosing it all. My thoughts and opinion will not change. Happy hunting to all ;D
Wayne.
Thanks for the responce, and no appology necessary. I see the varriables. I have killed white tails with a 17HMR, so I see the can of worms.. My deal is I have an opportunity to go kill an ELK and my on hand options are a 264 win mag that shoots the 100 gr bullets very good, Or a 300 WSM.. OK fire away..
The last elk I shot was at 298 yards (rangefinder), with a .264 WM, using 120spt by sierra. the elk was quartering away from me, and the bullet was in the opposite hide after going thru the offside shoulder. You might find these bullets to shoot as well as the 100hp, as they both shot well in mine. also you should consider the sectional density of the bullets you use. If you step up to a 140 grain bullet in the .264, which I think you should for elk, it would take a 180 grain bullet in any .30 cal to get same results. if you could find some of the 160grain hornady or sierras in a .264, it would take a 220grain bullet in a .30 cal to equal the sectional density. the .264 is one hell of a elk killer. the bullets are longer for weight than the .30 cals, so the bullet fly flat and penetrate very well. with the speed you get with 100hp, you run a huge chance of the bullet blowing up if you make a shoulder shot, and you will lose the animal. just step up to the 120spt or 140 bullets.
forgot to mention. look at ballistics charts for both of your guns. compare the sectional density, and look at the drop each has. I know 120spt in the 264 was around 3400fps. I shot mine at 2" high at 100yds, dead on at 200yds, and about 2.5" low at 300yds. I think it was about 8-10" low, if that much at 400yds. that is as flat as you get. will your .300wsm do that?
Illinois_shooter said:
Your choice of a .264 WM is excellent for elk. However, the choice of a 100 grain bullet is not quite so excellent. If you take the Nosler Partition bullets as an example, they are available in 100, 125, and 140 grain for the .264. Using Nosler Load Data they have the following remaining energies at 350 yards, respectively; 1379, 1648, 1668. The 140 has the highest BC and the 100 the lowest, so as you go out further the spreads will increase. Of these I would choose the 140 grain, with the 125 as a close second. Will the 1379 kill an elk, I would say most probably due to the good bullet design. If you venture off into a varmint design bullet with a light jacket and no partition, then all bets are off.
bozo699 made an excellent point, so did Ronaka. I used the 100hp for groundhogs, and even a few deer. I moved up to the 120's for deer. I thought the 100hp opened up way too fast with the speeds of a win mag. I wouldn't take them elk hunting by any means. even though I have used the 120's elk hunting, and they worked well, if I were going on the hunt of a lifetime for a big bull, in deep mountains and canyons and such, I would make sure to have enough bullet. I would go with the 140sbt, and not look back. even if my groups went from 1/2" to 1" at 100yds.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I shot a lot of elk with a 264. I always used 140 Nosler partitions.. IMO 100 grain is too small..
Not a chance! That bullet will be like whacking it with a Playschool hammer. No doubt you'll find yourself in a street fight with an Elk! He'll probably have you on the hood of his truck!
A Pinto will certainly get you from point A to B, but you just have to wonder if there's something out there that might just do it a little better.
Wayne
A Pinto will certainly get you from point A to B, but you just have to wonder if there's something out there that might just do it a little better.
Wayne
.264 mag. o you guys, Good stuff
Hey guys i actually shot that box of shells you see there,i had two boxes of them
handed down to me.They kill deer like lightening as they were intended to but would
never shoot at a elk with one unless it was with in 100yds and a head shot.
Its like shooting deer with a 22-250 and varmit bullets/they work great at close range and perfect shots but you cant count on them to work every time sooner or later you will get
a bad hit and thats why they are illegal to use in my state/but i know some fellows who still shoot em.
Once again the .264 mag as it was desigined as a flat shooting,high velocity deer size game killing round worked very well and as you seen on the box 3,700FPS is smoken fast
that bullet at that velocity will explode when it hits any bone.Good for deer bad for elk.
I had a .264 mag original with a 10twist 26" barrel,shot in a hole,loved it. shot a lot of hand loads in it i had a load with a 120NBT at 3,300FPS at 20deg F.
I got suckerd into selling it and buying a new one with a 9twist to shoot the big 140'S and
never did get it to shoot or did i ever get any velocity out of the 140'S even with a full case of H870. I believe the .264 mag as it was intened to be flat shooting super high velocity round with light bullets for deer was and is a great round. Try and give it a fast twist and shoot heavy bullets out of it and its ruined. Hey thats just how i feel about and wish i never got rid of my good shooting 10twist
Hey guys i actually shot that box of shells you see there,i had two boxes of them
handed down to me.They kill deer like lightening as they were intended to but would
never shoot at a elk with one unless it was with in 100yds and a head shot.
Its like shooting deer with a 22-250 and varmit bullets/they work great at close range and perfect shots but you cant count on them to work every time sooner or later you will get
a bad hit and thats why they are illegal to use in my state/but i know some fellows who still shoot em.
Once again the .264 mag as it was desigined as a flat shooting,high velocity deer size game killing round worked very well and as you seen on the box 3,700FPS is smoken fast
that bullet at that velocity will explode when it hits any bone.Good for deer bad for elk.
I had a .264 mag original with a 10twist 26" barrel,shot in a hole,loved it. shot a lot of hand loads in it i had a load with a 120NBT at 3,300FPS at 20deg F.
I got suckerd into selling it and buying a new one with a 9twist to shoot the big 140'S and
never did get it to shoot or did i ever get any velocity out of the 140'S even with a full case of H870. I believe the .264 mag as it was intened to be flat shooting super high velocity round with light bullets for deer was and is a great round. Try and give it a fast twist and shoot heavy bullets out of it and its ruined. Hey thats just how i feel about and wish i never got rid of my good shooting 10twist
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I'd say you'll more than likely be okay.
For me the determining factor isn't if a bullet weight/diameter is ok to be used but the bullet's construction.
I've seen video of Wayne Van Zwoll shooting an elk at 603 yards with a 6.5 Creedmoor in the 129 grain SST.
The 264 with a proper bullet should have no issues.
The video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2COAcHZRlI
Obviously WVZ is an accomplished shot and that rifle was put together well to deliver great accuracy. The question here isn't how far but can a 100 grain take an elk. I think so...
For me the determining factor isn't if a bullet weight/diameter is ok to be used but the bullet's construction.
I've seen video of Wayne Van Zwoll shooting an elk at 603 yards with a 6.5 Creedmoor in the 129 grain SST.
The 264 with a proper bullet should have no issues.
The video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2COAcHZRlI
Obviously WVZ is an accomplished shot and that rifle was put together well to deliver great accuracy. The question here isn't how far but can a 100 grain take an elk. I think so...
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Illinois_shooter said:
Topic: 264 win mag (Read 611 times)teal said:
Illinois_shooter,
As you can see the op didn't ask if a 100 grain bullet COULD kill a elk but rather is a 100 grain bullet SUITABLE To kill a elk?
AnswerBy a majority consensus NO IT'S NOT. As far as that go's IMHO a 6.5 creedmoor or any other 6.5 cal. is not suitable for Long Range work for ELK if you want reliable LR elk kills Start with the BIG .338 Magnums and work up from there. By the way welcome to the forum.
Wayne.
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