What bullet for Elk

[LoganDon]

Lots of very good advice and bullet placement is at least 99% of any kill. Having killed a large number of elk and deer with the old 270 factory 130gr core lock bullet prior to the new wonder bullets the animals went down hard. Regrettably I too was bitten by the bigger is better bug and went through the big magnums and premium bullets (kept the premium bullets). As a old guy, I am back to shooting the Nosler Partition in 270 and 7x57 and animals keep going down. I will not shoot at anything over 400yd. as I do not wish to wound a game animal. This years spike never knew what hit him.

 

[sundance]

A lot depends on what elk you are hunting. As a meat hunter I have brought 13 cows and one spike bull to the local processor. Most of the elk were killed with one shot at around 100 yards. At the processor I see about 6-8 elk ahead of me waiting to be butchered. Some of the bulls are twice the size on my cow lying next to them.I have used Sierra 160 gr BTSP, Nosler partitions and other bullets in .280 caliber.They all worked. If you are going for some big bull I would suggest a controlled expansion bullet like the Partition or something similar. I don't know if they are tougher to kill but they sure look awesome next to my little cow!!

 

[shadrac]

I have shot several bull elk with a 270 using 130 gk and 150 gk and most of the time I found the bullet on the other side up against the hide

 

[ebb]

All my elk have been killed with a 250 grain partition they work well, I highly recommend them.

 

[Lapuatom]

been using barnes triple shocks, 130gr. Not many pass throughs but always deadly

 

[white121]

Nosler accubond!

 

[kmon]

Partition, they will work well on close shots in the timber or shots as long as I will take on game (about 500 yards but would keep the 270 inside 400).

Main thing with an elk is put that first shot in the boiler room and it is a done deal. Put that shot elsewhere and it can make for a long day.

 

[unclefish]

The guy I hunt with has taking an elk about every year with the nosler partition for the last 28 years going to Colorado. Out to 400 yards. He has only shot 165 grain and original started with a 308 last few years now he uses 300wm same bullet just more powder. Good luck on your trip.

 

[John O.]

I just recently found the company called Woodleigh. They claim to be an origional maker of big game bullets.

 

[memo43]

Thanks all for the input after doing some actually lots of it, the rifle answered what it wanted to be fed.
Tested the nosler with imr 4350, imr 7828 as well as 4831, the best it would shoot was 3/4 at a hundred and a big ole 3+ at 300 yards.
The Sierra 150 GK with the same powders a winner right out of the gate, nest over all was 1/4" at 100 and 2 3/4 at 300.
Using Winchester brass and wolf primers with a healthy dose of imr 4350 OAL is 3.350
Next time out on the range I will take the chrono to re verify the speeds as well some pictures of it.
as well as some pictures of a hopefully successful cow elk hunt.

memo

 

[Cold Bore]

Tested the nosler.... the best it would shoot was 3/4 at a hundred and a big ole 3+ at 300 yards.

The Sierra 150 GK ... nest over all was 1/4" at 100 and 2 3/4 at 300.

While I am a big fan of maximum accuracy (and Sierra bullets), in this case I'd still go with the Partition.

The terminal performance of the Partition is almost boringly consistent, while the Sierra isn't quite as reliable, especially on an animal the size of an elk.

If you can't put a bullet into an elk's vitals with a 3/4" load (or a load with a 1/2" difference at 300 yards, well inside anybody's holding abilities in the game fields with a sporter rifle), you probably don't need to be worrying about the other details anyway.

 

[memo43]

Well thanks to all the tips and info from a lot of folks,
We just finished our group hunt and we all managed to fill our tags (cow elk group hunt)
the bullet we chose to stick with was the 150 Sierra GK, fed with a dose of imr 4350 ignited with wolf primers.
The first elk was taken at 458 yards, slight right to left wind about 3-5 miles. She took it like a champ and took the 10 step program. !0 steps and she dropped, the shot went right behind the shoulder crushing the socket and pretty much destroyed the heart and collapsed a lung.
The second elk was taken at 250 ( my buddy dropped his rifle and didn't want to chance having his shots be off) this one dropped right where it stood and probably didn't know what hit her since she just buckled and lights out.
ill get some pictures up as soon as we get home.
thanks again for every ones input

 

[Chappy]

Partition, AccuBond, InterBond, Scirocco, Barnes, A-Frames, WoodLeigh, Bergers, and any other premium bullet will do the job.

 

[Jaybo]

I have taken 13 elk and lots of mule deer all of my years of hunting. I have used 6.5 to 338 bullets and that includes Nosler partitions Barnes X & Berger bullets I have had great luck with all of them most of the time you will get a complete pass through with these bullets at longer ranges. The Barnes X is only bullet that gave me trouble. The problem was would not open after 500 yards but would perform excellent from 100 to 400 it would open nicely.