Young Buck
Well-Known Member
What are you fellas shootin for elk.This years gonna be my first trip and I'm gonna be carrying a 7mm rum & barnes 160TSX. Hope I get to sling at least one.
Elk Loads
- Thread starter Young Buck
- Start date
Quiver
Well-Known Member
Where you headed and what season? We're going back to CO second rifle. I'm again carrying my partners 300WM until I can put me one together.
Asaltwpn
New Member
Hello UPSman, Don't want to discourage you but you might want to reconsider taking a bigger gun than the 7-08. I have a 7-08 and the range is not that far and it sure doesn't have the knock down to bring down a big bull. I've taken numerous elk and we only use a 300 win mag or larger. Even with a 7mm we have had to track to many lost elk. It is heart breaking to see a big bull run off after a perfect shot with a small caliber bullet. Just my 2 cents but hope you enjoy your hunt. Nothing like hearing that big bull bugle.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Easton ACC's tipped with 100 grain rocket steelheads 
I had no idea an elk would die within 5 seconds and travel only 60 yards downhill with a quartering away doublelung shot until I did it last year.
I had no idea an elk would die within 5 seconds and travel only 60 yards downhill with a quartering away doublelung shot until I did it last year.
Young Buck
Well-Known Member
Goin to British Columbia Sept.18-29.Also have a black bear and mule deer tag.
4onaside
Well-Known Member
I semi-agree with you Ken re: having enough gun. Where we differ is our opinions of what is enough gun. In my experience, shooting one in the shoulder with a 30.06 180 gr. partition bullet will kill the biggest bull out there quickly every time. For my taste, the only thing that you gain by going to a 300 win is getting hammered. All things considered, I want the elk to be the one that takes a beating, not the shooter(me). lolKen Hamm said:
Ken Hamm said:
If it is a perfectly placed shot, about any centerfire will bring down an elk. A buddy of mine dropped one in its tracks with a 7mm mag shooting 140 grain Ballistic tips, and I hate BT, but it is all about shot placement. When I go , I will be toting a 300 WSM, but that don't mean lesser calibers won't kill an elk.
4onaside
Well-Known Member
You know, Hunter, I use nothing but Nosler partitions when I elk hunt, but I think that I may have fallen for the "premium bullet hype". I'm sure that standard modern bullets, such as core-locts would kill em grave yard dead. In fact, if you listen to some of the hype, they would have you believe that a Ballistic tip is not adequate for anything! However, I get so few shots at elk relative to deer(and antelope) for example, that my attitude has always been to use a state of the art bullet. Why not.Hillbilly Hunter said:
Timberdoodle
Well-Known Member
Young Buck said:
What kind of ballistics are you looking at w/160TSX ? How consistent are you @ 300 to 500 yds. ?
I also shoot a 7mmUM and am researching which load to take to Idaho this winter.
Young Buck
Well-Known Member
+1.75@100yds.,0@ 250yds.400 yds -12.5" These loads have shot real good groups out of my gun,a custom Rem. 700.Have yet to shoot @ 500 yds,but at 400 was able to keep shots in an 8" circle. Conley loads 29 different cartridges for the 7 rum.His turnaround time usually is about 6 weeks. His # is 662 526 5886, he also has a website.
4onaside said:
I agree. I wouldn't use a BT on an Elk, but I was just stating a fact. I would/will use a Partition or simular bullet.
CZ284
Well-Known Member
All the elk I've taken were with 125 grain Thunderheads. None went over 50 yards.
Do know a lot of guys that have shot them with pretty much everything from MZ, 270s and 300 mags. Common thread is shot placement. Hit them right and the 7/08 with the Barnes will do fine. (I've killed 600 pound hogs through both shoulders with my son's 7-08 150 gr Barnes). I'd probably keep the 7/08 to under 200 yards.
The guy that shot his elk with the 300 mag didn't hit him well and the elk went for a couple miles with 6 bullets in him. They are very tough, but no tougher than a whitetail if you hit them right.
I shoot a 284 winchester with barnes 150s and wouldn't hesitate to take elk with it.
Also, don't buy the "have to shoot 500 yard" mentality. You can get close, it just takes more work and in my book, is lot more gratifying.
However, there's nothing better than putting an arrow through one at 8 yards.....
Do know a lot of guys that have shot them with pretty much everything from MZ, 270s and 300 mags. Common thread is shot placement. Hit them right and the 7/08 with the Barnes will do fine. (I've killed 600 pound hogs through both shoulders with my son's 7-08 150 gr Barnes). I'd probably keep the 7/08 to under 200 yards.
The guy that shot his elk with the 300 mag didn't hit him well and the elk went for a couple miles with 6 bullets in him. They are very tough, but no tougher than a whitetail if you hit them right.
I shoot a 284 winchester with barnes 150s and wouldn't hesitate to take elk with it.
Also, don't buy the "have to shoot 500 yard" mentality. You can get close, it just takes more work and in my book, is lot more gratifying.
However, there's nothing better than putting an arrow through one at 8 yards.....
skynimrod
Well-Known Member
I killed a spike (dropped in his tracks)at over 400 yds with my 7mm mag shooting a 150 Nos BT with my pack as a rest. With that much distance to slow the Ballistic Tip it did wonderful. At the time it was my long range bullet of choice because of accuracy. I was carrying 160 gr Nos partitions in my clip for the short range work. Long shots you will always have time to put in what you want. I always carried two bullets for elk.
Today I pack my 270 wsm with 160 Partition Golds for my short work, and Barnes TS 130 gr. for my long range stuff. I also pack my Marlin 444 for the dark timber and nasty weather days.
Today I pack my 270 wsm with 160 Partition Golds for my short work, and Barnes TS 130 gr. for my long range stuff. I also pack my Marlin 444 for the dark timber and nasty weather days.
scott co htr
Well-Known Member
good luck on your hunt
Rem. 300 Ultra Mag, 150 Barnes TSX,
Dean Parisian
Well-Known Member
I knocked a 6x6 off all fours with my .243 and a 95 grain bullet at 300 yards. Put the bullet in the vitals and light calibers will get the job done. Elk hearts are big. Hit them.
CZ284: well spoken about the thrill of archery success.
I was stationed in CO for 9 years: took 8 elk while there (can only take one a year). I harvested 6 with rifle and 2 with bow. I blew away the state odds / statistics by taking elk every year from public lands, but that wasn't so important. I'll never forget the challenge or reward from the 2 successful bow hunts! One cow fell from a double lung shot at 12 yards and a 302" 6x6 fell from well placed heart shot at 21 yards! AWESOME, AND MY ARM HAIR STILL STANDS UP WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE HUNTS!
As for the firearm caliber / weapon choice question: I took 3 elk with a 270, 3 elk a 300 weatherby. All were shot from 15 to 200 yards! I also remember a newspaper article about a young 12 year old boy who took his first elk, a 5x5 rag horn. His father checked him out of school for his first hunt. The little fella had one hell of a hunt as he shot his first elk with his grandpa's old 30-30 rifle and 150 grain soft point bullet! indeed, don't think 500 yards, think about closing the distance and putting the round thru the heart & lungs!
I was stationed in CO for 9 years: took 8 elk while there (can only take one a year). I harvested 6 with rifle and 2 with bow. I blew away the state odds / statistics by taking elk every year from public lands, but that wasn't so important. I'll never forget the challenge or reward from the 2 successful bow hunts! One cow fell from a double lung shot at 12 yards and a 302" 6x6 fell from well placed heart shot at 21 yards! AWESOME, AND MY ARM HAIR STILL STANDS UP WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE HUNTS!
As for the firearm caliber / weapon choice question: I took 3 elk with a 270, 3 elk a 300 weatherby. All were shot from 15 to 200 yards! I also remember a newspaper article about a young 12 year old boy who took his first elk, a 5x5 rag horn. His father checked him out of school for his first hunt. The little fella had one hell of a hunt as he shot his first elk with his grandpa's old 30-30 rifle and 150 grain soft point bullet! indeed, don't think 500 yards, think about closing the distance and putting the round thru the heart & lungs!
