Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Bullet Advice Please

In my 40+ years if elk hunting I have only been succesful 9x. 7 of those were with my pre 64 mdl 70 in 270 win and 150 gr partitions. The other two were with a 30-06 and 180 gr sierra flat base. Next fall will be my last hunt and I'm taking a 30-06, and looking for a bullet it will not be Nosler as they have become rediculously priced not to mention hard to find. So what say you between

1. HORNADY ELDX
2. SPEER IMPACT
3. BARNES TTSX (150 OR 168)
OTHERS?

THANKS

Of the ones you listed I’d pick the Barnes, either weight will be fine. My ‘06 prefers the 150 TTSX but I’ve used the 168 in my 300s since they hit the market. Never a problem getting great performance and accuracy.

I've used the ELDX on a few elk, but back when I couldn't get a bonded bullet anywhere. I just made darn sure to avoid big bone when using them. I don't use them anymore on elk as there are other options available to me.

Just picked up Speer's bonded bullet, the Impact, but not yet used them on any big game. Same goes with a 165 gr. TTSX.

One not on your list is the Norma Oryx, which I can recommend. 180 grain or 200 grain. Just load them to the same MV as you would a Partition.
The Norma shipping container must have recently dropped because I've been seeing adds for them on the 'net.


Good luck with your choice and your hunt.

I wouldn't use a a ELD X if they were given to me for free. I had the 175 all but blow up on impact at 247 yards with my 7PRC.

Barnes 168 TTSX in a 30-06 with a 2800 - 2850 fps MV and you won't lose sleep.

Any of those will work fine. Faster is better for Barnes anything so 150s would be my choice over 168s.

Honestly, I have used Hornady Interlock with results that would be hard to tell any difference.

Where in Wa.?

Barnes all day long, TTSX or LRX. I have no desire to shoot at anything else with an ELDX, been there done that...not impressed. I have no experience with the Speer Impact so cant comment there.

Bill

I really like the performance of the Barnes TTSX. Quick opening, but retains much bullet weight and penetrates well.

Guy

I've used others but I and my family now only use two bullets for elk and I only use factory ammo.

TBBC from my .280 or 30-06 as I have a couple boxes left of them. 4 elk
When they're gone I'll switch to TTSX.

Barnes TTSX or TSX. 165 gr from either my 300 WSM Montana or ULA 300 Win. 20 elk, mostly bulls
120 gr TTSX from my grand kids 7-08 Rem 700 youth rifle 2 so far.

Problem with elk is that they don't stand perfectly broadside and let you shoot at them.
I want a tough bullet that penetrates and hopefully exits. Most of the time that's what these two bullets do.

The 168 is made for the .30-06 velocity.

Hunt will be in oregon. Tri cities where I live

Another vote for this...and plain old Hornady SP in the '06

I've had good luck with the 168 grain TTSX in the .30-06 at 2850-2900 fps. My last two bulls were killed with that load.

165 or 180-grain Hornady IL.

East side or west side? Rocky mt, or Roosevelt? I'd go with the TTSX, either way. Good luck with your hunt. Hopefully you draw a good unit.

My vote is for the Sierra Gameking either 180 gr or 200 gr.
They have always worked for me .
Rich

Speer 200 grain HotCor.

Just about any bullet in a .06 approaching 200 grains will kill elk. Can't figure out why partitions are too expensive and yet the Barnes is thrown in there.

I have several more year than 40 hunting elk and quite a few more elk killed. A 180 gr bullet of Sierra, Hornady, Speer will do the job although my preference is 220gr round nose in thick timber and close shots. IMHO, all these specialty bullets came into being when the magnumitus craze hit the country and hunters finally figure out that cup and core bullets did not hold up well at magnum velocities or hunters fell for the fallacy that all elk were shot at 600 + yards.

Realizing any cartridge's limitations the lowly 30-30 with a 170 gr C&C bullet will kill and elk just as fast as 300WM. I have successfully killed more than few elk using a 50 caliber muzzle loader with a modest charge of black powder.

Pick a bullet of 180 grains or better that your rifle and you shoot well, quit over thinking it, go elk hunting, and put the bullet in the correct place.

TTSX 150 would be a solid (no pun intended) choice! memtb

In the 11 years that my elk rifle was my .30-06, I killed 9 elk with it using 150 gr Hornady or 180 gr Sierra cup and core bullets. I missed 2 years of elk hunting during that period as my Uncle sent me on a visit to Vietnam.

More recently, I've been impressed with Barnes 168 gr TSX and TTSX bullets on the elk that I've killed with my .300 Weatherby.

It's more about bullet placement than the name on the bullet box.

I'd load up some of those 172 gr Speer Impacts see how they shoot.