Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 270 wsm on Elk?

I won't question the Outfitters sanity because I know him well enough. He probably intended to do just that (blast away) but that bullet acted like a grenade and said bear dropped and didn't twitch.

Stubblejumper, don't take offense to this, but this is my opinion. A hunting rifle intended for game larger than a whitetail, especially a custom job, that does not shoot bullets that are suitable for hunting is not worth the powder to blow it up. I have personally experienced this and I won't tolerate it anymore. It really isn't necessary. On top of it all, it isn't that hard to do, as I have seen some bonified hack jobs that shot suprisingly well with "inaccurate premium" bullets.

Chuck

P.S. Is Winchester going to offer their component failsafes with Lubolox again.

My experience has been extreemly limited. I've seen the partition shed it's front end and have the back half continue through an animal at awkward angles. On one elk, the bull was hit with a .338 Win Mag, 200 yards broadside, the bullet hit squarely on the shoulder, breaking the leg but failing to continue on thru into the vitals. We did recover that bull the next morning, he was still very much alive when we found him laying in the oakbrush. I've seen a few rump shot bulls that headed for the next county.

I may be all wet, but what I'm looking for is something more in line with Barnes bullets. The idea of the back half of the bullet penciling its way thru the rest of the animal isn't the best in my view. Yes, all these critters ended up being recovered, but where we hunt if the animals travel 300 yards they can get to the rim trying to escape. From there it's one heck of a steep drop, straight down, one hell of a waste of meat. Need to break em down, and with them already on the move it makes for an interesting proposition. So my line of thinking is that with the thicker jacket the bullet will hold togeather longer, creating more hydrostatic shock with the larger frontal area, v/s the base traveling thru at bullet diameter.

What has been your experience with the golds? Do you think it's an improvment on a good bullet, or just a marketing ploy for Nosler to keep pace with other bullet manufactures?

Thanks,
Al

jj,

Great story, I LMAO on that one !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Appreciate the good laugh, being back at work SUCKS !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Tony.

Folks, this has been interesting reading and I'm sure I can't add anything that has not already been said. However, I have hunted Elk for more than fifty years, using several calibers, and have to agree with the folks who believe in accuracy / bullet placement rather than energy on paper.
I have killed Elk with the .270, and about everything between up to the .338 and 35 Whelen. If there was ever any difference in "killing power", assuming like shots, between any of them I was never astute enough to see that difference.
On one particular hunt, back around 1985, I ran into a old gentleman on the North Fork of the Clearwater in Idaho who had a very nice 5x6 hanging. After introductions and a cup of joe the conversation turned to guns. He showed me his "Elk Rifle", it was a 25-06, and he was proud as a Peacock. I asked him how many Elk he taken with this gun and he replied, " I reckon I got 11, or maybe 12, out of that first box of shells...then the darn kids got into em' and shot em' up".
Everytime I hear this discussion on what makes a Elk rifle I think of this story. Is there anything magic about the 25-06? I doubt it. I own one and although it is a fine little rifle, it would be my last choice for an Elk rifle. The .270 is not my first choice either. Although I have killed more Elk with a 7x57 than any other caliber, it would not be my first choice. My .338 has only taken two Elk, and I didn't see any magic there.
The .300's were OK, but they lacked that certain magic also. My 30-06 comes to mind as posessing something that borders on magic due to its "shootability" with a heavier bullet, but if I were to choose it that would leave my 35 Whelen completely out in the cold, and I don't want to do that.
So, Is the .270 WSM a good Elk cartridge? Yep, I would say it just might work about as well as anthing else, but I do believe...it would not be anything magic. These are just my thoughts.
Respectfully, Russ