Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Factory Load for Elk?

These are the ones I been looking at to use in my 7mm-08 for elk.

Federal Fusion 140grn, Hornandy LM 139grn, and the accubonds not sure what weight to use....what do you think about these out to 200yrds. If there are any others let me know.

I would try a Federal Premium load with a bullet like the Partition or the Barnes Triple Shock.

A bullet that will hold together is a good idea on elk. The bullets you mention are more deer-class bullets in my opinion.

I do think that 140 gr is a good choice (although nothing to be lost by going heavier, either.)

Hey Utah708, what kind of ballistics could I expect from those two that you mentioned out of a 22" barrel?

Factory loads CANNOT kill elk. Only handloads with premium bullets will kill an elk. People just don't understand how tough these animals are.

Ziggy, you've some good picks there and make no doubt about it they'll work to mucho further than 200.

Dober

I really like the Federal Fusions they are showing me the tightest groups and have only heard good things about their performance on game. Thanks

Ziggy,

where and when are you going?

Thx
Dober

I'm going on a cow elk hunt in Colorado unit 53 3rd season In Gunnison Basin area.

You should be able to get these going 2800-2850 fpr out of a 22" barrel. Sighted 2" high at 100, you would be somewhere around 6" low at 300, which would be a very reasonable personal limit for shooting an elk with a 7-08.

So is Federal the only company that loads the Triple Shock X-bullet?

I would not use the 139 grain SST from Hornady. My brother used if for a while on whitetails and was very disappointed in it. It's really a fairly fragile bullet.

Don't forget the 140 or 150 grain Remington Core-lokt's. They are an outstanding bullet.

Remington Core-lokt's that is one I haven't tried yet thanks.

Mid 60's Dad got a buy on a case of 150 grain Federal 308 ammo for hunting with his Winchester 88. He doesn't shoot a lot like a most of us here but that case of ammo and gun has put a lot of deer and elk meat in the freezer. Now he is using the same empty cases with reloads I have made for him.

Twenty or so years ago I bought one thousand 150 grain 30 caliber Core-lokts to load for myself and family in '06 and 308. They have worked so well on deer and elk I Since have bought more, for the .30's and use them in 270, 243, and more. We cut, grind, and wrap all our own meat so I have a good opportunity to see the results of these bullets. They do better than some of the so called "premium' stuff out there, but of course I have no knowledge of most as I have never seemed to need them.

Premium bullets and magnum calibers are not necessary to take American big game animals, They are not a bad thing, just the ideals of them is blow all out of proportion to the reality of the situation. Straight shooting, knowing when to and when not to shoot is the key.

I have shot elk through the lungs with a 320 grain solid lead black powder bullet that died without going very far. It's far more where you shoot a critter than what with.


I bet there are at least two dozen factory loadings in about every caliber that are just fine on the shelf for todays hunter, all the rest is up to the guy behind the gun.

OBTW my uncle killed a real nice bull with one shot from a 7mm-08 with a factory bullet several years back.

Good luck on your elk hunt.

My choices in factory ammo would be the Federal's 140g TSX or AccuBond.

Probably the AccuBond if they shot well as they turn your 7mm-08 into a 400-yard elk rifle (2094fps, 1363fps, -22" @ 400 yards with 200-yard zero). The TSX's aren't that far behind but I'd probably limit them to 350 yards.

I don't believe factory ammo is enough for modern elk. I think most of it would bounce off, fall short, or miss.














Maybe not. Pretty much anything with a quality bullet that's not too soft in the nose to hold up for deeper penetration and larger bones will get the job done.

While I won't argue that a Partition or TSX is a great elk bullet, I've now seen two Accubonds do GREAT on two elk. They are an elk bullet.

From a 7mm-08, though, since it's a little lighter than I personally would prefer, I would go Partition just to be on the safe side, I do believe.

700LH

Those old core-lokts bring back a lot of memories from days, game and people gone by. I'm sure they still work like they did then. They hold together and can get the job done.

I have a .300WM that just loves them in 150gr as far as accuracy. Have shot more than a few deer with that load. The one I remember most was a cold Dec. day. He went down right now, and body heat was coming out the entrance wound that looked like smoke. I thought wow, now thats what I call a hot load.

Battue

Just keep your hits behind the shoulder and the ones you mentioned will do fine. I would find a load using the partition myself. I have never used a 7MM bullet under 160 grains on elk myself though.

My daughter shots a 7mm-08 and wants to shot an elk with it. She took an antelope with it last year with a federal premium 140 grain nosler ballistic tip without a problem. This year she had an Oryx Tag so we went with a Federal premium 140 grain barnes triple shock and she dropped him at just over 200yds. I feel confident with her taking an elk with the barnes but not much farther than 200 yards i think the bullet loses to much energy.

Good luck John