Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Better bullet for cow elk hunt?

I,d go with the 150gr partition, but I used a 140gr Accubond
in my 270 Winchester. It was my first Bull, but I have
killed Cow elk with both. I,m still trying to get the 150gr
partitions to equal the accuracy of the Accubonds. Maybe
next year.

A .243 100gr Partition with take out an elk with good shot placement. The 150gr .270 PT has no problem.

Shot placement is everything. Listen to Wyatt Earp.

Partitions, A-Frames, Trophy bonded. All leaded bullets...

Either should work just fine. Killed my elk this year with a 180g MRX. The cow went a few yards after being hit but was down before I could launch a second round. I expect a 130g would have had the same results - a pass-thru.

I shot a lot of cow and spike elk with a 120g partition out of a 25-06 and I've killed a bunch with 140g TSX out of my 270WSM.

Either bullet will work

The elk won't know the difference

Since you're going after cow elk, my preference would be the Barnes, either in TTSX or TSX configuration.
Why? Because I assume you are hunting cow elk for meat, and in my experience with all manner of bullets on elk, the Barnes bullets simply kill with less meat damage.
I shot my last elk, a bull, at 300 yds this season with my .300 Weatherby. Hit close behind the shoulder, there was no bloodshot meat whatsoever. Just a dead elk. With lead core bullets in the past, this hit would have resulted in at least one bloodshot quarter. Results from my .257 Wby on all manner of game produces the same results- the Barnes TSX kills with minimal meat damage, compared to other bullets I have used.

Use what ever 150 Gr bullet shots best in your rifle. Contrary to popular belief Elk are not bullet proof.

Killed them with good ol Speer hot cor bullets of only 130grs......both yours are more a good thing. I would not worry about it....just get cozy and squeeze the trigger.

I load the 140gr NAB in my .270.

Shot a cow this year that dropped like she was hit by lightning but it was a 200gr NAB out of my 300 Win. Wish I grabbed the .270 that day instead since I'm dying to know how the 140gr does on elk.

From the two choices and everything elts being equal, for me its the partition.

Lead IS good

Can not do any better than a partition

We have a winner

Just don,t let velocity pull your ass past your chin.

Because he said what most of us said?

I counted on the partitions for my elk bullet. 300 mag. 180 partitions. And then found a couple of 150ish pound deer could stop the bullet cold without an exit on a raking shot. Decided right then and there not to take the risk on an animal 4 plus times larger.

I've used Nosler Partitions on six continents to take nearly different sixty different types of big game animals ranging in size from bull elk, black bear, eland, kudu, sable and moose down to little javelinas, springbok, grysbok and duiker and never was disappointed.

When I tried something different (a Nosler Ballistic Tip on a desert bighorn), the meat loss was so horrific that I returned to the Partitions and never strayed again.

As to your question, premium bullets are not needed to cleanly kill a 300- to 400-pound cow elk, if you do your part.

Bill Quimby