Case in point,
we spotted elk at 1100 yards this year. Neither Daughter #1 or her hubby had ever taken an elk and none of use were prepared for a shot that long.
We closed to 476 yards, at an altitude (~8500 feet) and wind conditions (essentially none) where Daughter's .308 Win/130g TTSX @ 3045fps MV
would have been adequate. While would have been quite happy to take the shot, Daughter #1 was not comfortable shooting at that range. By the
time we closed to her comfort range the elk were gone.
Granted, I used this event as an excuse to get her a .270 Win and develop a 150g LRAB load that delivers elk-killing velocity and energy
(2000fps and 1500fpe is my rule of thumb)
Your rule of thumb is
1500 fpe.... 130 ttsx 3045mv would not deliver that at 476 yds...,yet you say you would be happy to take the shot.
Yup, I would have been quite happy to take the shot, as I was carrying my .300WM loaded with 175g LRX at about 3000fps MV.
And no, the .308/130g TTSX would not deliver 1500fpe at 476 yards, even at the nearly 8500 feet altitude where the opportunity presented itself. Had Daughter been comfortable taking the shot at 476, however, I would have been comfortable with her doing so. There was no wind to speak of and it was a full broadside opportunity - pretty much perfect conditions.
If manufacturer claimed BC for 130ttsx can be relied on, you would have about 1360 fpe./ 476 yd
However tests on Barnes bullets show real world BC can be below published numbers in some cases by well over 5%
which could potentially bring energy down to around 1300 fpe / 476 yd. (8500 Alt..)...or 1243 fpe / 476 yd. ( 7000 Alt.)
2000fps and 1500fpe are my rule of thumb number as I consider them more than adequate with a good bullet. As in "more than adequate", not "minimum".
Daughter #1 has done her elk hunting with a .308 Win and 130g TTSX @ 3045fps. I figure that would have worked out
to about 500 yards at 7000 feet and above.
130 ttsx /500yd (7000ft) would give about 1250 fpe , if claimed BC .350 is correct.
with a possible B.C. error of up to 5% , it could be more like 1195 fpe / 500 yd.
That is significantly below 1500 fpe, so Im left wondering what the actual real world minimum energy level is that you would
be prepared to shoot elk with?
Depends on the specifics of the shot opportunity. I've hunted elk with my .44 Mag carbine, 240g @ 1880fps. Always figured 100-150 yards max for that rifle and load, which retains 1572fps/1318fpe at 100 and 1435fps/1097fpe at 150. The one shot I had with that rifle I passed on - not because the bull was at 100 yards but because my hunting buddy already had one down and I figured we already had enough work ahead of us.
I don't know how you evaluate opportunities but give me 1000fpe and a fat bullet - or enough velocity to expand one - and things will die. Give me 2000fps and 1500fpe and, while they may or may not die faster, I'll be more comfortable taking the shot. The .300WM/175g LRX load I was using delivers about 2361fps/2167fpe at 476 yards and 7000 feet, more at the almost 8500 where we were hunting. Even better.
Daughter's .308/130g TTSX load? Not my first choice for 500 yards but capable nevertheless. Her new-to-her .270 Win with a 150g LRAB should deliver 2339fps/1823fpe @ 500 at 7000 feet. Better.
