Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Decision Time: Elk Rifle

I agree about the SST bullet. Not my favorite.

I agree about the SST bullet. Not my favorite. The partition ..............a favorite.

This!

I'd probably prefer the 6.5, but if the twist is 1:8 or faster and the throat/mag will take a Woodleigh 160gr protected point, I would seriously consider that instead of the partition. Loaded to max with RL-33, you should be able to keep the 160gr in its velocity window out to 325y, more like 400y at elevation.

I agree with others that you should bring both rifles to have a backup, and that the SST is not a good elk bullet. Regardless of caliber look at partitions, accubonds, woodleigh weldcores, bonded bear claw, a-frame, and copper monolithics on the heavier end of available weights.

"Best to shoot? 6.5x284 by far easier to handle, little to no recoil." "I am handloading 140gr Partitions with excellent accuracy"

I think you have your answer.

partitions are never a bad choice.

Use the one you shoot the best. . . and can carry the farthest.

Doesn't matter.

That's what I'd take. Especially since the NP is very accurate in that rifle. My .260 with 140 gr Corelokts did a DRT, bang/flop elk at 150 - my only elk kill. Spine shot in the neck.

On the other hand, I'm using an '06 with Hornady Superperformance 150 SST on caribou out to 500 yards, mostly over 300. That round at about 3100 MV, seems designed for 300 yards and out, where the velocity slows down some. Definately ill-advised for "shoulder shots" or any major bone/muscle mass hits except CNS! The GMX (mono) is supposed to perform ballistically identically with the SST in the same bullet weight with less ("explosive" some call it) expansion at closer ranges. So just swap from SST to GMX if that worries one. Sight in/component use if handloading should remain unchanged, if the hype is to be believed. I just bought a box to see...

The only SST I have ever recovered from nearly a dozen kills was from a head shot moose at 30 yards. Nicely mushroomed. jacket with maybe 1/3 of the lead left a half inch away, seperated.

All others (caribou) to 433 yards were pass-through , behind the shoulder shots except two. One was spine shot at about 150 yards. Nothing left of that SST or about 6 inches of spine and backstrap.

Of the last 3 caribou, the first two were shot less than a minute apart at 290 and 433 yards respectively. Both thru the lungs, both rounds missed ribs both sides. Quarter sized entry, 50 cent exit. I "lost" 4 inches length of rib meat, 3 ribs wide is all, both sides. Maybe 4 ounces per animal, of burger meat.

The last one I killed, I f'ked up and touched the round off while still positioning the rifle. At nearly 300 yards the SST left softball sized holes through both hams. Operative word is through.... including breaking/shattering the femur- I forget which side.

I'd say SST's perform exactly as intended, the only questions being one's own preferences and bullet placement. If you take the '06, using the GMX would be my recommendation. But properly placed, broadside just behind the shoulder, the SST will definately do the job! If it hits a rib going in, the wound channel will of course be greater. If you are one to take Texas heart shots, or shoulder shots, do NOT use the SST, especially under 300 yards!!

Personally, I've largely gone back to c&c bullets, Corelokts and Interlocks primarily, as for my use, they do anything (often better in accuracy!) a premium does , and i'm cheap.....

The only bullet failure I've ever had, was, interestingly, a factory loaded .338WM 210 NP, on the shoulder of a moose at 100 yards or so. BB sized bits of lead and bone peppered the nearside lung, and nothing reached the far lung. Never did find the base - i think it fell or richochetted back out the rather large entry wound. The second shot virtually up his nose at less than 10 feet when he lurched back up was a bit exciting, and worked. One CAN shoot a RU77 at full arm extension, one handed, provided sufficient motivation. John Wayne lives!

Kinda soured me on that bullet, which I never used again. Didn't do that much for my opinion of NP either, tho I have used them in 250 in that rifle with good results, including fair accuracy. And in other rifles and bullet weights. They seem to be something beyond just a passing fad.......

In my younger days I carried my trusty 300 win mag. I have killed many critters with it. I always been partial to Nosler products. Then I jumped on the 6.5 bandwagon. My intentions started as a target rifle and whitetail. After shooting the 6.5 creedmoor I quickly realized what all the hype was about with 6.5 rounds. I am shooting hornady precision hunter bullets in Creedmoor 143 gr. ELDX. Great results. Some ppl gone say bigger gun. My philosophy is to anyone you need to hunt with gun you are most comfortable shooting. Cause a accurate gun is a deadly gun. I take a little hole in vitals vs a big hole in the guts. My mountain rifle weighs 7 lbs. and is deadly accurate.
The best advice I can offer is you know your limits on recoil and distance you capable of shooting buy a caliber that fits your abilities. .308 is never a bad choice

The lightest one. You will carry an elk rifle way more than you will shoot it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS IS YOUR ANSWER^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Elk Country

most shots are less than 100 yards

Most people don't hunt elk.

You right most people go camping

Certainly either of your rifles will kill elk just fine in good shooting conditions and angles. Using a good tough bullet increases those angles at which you might feel comfortable. If the SST is the only bullet you would use out of the 30-06 use the other rifle. If you feel good pushing a 165 grain TTSX or similar as hard as your rifle will shoot them accurately then use the 06. I think the more lead (copper) you can hit them with the faster is a good plan for elk. If you plan on breaking the off side shoulder at 400 yards then opportunities closer are a breeze.

I've killed elk in NW Colorado at 11 yards and at 550 yards, the close up shot was harder because I hadn't practiced shooting turned back 3/4 pointing with one hand steadying the other wrist while pointing at the chest and canting my head to see hair through the scope. I had practiced out past 800 yards from field positions like I used on the longer opportunity. But heck if you feel like the 6.5 is your magic death ray why not use it, confidence makes a difference on shots that are challenging or need to be taken quickly.

Ballistic tips work most of the time but it is a huge pain if they don't so I'll never use one for elk again

I've killed two bulls with 140 Partitions from a 7mm-08. One bullet each. Both bulls DRT.

Placement.




P

This a hundred times over.
I'd feel great with either rifle but not a fan of the sst I've seen it come apart on whitetail. If you want to use a cup and core in the 30-06 I'd step up to 180gr and look at gamekings interbonds or others

You can kill an elk with a 243 using 100 gr coreloc. So use the rifle you like best.

And a very dependable bullet............................

MM