Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 8x57 for Elk

So the FTX is built not like an SST?

Good to know, thanks!

Correct, the FTX has no lead core.

Correct, the FTX has no lead core.

A partition is never a wrong answer for normal hunting applications. I myself, would probably lean towards a 195gr Hornady IL at 8x57 velocities, then a BT.
My first choice would be a mono of some type, even in the 8x57.

No. They only make a 200 gr partition in 8mm. I have plenty of other rifles that are better suited as well. I have just been on an 8x57 kick for the last couple of years. I shot a nice red stag and a scimitar horned oryx with it a couple of years ago, and it is a hammer on deer and pigs. It is plenty of rifle for elk. Just not necessarily a 400 yard elk rifle.

you never go wrong with a Partition for Elk but in my experience and lots of testing for Penetration vs expansion comparing elk bullets. The Accubond is the clear cut winner for expansion and weight retention.

The Partition will always explode quick and then drive the base deep. The Accubond always expands within a few inches(getting into the vitals) but holds more weight with the lead bonded to the jacket driving deep as the Partition but expanding where you need it; not premature like the partition can do sometimes when going through a big shoulder.

Dont get me wrong, most bullets will kill elk if you put them in the right spot however lots of mixed results with other bullets. In a 8x57 go with the 200Accubond and sleep well knowing you have the best option regardless of the shot angle that is presented!
Happy Hunting
James

Thanks for that

Might check the Hornady website. It's pretty clear that the FTX does have a lead core.

Patented Flex Tip® Bullet Technology

Upon impact, the soft tip compresses into the bullet, initiating immediate expansion across a wide range of velocities. Safe to shoot in tubular magazines as well as any other firearm.
InterLock® Ring

The one-piece, high antimony lead core of the FTX® is mechanically locked to the jacket with an InterLock ring. This, along with a specially designed jacket, results in reliable performance and maximum weight retention for deep penetration on large or heavy-bodied game animals.
Ballistically Efficient Secant Ogive

Pioneered by Hornady,® the secant ogive profile delivers stability, flat trajectories and amazing accuracy.
Specially Engineered Jacket

The heavy jacket over the shank of the bullet combined with our proven InterLock® design controls expansion and enhances accuracy.

Thanks south Texas.

But is it much different from the SST?

Is it the base?

The FTX has a soft polymer tip. Made for use in rifles with tubular magazines Probably not a good choice for elk

Yup you guys are right.
I am using the wrong letters. It's the flex tip 30-30 bullet that is an expanding solid. I went back and checked the box. My mistake.
The ones I have loaded are the Flex Tip Mono. made for the 30-30.

I would not agree yet that it will not be a good elk bullet, but as I said I am not done with the tests yet. I am loading it in a 300 Savage and all my shots would be at 300 and less because of where I would hunt with the old rifle, and the fact that it has only a peep sight and no scope.
If I find I do not get the depth of penetration I want from an elk round (and I may not) I would then agree with SouthTexas.

Szihn: I don’t see any flex tip monos on Hornadys website. The FTX bullets, for tubular magazines are all lead core. The GMX bullets are monos but don’t have flex tips. What am I missing?

What I am trying to weed thru my weak mind is I wonder are SST and FTX almost identical in their construction.

Here is a link to the bullet I am talking about.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-expanding-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-50

It's made for the 30-30 and for use in tubular magazines, but it also works fine in other types of mags. As I said above, I am trying it in a Savage 99 with the rotary mag. I am testing it to see if I think it would be good for elk hunting or it the expansion will be to "wide" and keep the bullet from penetrating very deep.

I'll let you know when I get this all done, but it may be another month before I can finsih.

Ahh..I see it now. It's listed as a "Monoflex". thanks. Will look forward to your results.

I have had good results with the FTX 160 in the 300 savage for cow elk.

I use the ones cantilever for the 308 marlin express.

Angus, out of curiosity, I would like to ask if you got an exit with that FTX and what angel and range the elk was when you shot it?
Also if you know the aprox muzzle velocity of your load?

[align:left][/align]If there was an exit I don't recall I know some were No exit. They were chest front leg shots . Between 275 to 400 yards. I harvested 5 so far. Broke the front leg on two.

All broadside shots.

I use 43 grains lever lotion, with a Remington 9.5 primer. IN THE 300 SAVAGE model 99.

Never got a chronograph on the load that I remember. But let me look . I will share the load when I go out to the man cave in the morning.

Just one more note:
I see the post where the outfitter says you may need to shoot 400 yards.
So I want to make 2 points.

You may need to shoot 400 yards? Well that could be I guess, but I have hunted elk for over 40 years in several different states and I don't know exactly how many I have killed, but in all of them I can tell you the exact number of elk I killed at 400 yards or a bit more
It's exactly 1. At about 410 yards.

Point #2 is this: Who said you can't do well with a 8X57 at 400 yards?
The 8X57 in a strong action will do just about everything the 30-06 will do with bullets of 170-200 comparing them to the 30 cals of 165 to 200, grains, and the 30-06 is just fine at 400. In fact, that's not even a challenge for it.

The Germans used the 8X57 very successfully for a sniper's weapon in 2 World Wars. It's accuracy even at 2 X that distance (and sometimes more) is not in question, and with a 180 grain GMX you have expansion to an impact velocity of down to 2000 FPS and with the Nosler Partition you can extend that to about 1600 fps. So the 8X57, firing them at top speeds with safe pressures will give you good expansion with the GMX to just about 400 yards exactly, and the Nosler Partition will go clear out past 500 yards.

American read too many gun-rags and get an impression that anything made more then 15 years ago just can't work anymore.
But the track records of many of the older guns and shells proves otherwise.
If you shoot the 8X57 better then you do your 8X68 I would still use the 8X57. I have experience with the 8X68 too, and I have nothing bad to say about it. But if you favor the way the smaller rifle feels don't handicap yourself with the paranoia of thought that you can't shoot 400 yards with an 8X57, you sure can and it will do it well.

I think my 8 X 57 post office Mauser with a 25 inch tapered barrel to be comparable to a 30 06 in every way!

Just a wee bit heavier than a Husky rifle in 30 06,

I think weight is important to a fat old man puffing around trying to climb mountains.