Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 300WM- Best Bullet for Elk in Timber

Now, what I'm asking, for you guys that have shot heavy animals up close, "breaking them down". I love to hunt the edges and sometimes will move through or slip into some really dark timber for elk. In East, Texas, its usually in some very, very thick mixed woods & palmetto on hogs.

In the past I have used the older 180 Barnes in the 300WM, however, I have a great 150 TTSX load now. The only really heavy game I shot, "breaking them down, or shooting end to end" I ever did was on zebra and kudu with a 35 Whelen AI and the old Barnes 250X going about 2550. The zebra was 150yds away and the kudu was 110. Both bullets went over 3 feet of penetration. The zebra was shot at the root of the tail ( he was wounded) and the Kudu was a full frontal shot into the brisket/neck junction. I don't have that rifle anymore, but am using a new 300WM. For "jump shooting" elk up in the dark timber 75yds and under) would I be OK with my 150 TTSX load going 3300+ fps? Or would I be better off saving my 150gr loads for more open ranches/terrain and working up a stout load with a 180 TTSX or 200-220 something going full out? I'd really like anyone's opinion. Thanks,

I’ve killed a few critters with a 300 wm from spitting distance to out there and I use 200 partitions for all of it.

Have no worries with that choice. Sorry I haven’t used the Barnes. Some of my hunters have but I haven’t seen many of the 150s.

You should be fine with it. I’ve killed a lot of game with a 300 using several bullets over the years. These days I just shoot their 168 TTSX and go hunting. It handles the up close and far away shots with no problems.

Just my opinion but I would never shoot a feather weight mono at an elk at close range, I agree with Ralphie 200 partitions are a great choice, I like the 200 Accubond even better.

Is the Accubond going to hold together up close, going 2800fps or so?

The 180 Accubond does at 25 yards out of an ‘06 starting at 2740 fps.

They work awesome and most likely you will get closer to 2900fps with H1000, been going to try RL26 but haven’t got around to it yet.

Is the 200 TSX an easy one to find a good load for in a 10" twisted 300WM?

I doubt you would need the 200 grain TSX. The 180 is plenty big medicine. My buddy took his Canada moose with that bullet in his 300 Weatherby and the guide was amazed at how it knocked down a moose. A moose is bigger than an elk.

There is nothing wrong with the other options - 180 or 200 grain Partition, or the Accubond. Don't stress over it, pick one and load it up. My two cents. My elk load last year was the 180 grain Partition in a 30-06 at 2,750 fps.

Marty

Finding a bull in the timber is tougher than killing a bull in the timber.

Load up a 180 Partition and get to work on the stair-stepper...

Brad, that's the best advice so far....

However, have found the 200-grain Partition very consistent in both deep penetration and "killing power" on elk in cartridges from the .30-06 up through .300 Weatherby. Have been using it since 1977, when it was a "semi-spitzer." Once killed a quartering-on 6x6 at 75 yards with the 200 started at 2900+ from a .300 Winchester Magnum. The only reasonable clear shot was the left shoulder joint, and the 200 split the joint, then made a mess of both lungs before exiting at rear of the rib-cage on the other side.

I could always work up a "reduced" load and shoot the Woodleigh 240gr SN (the one designed especially for 30-06 speeds) at 2400fps! That would be sure be a "thumper", ha

200 gr or 220 gr Nosler partition come to mind. Used the 200 gr bullet in a 300 win mag for years.

The 230 Berger is no slouch either. I mashed a 6 x 6 flat with one two years ago @ 156 yds.

In years gone by I used the 180 - 200 grain Swift A-Frame with total confidence but today I am using the TTSX in 168 grain to 180 grain weights.

Having said that, there is no elk that will ever know the difference in any of those over a 180-200 partition. The Accubond was also a great bullet but they had some significant issues with losing the white plastic tips.

While all of these bullets are adequate for the task, the monolithics are also a lot kinder to animals that might feed on the gut pile one leaves behind.

Give me a TTSX works for any and all conditins.

I think I have some Nosler 200PT around here, somewhere so will give them a try. Just for grins! I am, for a fact, going to put the muzzle brake back on this Mesa before I do, ha. No use getting slapped around...just for grins! Thanks guys.

My .300WM with 200gr NPT has worked but it's 26" bbl isn't my idea of "black timber" friendly! My .300 has had higher magnification scopes as well. For truly functioning in this I like a shorter barrel and quick pointing combined with low power scope or even irons. If you find yourself hunting the edge, or into the shadows you may want to consider a bit more of a compromise in rifles.

I have been using a .338WM with 250gr Woodleigh Weld-cores for years. I cut the barrel to 22" and have used a couple different scopes but always find a low power scope a bigger advantage. I used a .375Win a bit, but felt the .45-70 or .444 would be better. I have used a Remington 600 with a fixed 2.5x in .308W with 180gr NPT-PP a bit but for whatever reason not taken a single elk with it. Point being "dark timber" is a very specific style of hunting, and tailoring your tools to match will help. I'd probably not use the .300 if I had handier choices.

Im in agreement with you John. I've had elk catch the 180, but the 200gr. partition has sailed right through, even at 30-06 speeds and up close... I find the 200gr to be much better at penetration than the 180. The 200's always seem to be excellent shooters too. They don't seem to be as finicky as the 180's in the accuracy department.. When I was using my 300wm, I always started them out at 2900 fps as well... Great combo for elk hunting as far as I'm concerned..

Use that.....

I most likely will, but just going to "see" what this rifle can do with the 200PT first. In fact, I still don't want to put that loud muzzlebrake back on, so I'm going to try a dozen rounds working up...I can fight a bear that long....well, a Redhead Cousin anyhow!