Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Preferred .300 WM Elk Load?

For you .300 WM ( well, any 300 Mag is OK) elk shooters, which load do you "prefer" to use. I mean, what in your experience has given you personally that "warm fuzzy" feel when you get ready to take that shot? Cows, Bulls, all. I have only killed one cow with a "300 H&H equivalent", 30-06 Hornady LM 180 going 2910. It worked but I felt it was a bit fragile. I later went to the Barnes 180 XBT ( 20 yrs ago, come on, ha) over either R22 or H4831, no elk but many head of Plains Game, up close and out to 375 or a bit. I loaded the 200AB/Retumbo in a 300 RUM I gave my SIL, he killed a big cow a tad over 440yds. I am taking a 300WM/150 TTSX (along with my .270W/129LRX as backup) on an upcoming Fall cow elk hunt. But I see many more 300WMs than RUMS or Wbys. What do you guys like and why? :Stay healthy you Old Phartz too!

200Gn TSX @ 2950fps. I swapped from the 200gn Nosler Part. to the 200TSX. Same OAL, same powder charge, accuracy was significantly better w/the Barnes and that's all the "research" I performed. I've killed 10 elk (mix of bulls and cows), 1 moose, and a bunch of deer with that combo. It's been very repeatable for both accuracy and lethality. Shots on elk have been ~125yds to just under 500yds.

I and my son in law use the Barnes 165 factory load out of my 300 WSM Kimber Montana. It's taken 17 elk, mainly bulls, so far.
With him using that rifle I'm now using an ULA in 300 WIN with the Barnes 165 factory load. I've taken one 6x6 at 450 yards.

The 165 Barnes are very accurate in both rifles and we are getting exits on broadside shots. Problem with elk as you don't always get that picture perfect chest shot so you need penetration and a tough bullet.

180g North Fork SS (no longer available but I have a good stash)
180g Barnes MRX, TTSX

Have only taken mulies with it but have used Barnes 175g LRX on elk hunts as well. .

CH, have you killed elk with the 175 LRX? I bought 3 boxes of the damn things and am hoping to get them to shoot in some of my 300's. They seem to be about the best option for the 300 magnums IMHO...

Looking pretty nice in the blue box.

Between my 2 sons and I we have used a 300 Win and 2 300 Wbys for all our elk the past 15yrs. With the exception of 2 being taken with 180gr TTSXs and one with 180gr TB tipped, all the rest have been with 168 TTSXs, which became our favorite many years ago. From 25yds to almost 500yds, they get the job done with no problems. Pushed to about 3300fps in the Wbys and 3200 in the Win mag they leave nothing to be desired. We experimented with the 180gr TB tipped in one rifle this past season and it performed very well on a big 6x6. Still prefer the Barnes but couldn't knock the TB.

I've loaded that 168 TSX for a friends 300 WSM and he has killed elk, Red Deer, Mountain Sheep/Goat and Mule Deer with them. I just bought another 300WM ( this time a Bergara B14) and it may not like these 150TTSX (that shot so well out of the CA Mesa I sold to buy the 84L Classic .270 I couldn't live without! But then I found I couldn't live w/o a 300WM either! Arrgh!) so I ordered some of those 175 LRX to try too. If I had not already had the 150TTSX, I probably would have started out with the 168 TTSX. I am after decent speed and good accuracy, doesn't have to be a case melter load for me, ha. I like have a backup rifle all set up and ready if my primary ( the one I choose "that" day) scope goes wonky, trigger freezes,etc. But for me, .270/mono is MY minimum on elk that "I" feel comfortable about...warm fuzzy, ha. Keep them coming guys!

I’ve experimented with the 175 LRX and didn’t get the accuracy I’ve always had with 168s. We’ve had 1 rifle that shot better with 180s but it’s gone and the replacement prefers 168s. Have tried the 200 LRX in a 300 RUM and while not bad they wouldn’t shoot with the 168s.

You can't go wrong with 180-200 gr partitions backed by max loads of RL-22 or IMR-4350. I've used 200 grain partitions in both a 300 WM and 300 RUM and never caught a bullet. I've caught one 200gr Accubond from my 300 WM as well as one 165gr GMX. Both went through about 3-4 feet of elk before stopping in the hide.

The 168gr Barnes TTSX In a .300 Weatherby is my huckleberry. RL26 is my current load but Accurate Mag Pro was usedvfor many years. Both powders produced sub moa groups and the TTSX performed flawlessly

Mine is 77.4 gr of RL26, Fed 215M, 200 gr Nosler Accubond in Nosler brass. I get just over 2950 fps in my custom Model 70 with 24” barrel. I seat the bullet to maximum for the magazine, which is pretty deep. That load is straight from Alliant’s website.

Jim, did you get rid of the Mesa?

No elk with the 175LRX. Yet - will be suing the combo again this year. Have found them to be as accurate as the 180s in my rifle and they fly noticeably flatter at longer ranges. Like the MRX and TTSX, we have not recovered one. The mulie buck I shot with one was a few under 300 and it was on the ground before I recovered from the recoil.

Nice looking box of ammo - color coordinated!

Scotty- yes I did. I liked the rifle, but it was still a tad heavy for what I wanted, but I was OK. then, I found a pristine Kimber 84L Classic with really nice wood and I was messing around with another Mesa ( 6.5 Creedmoor for the grand daughter). so I sold the 300 Mesa, bought the Kimber, had it sent off and Cryo treated, trigger set where I wanted and put the Vortex 1.5x8 on it. 7 libs! And pretty enough/light enough to be a good heirloom for the Grand Daughter later. Meanwhile, I wasn't thrilled about having the 6.5 Creedmoor as an elk back up rifle ( to the .270) plus, I never got it to shooting like I thought it should, and then I had the strangest pain...I still wanted a heavy hitter, and for the way I hunt/where I hunt, I like the flatter shooters. I couldn't make myself do it with the little 338 RCM, which I sold too. It was light enough, but I don't shoot the shortys that well anymore. I needed another 300WM! So sold the Creedmoor! Just happened to stop by Sheels going home, and they were having a sale. I looked at a Bergara B14 Hunter ( I've always liked them, how they feel in my hands) and a Tikka T3X Lite SS also in 300. I just preferred the B14. Got it home, put the 3x9 FFII on .it, the trigger came preset to 2 1/2 pds, nice. I cleaned it up, torqued it to 55 inch pds. I like it. Its lighter than the Mesa a bit. I don't have to make it an "all arounder" like I started out this summer with the one 300 Mesa. I even got a new Alpine Gun Slicker to protect the pretty Kimber's wood if it storms on me, ha. I "think" I'm all set now with my "North America" 2 Gun Battery. .270W and 300WM. Bob Hagel is smiling somewhere!

( FYI everyone, yes, I'm a Rifle Looney, but I made a decision decades ago, as a busy Minister, to "limit myself" to 2-3 and if I want something different ( I usually do!) I sell/trade to do it. If its too nice to sell/trade, I give it away and start over. Layaway is my friend too, ha)

Can’t argue a bit with those two. Two of my favorites as well. My little brother runs the same pair.

My gun had a couple loads it liked!

Win WLRM
71.0gr. IMR-4350
180gr. Accubond
3050fps
Killed a couple cow elk with this load!

The load I used before I sold it to a guy that wanted it more than I did was:

Fed 215
76.0gr. RL-22
168gr. Barnes TTSX
3175fps and VERY accurate!
Only killed one cow with this load at a lasered 360yds and she never knew what hit her!

Elk Country

20 yrs ago I used 76gr R22 with the Barnes 180 XBT, right at 3100! I'm sure I had the pressure "up a bit" on that one, ha.

I have used 180 grain Nosler partitions in 300 Win Mag, and 200 grain Nosler Partitions in 308 Norma and 300H&H, and 220 grain Partitions in 300 Weatherby.
No problems with any of them. All 1 shot kills and all with exits. I no longer own most of those rifles, but I still have my Mauser in 300H&H and I use the 200 grain bullets in it with perfect results. It's the onluy 300 mag I kept. No complaints with any of them however.

Yeah, ive killed elk with the 200gr partition as well. Never saw a need to change that winning combo. My only complaint was the damn 300wm recoil when running these pills at 2900 fps. I actually much prefer my old 06 pushing the same bullet at 2650-2700fps. Its much easier on the shoulder and that bullet still out penetrates just about anything around, even at lower 30-06 velocities.

Although a fan of Barnes TTSX and LRX, I do plan to try Federals new Terminal Ascent bullets.

The question for me is which caliber to try them in first. Don't need them in my 6,5s because both are heavy barrels that won't be going anywhere except maybe antelope hunting. Don't need a Terminal Ascent for that when I have other loads that shoot very well out to 600. I do have a couple .284" and six .308" bores where the Terminal Ascent would be a good choice.

When using the North Fork bullets (which I still do), I always thought the design would be improved with the addition of a polymer tip. The Terminal Ascent is essentially that design but with additional improvements - mono rear, bonded front, tipped and with different groove and shape geometry for higher B.C..

From 1978 through 2003 my .30 Gibbs shooting 180 grain Nosler Partitions at 2920 fps put a Mountain goat, 2 Shiras bull moose and 20 bulls and 3 cow elk into my freezer. Most were one shot kills with the mushroomed back half of the bullet stopping just under the skin on the off side of the animal.

My last 2 bull elk were killed with my .300 Weatherby, one with a 168 grain Barnes TSX bullet 3298 fps and the other with a 168 grain TTSX bullet at 3300 fps. The TSX bullet completely penetrated the bull from a broadside behind-the-shoulder shot. The TTSX bullet entered the bull's front shoulder and stopped in his opposite ham. I also used this rifle with the 168 grain TSX bullets on one African hunt and with the 168 grain TTSX bullets on two other African hunts and a New Zealand hunt.

A couple of years ago I put a Leupold VX 3i 4.5-14x40 scope on my .300 Wby. I had the CDS turret for that scope made for my 180 grain TTSX handloads at 3250 fps. So far I've only used that bullet for a one shot kill with complete broadside penetration on a Dagestan Tur in Azerbaijan with a 327 yard shot. I plan on shooting this bullet for all of my foreseeable future hunting with this rifle.

I can testify about the 180 NPT.

Kills'em.

DF

I’d tend to agree... Happy Trails

My sample of one cow with the 300 fell to a 180 grain partition.

200gr Partitions all the way, only a sample of one with me, but started loading it for 5 or 6 buds back in the early 90's, they elk hunt out West every year, may be two or three dozen elk so far that I know of with that bullet in the 300 Win and WBY mags, it works EVERYTIME, and have heard of none changing bullets or loads, iirc, H-1000 and H-4831 loaded in all their rifles.

Also in the early 90's I came upon a beautiful FN Mauser in 300 Win, it had a beautiful carved walnut stock and a 26 inch barrel, I mounted a new gloss 3.5-10 Leupold, with it on 10X, and holding the fat portion of the bottom vertical post, I found that 200gr Partition would explode gallon milk jugs full of water a 500 yards, it was/is a hell of a good flying hunting bullet, I don't know how any of the Barnes' act at longer ranges.

Great suggestion Gunner. Back when I only used a 300wm for hunting, I decided I'd make it simple and just run the 200gr Nosler partition for deer and elk. I ran them right around 2,900 fps, or a hair over. I generally found most of my 300's liked that speed with the 200gr bullet. They sure are accurate and hit hard too. I'm actually wondering why some guys made a switch to a mono barnes bullet, saying they worked better than the good ol 200gr Nosler. I've never seen an issue with the 200gr partition, as they have always gotten full penetration (something I can't say about the 180 in the 300 mags). They also work great in my 30-06 rifles too. One of the reason I always have 200gr partitions in the loading room.

My brother and I killed two elk using the 175Lrx out of a 300wsm at a velocity of 3000fps. Both worked very well.

Damn right Buddy, that bullet works at 3K or 2700 in an '06, turns it into the hammer that CAN ; ] the 220gr Partition at a lowly 2750 is a hell of a bull banger too, loaded some of those for one of the same set of Buds that has an old Remington 300 H&H, he kills right along with the rest of them, all the while sporting a 80's vintage gloss Burris scope.

I love the 200gr Nosler partition and I have bought them dirt cheap. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me why they made the switch to the mono metal because that bullet did a better job. Or, so they say it did. I'm not against the Barnes by any means either, as I've shown I load them. I'll end up using them, eventually, but highly doubt I'll see a meaningful difference as far as putting animals down. The partitions have always worked extremely well for me and friends, as have the Hornady interlocks and many other bullets we've tried.

Have used the 200 grain Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw for elk and many elk sized animals in Africa with excellent results. All shots were under 250 yards, think if I was shooting over that I would use Nosler Trophy Bonded which has worked for me in 300 mag as well as 270 and 6.5X284 on deer sized game.

I use 200 gr Accubonds in the load I mentioned above because in that rifle, a custom pre-war Model 70, they shooter significantly better than Partitions. I have had great success with both bullets and have yet to have an animal stop either one.

My favorite 30-06, an FN Mauser barreled action with custom stock, gets the 200 gr Partitions for the same reason.

I have taken elk over the years with every cal from 338 down to my now used 6.5. They all work with tough deep penetrating bullets properly placed... All my elk taken since 1994 has been with a 6.5 & a Barnes 120gr mono. This past season I took a very mature elk using a 6.5 with a Hammer 121 gr. Complete pass thru of both front shoulders. & a DRT. A good friend uses his 308 & the Barnes 130gr mono every season with no problem. Another hunting buddy & his son use a 270 & the Barnes 130gr mono. We take our elk every season wit these combo's & have never had a problem. Pick whatever cal you like & properly place the mono of your choice & you will have success. A 7mm with the 140gr & the 30 cal at most with the 150gr. & you will be amazed at the penetration . Another added benefit of the mono is the almost zero blood shot meat . This is very important to me as the meat is the main reason I hunt. Good day Rev.

I believe the consensus here is that heavy for caliber Nosler Partitions and light to medium weight for caliber monos get the job done well. I am in the mono camp personally. I prefer the improved trajectory, higher velocity, and no lead in my meat. Go forth and hunt! Happy Trails

I’ve used mostly 180 Partitions in my 300WM and 300WSM. No complaints, though I do plan to try the 200 Partitions at some point in the Win Mag. My brother has actually used the 150 GMX out of his 300 WM with excellent results. He went with that as it shot so well in his rifle, but to my knowledge he’s yet to catch one in anything he’s shot. Can’t argue with the results.

Yessir, being a flatlander and traveling a minimum of 1200 miles just to get to see and elk, and may have to shoot 5-600 yards, I never worried about a partition opening, I got to have that peace Buddy!

The over whelming number of elk I have taken over the years has been under 200yds. Many under 100yds. This is where the mono's shine. They don't blow apart. They open & maintain a large frontal section all the way thru. Like the elk I took this last season, range about 80 yds. In order to get a shot thru an opening in the brush I had to take a shoulder shot or loose the elk. No soft sided rib cage shot provided here. . Just tough bone & muscle. Have had numerous shots on elk over the years where shots were extreme acute angles from from or back. These types of shots require the toughest deepest penetrating bullets you can get. Again the mono's shine here with out destroying large amounts of meat, my main reason for hunting.

I made the switch from 200gn NP to 200gn TSX because the TSX is more accurate in my rifle.

As it applies to on-game performance IMO I could easily use either interchangeably and likely be none-the-wiser. You can throw the 200gn A-Frame onto that pile as well. I've never loaded or shot any A-Frame, but, that wouldn't stop me from using one and being fairly certain that it's performance would be indistinguishable from the other 2.

:Hey Horse"...(said in a whisper, get it? ha) what rifle/barrel twist are you shooting that long 200 TSX in? I always figured the they were a bit long for a 10" twist. Of course, in "any" slower twist, "speed is your friend". I've had 7mm Rem Mags that would not shoot the 175 Barnes way back then. I never had trouble getting 200 Nosler to shoot in any 30 cal from 308 up.

I had a Hornady 180sp fragment toward the end of its travel ( against the far ribs) on a cow elk. It was started at 2910 (clocked) from a Hornady 180 Light Magnum 30-06 load at 135 steps. I would say that was older 300 H&H speed or close, A 150 Hornady was one of the best in 30-06 in East Tx, acted like a Partition! I never got them faster than about 2950 in 22 inch barrels. I figured that 180 sp would blow right on through. So, up to deer I'm fine with Hornadys, but on elk, I'm spooked now, ha.

I’m a 200 NP shooter. And they are very capable on elk at ranges a lot shorter than 100 yards.

Factory M70 Classic Winchester SS bbls (I have 3), I'm pretty sure they're 1:10.

Woodleigh claims their 180PP will work in a 10" twisted .270 Win also. Anyhow, I'm glad you found a bullet that works for you, its got to be a 'thumper", ha.

Not the WM but the original .....300 H&H I've not changed my load since I started with it 10 years ago...180 TTSX 71g of RL22 @3050....works great

I used the 180 grain Nosler partitions, and they worked well. About half would exit, the other half would be found under the hide on the opposite side, usually weighing around 65%, give or take. Most of the front would be gone, the mushroomed rear is what penetrated.

I've since switched to the 200 grain partition and haven't recovered one yet. I like the partitions because the front portion almost always violently expands and seems to me causes more damage than accubonds or x bullets through the lungs, yet the rear still gives you the penetration. Nothing wrong with barnes x or accubonds Ive used them as well, I just prefer the 200 grain partitions for the reasons mentioned above.

Gotta love a partition...thats just all there is to it, ha. Truth is, I've had so much success with Partitons/Accurbonds/Barnes that I just haven't had alot of experience with the many other fine bullets that are out there. Life is just too danged short!

Ive had the same experience with the 180's shot from 300 magnums. Also made the switch to the 200 partition. They shoot flat, hit hard, penetrate deep and dont bloodshot the meat as much as the 180. Win win. I've even made that switch with my 30-06 rifles. No complaints

22 bulls with a 200gr partition in either a 300 win or wby for me. Launched at 2900-3050fps its a hammer. Easy to reload and excellent ballistics have made it my go to combo for everything.

Sierra Game King, 200 grain 300 Winchester on elk.

How did those Sierras hold up for you Pard? I have shot alot of them, in several 30-06s, but no game. Very accurate bullet though. I used the Sierra 300 SBT in a 375 H&H and it made about a 4 inch exit, behind the shoulder shot. It seemed kind of soft to me? I have heard that the 200 SBT is pretty tough and sometimes is slow to open up on deer, for example. That just means, to me, it should be good on elk or big hogs, etc.

Jim, I spoke with a technician at Sierra for a spell on the horn one afternoon and asked his advice on the 200 Gr. SBT for elk. Throughout the conversation, mostly listening on my part, I gathered I hit the jackpot on my inquiry. It would be tough to find a better bullet for taking elk sized critters. I doubt I will ever choose differently when and if I ever arrive at elk camp.

Thanks

Thanks Pard. I finally got my RWS brass I wanted to try and the Barnes 175 LRX in some trial loads tonight. I can seat them out to 3.5" and still be .050 off the lands in this Bergara! I used R26 and still had plenty of room in the case w/o bad compression, if any. I don't know if they will shoot...but man they are pretty! ha


Onstep...22 bulls...I am so jealous! I would have loved to just hang out with you and help with the pack out, ha. Thats a great record!

That's a hell of a record here in oregon. I'd have to hunt 44 years before I got 22 bulls around here in a 4% success rate unit that I hunt in...

BSA- I can "almost relate" with you guys, I grew up hunting 'The Big Thicket" its called in E.TX, ha. It rained alot too. But we only had deer and hogs. Having seen some of the places you guys hunt, and for elk, its got to be a tough place to hunt! The only Roosevelt Elk I've seen were on an Exotic Game Ranch , years ago, in Texas, tall and "short wheelbase", ha.

I'm surprised to see no love for the Swift Sirocco II bullets. I shoot the 180gr at a shade under 3000fps and have taken countless Kudu, Impala, Warthog etc with that load (I live in South Africa). Great BC for longer shots on the plains and it holds up really well at closer ranges.

I like them quite alot. Probably my favorite bonded bullet actually!

I really like the Nosler 180BT for a traditional bullet and the Barnes 175 LRX for a mono.

200gr Partition, 71gr H4831, CCI 250, Winchester brass. It’s not the fastest load in the world, but my shots are mostly under 50 to 100 yards. Works as well as my 30-06.....

Mine is:

230 gr. Berger OTM Hybrid Tactical Match
75 gr. H1000
GM215M primer
2750 fps

Three one shot kills since I settled in on this load.

I have shot 6 in the last 3 years with 175gr bergers but I am going back to a 180 accubond or similar. They all died right there but there was no blood on any of them. Internal damage was severe but I worry one day on e will get away with no blood trail.

I also just made a deal on a 300WSM, pairing it with the Bergara. When it gets here, I think I'll try those same 175 LRX in it too. I use to load for a fellow's 300WSM, with the 168 TSX. That's all he shoots in it. I have the 150 TTSX too, if the 175 doesn't want to shoot. One thing I always liked about hunting with any 300 Mag, even though I never shot unwounded game past 375, those "wide open spaces" don't intimidate me as bad, ha. IOW, If God Forbid I wound a cow, I want to be able to shoot at it as far out as 500. I'd be guessing after that. I shot/checked the drops on my last 7mm RUM/140 TTSX out to 700, but wasn't confident past 600. I don't know how some of you guys do it!

I killed 7 of my first 10 elk with 180 grain Sierra GameKing bullets from my .30-06. Hits broadside right behind the shoulder dropped the elk quickly. Poorer hits took longer. All of those bullets opened up extensively and some cores separated from the jackets.

I killed one of my best 6x6 bulls with a 117 grain Sierra GameKing bullet from my .257 Ackley. It was about a 70 yard broadside shot right behind his shoulder. The bullet hit a rib going in, shredded his lungs, and didn't cut the rib cage on the off side. He dropped dead without taking a step.


From 1980 through 2003 I used 180 grain Nosler Partitions at 2920 fps from my .30 Gibbs on another 20 elk and 2 Shiras bull moose. Most of them performed like mannyspd1 described, and were one shot kills, including the 2 moose.

Since 2003 I've killed elk with my 7mm RM shooting 160 grain Accubonds, and my .300 Weatherby shooting 168 grain Barnes TSX and TTSX bullets. My primary elk load now is 180 grain TTSX bullets in my .300 Wby.