Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Thoughts on 140 gr. Fusion in 7-08 for Elk

I guess the caliber is not really relevant here. I want to know of experience you may have had with this bullet on Bull elk.
I am thinking factory Federal Loads at @ 2800 fps. Any firsthand information would be really appreciated.

I have seen quite a few elk killed with 270s using good bullets of 140 and 150 grains in weight. I have also seen seen around a Dz killed with 7-08s with various 140s and I personalty killed 3 with a 7X57 but all my 7X57 kills were with 160 and 175 grain bullets.
A 270 will move a 140 grain bullet about 100 FPS faster then the 7-08 in the cases of equal barrel lengths and equal pressures. That added 100 FPS is not going to be at all significant in the killing of elk. The elk I saw killed with good 140s from 7-08s all went down in short order, and most had exit wounds.

So bonded bullets of 140 to 150 grains have such a good track records.

I am 100% sure you'll be happy with that bullet.
Shoot well.
Happy hunting.

I’ve used the 130 gr Fusions out of a 270 on deer. IME they seem a little soft to me for elk.

Thanks for the response men
...I appreciate the input. The reason for the question is that a quickly planned, short notice elk hunt has come into my immediate future. I an taking my stepson for his first pronghorn and elk try. I have shot a dozen + elk, 11 of them bulls over my lifetime. Have not been elk hunting in more than a decade. I'm taking the remaining elk tag. I have killed most of my elk with my .280 and 30-06 rifles, but have taken two bulls with a .270 shooting cup and core softpoints. I plan to let the young man shoot my favorite rifle , the .280 ( he has just about taken it over, I'm leaving it to him) with factory federal Premium 150 gr. NP.
I can of course take my 30-06 , a pre 64 70 shooting 180 gr. Partitions. I only ask about the 140 gr bonded Fusion because I was thinking of taking my 7lb. 7-08 for ease of carry. I have shot 50+ whitetails, mule deer and hogs with it and the Federal factory 140 fusion load. I don't handload, and the availability of ammunition choices with "sturdier" bullets is about non existent.

I’d not hesitate to use that load. 2,800 is a nice, gentle speed that’s easy on bullets.

Brad is correct.👍😎

Amen brother..........

When Fusions first came out Federal marketed them as "deer" bullets. That verbiage was on their website for a number of years but now says things like "tough lead core" & "deep penetration". Maybe they changed something in the construction to make them tougher. My experience was 15 or so years ago. I'm sure they'll kill an elk on a broadside shot but I would hesitate to try and shoot through a shoulder.

It will work fine. No need to shoot for a shoulder anyway.
Elk are just big "deer".

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/12130078/federal-fusion-on-moose-elk

Used 150gr (.308), factory rolled Fusions on 2 moose, both 1 shot kills.

Concur with the above.

I’ve seen bull elk shoulders broken by the 30 cal 150 fusions.

You’ll be fine. Shoot with confidence.



P

Thanks very much to all who responded, I appreciate the knowledgeable input. I don't attribute any special qualities to elk as to toughness or difficulty to dispatch with a properly placed shot.
The two bulls I have taken with the .270 Win. were both shot with factory 130 gr. Core- Locks , it's what I had at the time of those hunts. One ran 80 yards, the other toppled over a low ridge and tumbled down the other side. Dead when I arrived at the bottom.
I was just curious if there were any negatives attributed to the Fusion. I have had very good success on lesser animals over the past 3 years. I'm glad to get such a ringing endorsement of them. thanks again.

I'll be using the 140 grain Fusion albeit in a 6.5 Creedmor. If it works like it has in a 30-06 the past two years I have no reservations.

That was what I used on my last elk I killed with the 7mm-08 and she died in her tracks.