Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Are premium bullets needed for elk?

A older neighbor of mine successfully hunted elk for many years with garden variety Remington Core-Lokt ammo in his 30-06. He had a classy custom 1903 Springfield, maybe a Griffin & Howe.

Core lokt and powerpoints have killed mountains for elk. I always liked Barnes, but to each their own. I just always stayed away from the Berger’s and other target bullets. Too much fragmentation and I always worried about hunks of metal and lead in the meat. YMMV

TWENTY pages, and still flogging the horse...

These Damn Elk are getting more bullet proof as this thread goes on, maybe we should start treating them like Cape Buffalo. Rio7

Elk threads are always a hoot.

750 GR out of a Barret 50 caliber should do the trick. No reason to go under gunned…

Never had a problem killing them. Just a challenge finding them and getting inside gun range. Happy Trails

I see it this way, the bullet will be the final variable in the killing of an elk. It’s also one of the cheapest variables. As a handloader, say a box of 50 partitions costs $40 and a box of 100 Interlocks costs $40. Depending on how much you shoot for load development and practice, the difference in cost to get your rifle ready and the hunter practiced up might be another $40? Maybe $80? Is $80 too much to pay for more peace of mind that comes with the more predictable performance?

Even if we talk premium vs standard factory ammo, $60 a box vs $30 a box. Is an extra $30 a box not worth it? I think it’s still cheap vs the other variables in a hunt.

No, RIO7.......we're treating them more like Prairie Dogs!!!!

A few posts to get this place rolling again.

Please, take it easy on this common guy.

What column does that go under, in the database?

Senile rambling, maybe?

I bet nobody has said that a 180g Abond @ 3200 FPS is the Slim-Shady for Wapiti

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Check them out on a Rockchuck first.

If it eventually dies.....you're good to go.

I've shot 2 bull elk and I shot both with a 30-06 using 150 gr bronze point ammo. DRT, best elk bullets ever for me. I'd use something different if I ever get the chance to elk hunt again, but you can't argue with success.

i just ordered a Brux barrel that will be a 7 1/2 twist chambered in 257 Weatherby Mag. and if it gets here in time i plan on using 128 gr. Hammer bullets ,i feel that size bullet should work just fine on a bull elk. i have killed bulls with my bow so i see no reason to bring a bigger rifle cartridge to hunt elk.

I flinch too much to be trying them on Rockchucks. I’m only good for one shot. Then I’m ruined.

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Muzzle brake?


Send it to me.....I ain't a 'fraidy.

Have enough brow scar tissue.

One year.....a coyote came in during the late muzzle season......and I mistakenly settled into a varmint-rifle light grasp. The .54 Knight (mounted with Leupold) caught me square in the middle of the forehead.

Tough to walk out with salty blood in the eyes, even when you wipe them.

My in-laws called me Cyclops, all during Christmas.

Nice guy like me, imagine that.

Mike , You Are living proof, you can't fix STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!! Rio7

I did the same with a guys 257 Roy on a yote.

I looked at the smallish sized cartridge when I threw a round in the chamber. Pfft…Not a problem.

Laid it across the hood of his truck, light hold on a dog out in his pasture…Crack - Thump against my face. Blood 🩸

Missed the dog, too.

LOL

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Please try to fix me, RIO7. Off topic......you get that high fence fixed yet?

Don't give up on me, RIO!