Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Swift Scirocco for elk?

Hey RickF, #1-did you actually weigh that deer or is that an estimate?, #2-I would guess that stomach contents would provide more resistance than lung tissue, I could be wrong. #3 Even the best bullets can and will do things that can't always be explained. 300Winnie's example is one of them, I definitely think that was a fluke. #4 Sound's like nobody lost an animal even with marginal shot placement. Not intending flames fellas so take a breath.

Last year I shot a muley in the hills that would rival your whitetails body weight, although I have to admit I do not have a game scale either. I shot that deer, mature buck, in fact the best I've killed in the Hills ever, at about 50 yards. I was using the aforementioned .30-8mm mag. and the 165 gr. Scirocco. Muzzle velocity 3300 and change. That bullet blew through that deer like Sherman through the South with major tissue damage inside and a complete exit. I wish I could share more recovered bullets with you but you have to find them first. Oh well. I sincerely apologize for my sarcasm so early in the morning (even after reading AFP's fine post on avoiding such behavior). I didn't sleep well last night..... a sincere Good luck, Troy

Hi Troy. No that particular deer was not weighed, but a lifetime of experience with full-grown northern deer led me (and my hunting mates) to estimate that it would have field dressed approiximately 180 pounds, so the live weight is close. Not any monster, but a nice representative mature whitetail buck that scored about 145", if you're interested. For the record, my heaviest white tail weighed 231 pounds field dressed, and my heaviest mulie 315 pounds (HE was a hog, a 4 point typical 185 class deer taken in BC's Peace country) field dressed, so I do have some background knowledge on which to guesstimate that particualr deers weight. Hope this helps.

If you want full penetration of the animal, I find this bullet a little to soft. Take a look at the pictures frtom the bullets recovered form the elk at 448 yards, and imagine them shot at 50 yards or colser. In such situations the bullets would probably be beaten to a flat piece of lead, when shot at magnum velocities. It is always desirable that the bullet has some of the body intact behind the "swamp". This is to prevent the bullet form changing direction after the impact. In my opinion you should pick a bullet wich can take more beating than the Scirocco.

Frederick, read this knowing that I am writing it with a smile on my face. No where in this thread do I, or anyone else I believe, say that any Scirocco is an end to end penetrator. If that's what you have to have in an elk bullet then refer to my previous posts.....Oh, hell, I'll save you some time, X bullet or something similar. In one of my last posts I mentioned the muley at 50 yards. Is a muley at 50 yards the same as an elk at 50 yards? Of course not, but what it did to that muley leaves me quite confident the elk would be just as dead, just as fast. And that was with the 165 grainer. My choice for elk is the 180. There is nothing marginal about it in my view, you may disagree and that is fine. Should I draw a leftover cow tag, don't hold your breath, I will happily report my success or failure.

RickF, No worries, I believe you. One of the mulies I shot with the 180 gr. Scirocco was the heaviest I've taken I believe. Three other guys watched me put him down from a distance and were kind enough to help me pull him out of the breaks. By the time we got him to my truck I don't think I've ever felt so pathetic physically.

It isn't relevant to this discussion, but my hunting buddy shot a whitetail this last season that weighed (on his father's game scale) 180 lbs. field dressed, probably in the 140's as well. Of course he shot it with a Scirocco <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> ......Noooooooooo, just kidding. He used his .243 with 87 gr. Hornady's that I loaded for him. Good luck, Troy

Troy.

I just said what I like and don`t like. Of course You can easily drop any elk with this bullet. I want my bullets to exit, because it gives more blood on the ground to follow. Besides, it makes me able to reach the vital organs from difficult angels. Just my toughts on the matter.

And I don't fault you or anyone for wanting such performance on elk or anything for that matter. Of the five mulies I've shot with Scirocco's, only one 165 gr. bullet has been recovered, and that was a frontal shot near to 75 yards, give or take. Do what you feel is best for your situation, I can't fault you for that. I just may not always agree <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> . Good luck, Troy

They don't come out look'n any better than that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I don't know that I said it before. So POP, whatever bullet you choose best of luck to you. Remember to post a picture of your big bull for us <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . Good luck, Troy