Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 7RM elk bullets?

178 ELD-X from my 30-06 at 405 yards on cow elk in January. The bullet smashed through her leg bone on the way in, then went through her heart. Amazed me that she ran after taking this hit:






I haven't used the ELD-X a lot, but with the gel/penetration testing, these results, and the excellent accuracy, they sure do seem like a worthwhile hunting bullet.

Regards, Guy

As indicated by others both will likely work but the 150 grain TTSX is my go to bullet & what I recommend for elk every time. Breaks bones if needed kills more reliably than softer bullets with tough angles. The 140 or 150 are what I’d suggest. Limiting yourself to 250 yards with a 7 Mag isn’t necessary- I’d practice to 500 & make 400 my comfort zone at least with a very capable rifle. We shoot them way out to 800 yards in practice so 500 seems routine.

"120gr TTSX at about3200fps. Also good with 150gr Partitions at about 3050fps. What are your thoughts on using either of these on elk? 250 yards or less."

Either is fine. I have owned several 7MMs in my life and killed elk with all of them but one. 7MM Rem Mag. 7mm Weatherby. 7X57 and 280 Remington.
I came to favor the 160 Gr partitions but X bullets were not easily available back then but from what I have seen in the last 30 years or so the Barnes TSX is a very good bullet.
I am a bit of a big-gun and big-bullet guy, but for no reason I can prove, and with 59 years of elk hunting behind me as a guide and a hunter both, I have killed or seen killed many hundreds of elk. A good strong bullet that still expands does fine on elk if shot by anyone that can shoot well.

Shot with bullets that don't break up badly I have seen many clean kills on elk with 25-06s a few 243s a lot of 6.5X55s and 260 Remington's. And on the other side of them argument I have seen more run-offs from the 7MM Mag and the 300 Win Mag then any other 2 shells, and other then poor placement the cause of those run-offs has often been bullets that broke up and didn't go through very deep or very straight, --- or both. But given a stoute bullet in the right place the 7mm mag is a superb tool for elk hunting. In fact I did just fine with my 7X57 and I never had to shoot 2 times at an elk with it. Your 7 Mag beats the 7X57 by a pretty big step.

So lay for fears to rest. If you can shoot, either one of those 2 bullets pick one and use it --------but use it well.

As a side note the Partition usually weighs about 66% of it's non-fired weight when it stops and the TSX will weigh 99-100 percent of it's unfired weight. So the weight of the bullets when they stop is likely to be 118 to 120 for the Barnes and 100 for the Nosler. The partition will make a larger diameter would as a rule and that can have an effect, but both will do a good job for you if you do a good job with them.

The bullet is far more important then the cartridge case in my experience hunting elk for 59 years in 5 states.

Just go forth and shoot one.

Szihn said all that needed saying.

I will second that....

First: Make sure you're in good shape.

Enjoy your hunt to the fullest!

Thanks again, gentlemen, for all your help and encouragement!

145 LRX @ 3090 from a 280AI

The majority of my elk (since 1964) have been killed with a PARTITION, or Accubond, nothing has worked as well.

Lots of good options.

My Bud swears by 160 NAB’s over RL-26 for African PG’s. Elk should be pretty similar to many of those animals. He gets quick kills, is an excellent shot, so bullet placement is a given.

I’d think going with what your gun likes and what you like is the way to go. Critters won’t know the difference.

DF

160 Accubond for me, from my 7 WSM’s.

Those have withstood the test of time.

Not to say they’re the absolute best, but they do work.

And they have their following. It would be hard for me to convince my bud that he needed to try newer bullets. He’s not a Loony.

He’d politely decline and go with the proven performer. Me, I’m more inclined to try Hammers, etc., not him. Hard core hunter vs a Loony.

Different strokes. He has rooms of mounts to validate his approach.

Me, not so much. More guns than trophies.

DF

Seems like more and more hunters are shooting smaller calibers, more velocity and high tech bullets. I certainly can’t argue with many of the newer bullet designs but when I lived in Idaho and my brother guided in Wyoming for years when many of his clients were just after table fare except the big monarch’s. But bigger bores and heavier bullets were the ticket. Can’t argue with Mr. O’Connor’s techniques but he was exceptional and he shot the 30-06 for elk most of the time.

If it’s the recoil and unreasonable ranges that is initiating this trend I don’t know but when a nice broadside is offered and placement is good and the bullet takes out lungs and heart it’s a fine recipe. But if all you have is a quartering shot in steep or heavy timber country I’d suggest a bullet of enough weight to break an elk down. I mean breaking shoulder or the big stern bones so they are going nowhere. This is especially true late in the day or if the animal gets over the top where you have to circle around to get to the other side. My Brother tells me he’s seen a number of elk hit by Barnes’ best that punched holes in shoulder bones but didn’t break them up and the elk kept traveling. Something to think about. Just seems to me after spending so much for a life time hunt why not hedge your bets. Understand I’ve taken three cows with my 257 AI 120gr Hornady Interlocs but I lived in Idaho and had mor opportunities.

Rick

Yeah, good post,

Did he in his last sentence imply that “the boolit is more important than the head stamp”?

Seems we’ve heard that one before, somewhere from the North and I think it’s true.

DF

OTOH I can't think of a better load for those South Texas deer/hogs than your 120 Barnes! Get lots of practice and go "put the finesse" on a big bull Pard!

Thanks again for all the comments. This has turned out to be a very entertaining and enlightening thread.