Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Bullet Advice Please

There are.many types of energy, heat, stored, electrical, etc. In a bulletbit "kinetic energy" witch is a math calculation of mass abd velocity.
The idea that kinetic energy transfers is pure BS. Momentum transfers always

Absolutely…..this! 👍👍👍


We have been mislead by the cartridge manufacturers for many decades about the ft/lbs energy myth.

As I’ve posted several times, for any one interested in learning a bit more about the bullets effect on animals…….here it is again! memtb

https://rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ballistics/politics.html

I don’t think moose man is that off base about the wounded animals from pass through ordinances.

In my mind ignoring KE in a kinetic round seems unfounded.

But accuracy limitations due to felt recoil is something all hunters should consider.

Accuracy trumps all.

So I suggest choosing which bullet you shoot most accurately, and the manufacturer of the bullet recommends it for the size of game you are hunting. In my mind the OP has some good choices.

I like Barnes bullets, I also like 200 grain NP s, ever since mule deer pointed out they were ballistically superior to the 180 in the 3006.

The one thing I read here on the campfire was how poorly the 200 grain hot cor did shooting a beef cow shoulder knuckle. ( perhaps I am in error……..I hope so….cuz I got a pile of them)


U might need a double tap for 9 mm and 45 acp to stop a human……..but how about the 44 rem mag?

BCHunter666: Stick with the Nosler Partitions on Elk - I do NOT care how hard they are to find or how expensive they are.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Ive personally always used Nosler Partitions or Accubonds for my elk hunting. When i've put em where they are supposed to go and they work every time. I've been with others when they have dropped em where they stood at short to long distances with Hornady ELDs and Berger VLDs. Ive also seen some real rodeos start with a poorly placed bullet no matter who made it.

Comparing bullets, or cartridges for that matter, if done in a believable way, is more informative where a lot of animals can be taken and observed, with the differences and sameness in range, target animal orientation, reactions, bullet penetration levels, internal damage, state of awareness, reaction after the hit, and anything else you want to add to your measurements is done.

Sometimes you can see a differance between 2 cartridges or 2 bullets that becomes very clear after a days culling on one species but not as clear when comparing other animals of similar size or sub species.

The more culls or kills you do, the more similar the results can seem where nuances and isolated reactions to a particular bullet or cartridge can be accepted as that.

The main thing that I learned from culling is yes, I did see differences between neighboring cartridges, sometimes. But, I also saw brackets of similarities where using more, whatever you want to add, be it caliber, velocity, kinetic energy, bullet design, didn't matter anymore because the reaction, meaning what was starting to be a uniform observation became more uniform or similar until calibers perhaps reached another level.

Most hunters shoot medium sized animals, say under 300 pounds with generally thin skins, light bones and the ability to be taken, not always but often, in an unalarmed state. The results of most anything between a .25/06 and a .338 magnum will perform similarly. I stress, that I am not speaking of single animals and the assumption is, that a bullet of game construction with a velocity over about 2500fps at usual game ranges under 200 yards, and closer if you're honest about it, is used.

There will be exceptions and I have experienced them enough to know they exist but decades ago I learned them to be something more similar to 270's than dissimilar, yet I don't own one, preferring 7mm as my .270.

I hope you notice I am talking calibers mostly, cartridges secondly and bullets lastly. We all know that the bullet is the primary item of concern but the launching pad influences how that bullet is delivered and each caliber offers several or many cartridge case sizes to launch from.

It's a good discussion but it needn't generate conflict of opinion if animal reactions are quoted from an experience then back out, to allow more supporting or discenting experiences to present.

If you remember than some animals may be heavier but still considered characteristically softer or tougher for their weight, it only demonstrates the value in averaging out experiences and keeping the mind open as it may change with the next animal taken and open a whole new train of thought.

at 70 years of age this will be my 1st and only Plains Game Hunt in Africa and i will be using the simple 30-06 too . here is what i have tried , they shoot excellent ,work well on game and are easy to have sent to you because this company always has their bullets in stock = Hammer Hunters 30 caliber 160 grain bullets , i am tired of trying to find enough other brand bullets that are in stock at a store .i like the convenience of just having bullets sent fast thru the mail ,i live out in the country and the less i have to go to a town or city the better. good luck,Pete53

Going back to the OP which is important, I have shot some nice under half inch groups with the 168gn TTSX using 60gn of H4350. Velocity is around 2850fps so would be my choice.

Originally Posted by buttstock
Speer 200 grain HotCor.


I think he may have a point Most of my elk have been taken using .35 Whelen but I have used 30 caliber on two elk. The first was that 200 gr. Hot Core mentioned. It was shot from a .300Win. Mag pushing close to 2900 FPS. The elk was lasered at 530 yards and was down with the first shot She kicked a little then expired. I only hunt cow elk as I'm strictly a meat hunter. Bullet was never recovered.

Same result on another cow elk at right around 100 yards with a 30-06. Bullet was the 165 gr. Accubond. Why so light a bullet? The rifle is a custom and has a slower twist that the normal 1 in 10 and refuses to shoot anything heavier that 165 gr. Same as with the 200 gr. bullet, it was not recovered. That elk ran maybe 30 yards before dropping.

What exoerience I've had with the barnes TSX has been rather dismal. The 100 gr. 25 caliber grouped poorly in a .257 Robt. The 120 and q40 gr. TSX 7MM bullets never grouped worth a damn in three 7x57 rifles and a .280 Rem. I've never tried them in any 30 Caliber.

On the other hand, the 225 gr. TSX has been a superbly accurate bullet in my .35 Whelen and has accounted for six elk, all one shot kills with most down DRT. None ran more than ten or so feet.

I have other rifles in 30-06. A couple of Remington M700s, A classic and a BDL. Both shoot the 180 gr.Hornady SP Interlock into just about an inch. I do push the load some and get about 2820 FPS on average. Either rifle with that load would put a serious hurt on any elk that got in front of that bullet.
PJ

168 Ttsx in front of big game.
I think I'm around 2950fps. I'd have to look
Here is couple shots at a gong at 420 yards. Leupold 3.5-10 CDS
Yeah I know it's only 2 shots. Not 3 or 5. Didn't feel the need to ruin that .

I agree 100%. Of all the money we spend on hunting, bullets are one of the lowest costs we face. No matter how expensive they are.

I prefer 150 gr. Barnes TTSX in my 30-06 and 139 gr. Hornady CX in my 7mm-08. I don't mind paying a bit for the accuracy and terminal performance I want.

Bullet price is the least of your worries. Looking at Midway, the 168 grain X is $47/50 and the 180 grain partitions are $80/50. I'm not making my choice based on saving $33 for 50 bullets for the last elk hunt of my life.

If its going to be your last hunt why not go with something your rifle likes even if it is Nosler, if it does like Nosler which ones?

Barnes 168 TTSX hands down. I'm Barnes prejudiced after shooting their #3 manual data and daily function tests for 5 years. I've shot, and taken all of my animals with Barnes Bullets since 1991, worked there 2000-2005. Killed deer and elk with everything from 223 Rem-375Wby. Majority of kills were 280Rem and 140gr Barnes TSX, TTSX. Good hunting!