|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 225
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 225 |
For Elk. Shooting a 30-06 or 7 rem mag, what do you belive to be the best cup and core bullet. Please, no need to tell.me about premium bullets, I know all about them. For you older guys, what did you kill elk with before the premiums
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 476
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 476 |
Per OP, I would cast a vote for the Sierra Gameking BTSP. I have used it in multiple calibers on elk.
I would stick with the 160 grain in the 7mm Magnum and the 165 in the .30-06!
Last edited by Marshal_Dillon; 04/28/24. Reason: Clarification
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,305
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,305 |
I've used Hornady Interlock and HPs, the HP have a thicker jacket, same with Sierra Hp Gameking. They have worked well for me, in several calibers.
My 7mm RM I used WW power points. It worked very well.
Long ago had issues with Speer Hot Cores so never tried them again.
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.” Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 2,349 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 2,349 Likes: 3 |
Interlock interlock interlock. Favorite bullet behind a berger vld.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,748 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,748 Likes: 1 |
Interlock or Winchester PP.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,317 Likes: 9
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,317 Likes: 9 |
As an older guy, who used a variety of non-premium bullets to kill elk I learned from my youthful mistakes. I learned it’s better if the elk fall down sooner rather than later.
I now use premium bullets.
With age comes wisdom……usually…..
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 986
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 986 |
The standard old-fashioned elk medicine in the 30-06 is any 180 grain bullet you wish to use, such as Core-lokt, Power Point, or Federal red box Hi-Shok (later became blue boxes). This was before Hornady loaded factory ammo; then it became Interlock bullets 165 grains or heavier.
In the 7mm Mag, lots of elk fell to the 175 gr. Core-lokt bullets and I am sure some hunters used the 150s too. Then Hornady 162 gr. Interlocks.
And by the way, if you shoot a 270, there is darn precious little you cannot kill with the Hornady 140 gr. Interlock bullet.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,305
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,305 |
As an older guy, who used a variety of non-premium bullets to kill elk I learned from my youthful mistakes. I learned it’s better if the elk fall down sooner rather than later.
I now use premium bullets.
With age comes wisdom……usually….. Way to ignore the OP's question, and say nothing at the same time.
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.” Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,317 Likes: 9
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,317 Likes: 9 |
Way to ignore the OP's question, and say nothing at the same time. Oh, I said something, but the pilgrims want to ignore it.
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 263
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 263 |
Remington Core Lokt have taken elk for me my entire life, my dads and grandpa also. It's normally one shot .30 cal 150, 165, 180 gr.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,225 Likes: 25
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,225 Likes: 25 |
For Elk. Shooting a 30-06 or 7 rem mag, what do you belive to be the best cup and core bullet. Please, no need to tell.me about premium bullets, I know all about them. For you older guys, what did you kill elk with before the premiums 'Best cup and core" for elk: Hornady Interlock.. Also, there probably aren't any "older" guys here that killed elk before the Nosler partition came out. Just sayin. That is the gold standard for "premium" controlled expansion bullet.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,806 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,806 Likes: 2 |
I have shot a lot of elk with Sierras and some with Hornady. But then I am not sure if they are the best, but they killed a lot of elk for me.
Molon Labe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 8,802 Likes: 13
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 8,802 Likes: 13 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 250
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 250 |
I've only killed 2 elk so take that into consideration regarding my opinion. One with a 165 gr, Interlock through the lungs. That one went about 50 yd before expiring. The other was with a 180 gr. Sierra pro hunter. The shot was straight head on, center-punched. That one went 50 ft before dropping. Not sure the bullet matters as much as the placement.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,244
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,244 |
Interlocks
The poor man's Partition...which has been around (Partitions, that is) since way before "premium" was a thing.
My heart's in the mountains, my heart is not here. My heart's in the mountains, chasing the deer.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 2,432
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 2,432 |
Speer Grand Slam 180 in 30 caliber followed by an Interlock of the same weight. Speer Grand Slam 160 in 7mm followed by an Interlock, again of the same weight.
"Aim right, squeeze light" " Might as well hit what you're aiming at, it kicks the same whether you miss or not" NRA Life, GOA
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,749
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,749 |
My opinion is that Hornady Interlocks have given me the best, and most consistent, performance on all game. I've never had an issue with 165's at '06 velocities, and figured if I couldn't break them (and seldom caught one), it didn't make sense to move up to 180's. Might as well keep the extra speed & flatter trajectory. FWIW, I noted that Hornady didn't even offer (at the time) the 180 Inter bond in their loaded .30-06 ammo, so I emailed them to ask about the oversight. The reply was that they didn't think the '06 could push the 180 Interlock beyond its performance envelope, so why bother loading a premium? Now, with my opinion (which you asked for) out of the way, here are some thoughts from a guy with a few more kills to his credit. Are 165-grain Hornady Interlocked bullets adequate for elk? Yup, I've killed a few score with them; never had an elk need two of them and more elk dropped at the shot than not.
The 150-grain Hornady Interlocked is also an incredible elk-killing bullet. Not a classic elk bullet, perhaps, but if anything I've experienced BETTER KILLS with them than any other bullet ... .30-'06 or .308 Winchester, pick your poison.
Note: Elk killing is considerable different than writing stuff in the gun-funnybooks. Also, frankly, it takes many, many years of elk killing to understand what works, what kinda works and what is gonna leave you following a long blood-trail with quite possibly a horrible evening at the end of it.
The Hornady Interlocked 165s and 150s work very well on elk and I prefer them to the 180s and 190s. (That was the next question and I saved someone from asking it)
Steve He posted this > 13 years ago, so you might reach out to see if he'd offer any updates. As for 7 mag, I'd go for the 154 or 162 Interlock. And again, it appears Mr. Dogzapper would concur: I used a single 154 Spire Point in my .280 Ackley, loaded down to 2800 fps, to kill an Asian water buffalo a couple of years ago. Perfect double carotid artery hit and an exit hole in the far side of the neck of about one-inch.
A single well-placed bullet can do magic.
I've killed lots of deer and several elk with the Hornady 154-grain Spire Point Interlocked. It is a wonderful bullet in all possible ways.
In thinking back, I cannot remember ever having the need to shoot twice on any big game animal I've killed with a 154. Nor can I remember a critter struggling more than a few yards.
Heck of a bullet.
Steve Good Luck, FC
Last edited by Folically_Challenged; 04/29/24.
"Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet."
- Mrs. FC
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,669 Likes: 42
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,669 Likes: 42 |
I started loading my 30-06 decades ago with 165 Hornady spire point bullets. With IMR 4350 powder, it worked in both my Remington and Sako 30-06.
I went to Alaska in 1990 for Caribou and took the 30-06 with Barnes “X” bullets and learned my lesson about premium bullets. I pulled all the leftover bullets and went back to the Hornady 165 grain and over the years, killed more than 40 elk with that combination.
Who needs a 7 Mag?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,031 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,031 Likes: 5 |
At 30-06 velocities….a 180 Hornady SP (interlock) or a 180 Nosler Partition. At 7 mag velocities….. 160 Nosler Partition. With you predetermined bullet limitations……I think those are your best options! memtb
Last edited by memtb; 04/29/24.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,107 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19,107 Likes: 5 |
220 grain round nose, any brand for an .06. I killed more than few with a 175 GR Sierra Game King, 7mag. Always go for heavy for caliber bullets for C&C bullets At 30-06 velocities….a 180 Hornady SP (interlock) or a 180 Nosler Partition. At 7 mag velocities….. 180 Nosler Partition. With you predetermined bullet limitations……I think those are your best options! memtb OP said no premium. Partitions are still considered that I think
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
|
|
|
|
563 members (1234, 1badf350, 12344mag, 01Foreman400, 1minute, 007FJ, 62 invisible),
2,592
guests, and
1,223
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,713
Posts18,514,085
Members74,010
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|