Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Gotta 280AI and need a bullet

How about you have a bullet weight in mind and you need a caliber?

Definitely a different approach. I read about a few people here hunting elk with some itty bitty bullets so I'm confident a well constructed bullet from my 280ai whether 140-150-160 will do the job.

I am more of a 30 cal guy using a flavor of one for most of my hunting. I took a Kimber 30-06 with a NP at a little under 2800 fps to Africa this past August where it preformed perfectly. That rifle combo will also go with me also.

What I'm trying to find out is what people are having good luck with. Minimal tracking unless the blood trail is real obvious(the color blind thing). How far the animal traveled after being shoot. Maybe how far the shoot was.

I would really NOT want to lose an elk(or any other animal).

A better way to buy a rifle these days is to buy one in which you can find bullets for regardless of bullet weight or caliber.

I have a new to me Kimber Montana in 260 and can't find bullets or brass for the thing.

Maybe it's just me, but if I had a rifle already I would not find that particularly useful or relevant.

I say go with either the 168 or 175 gr long range accubonds, they group equally well with R22 and H7828sc. My mag box on my Cooper does not allow me to seat the bullet anywhere close to the lands, but I still get 1/2" groups.....but it took me a while to find the best load.

175 gr Partitions and IMR-7828.

Gunner

Just this year, two 'large' cows were shot with my 708 and 120gr NBT, a spike with my buddy's 270wsm 129gr LRX, a young cow my old 338 with 225gr TTSX... none went anywhere and the only bullet recovered was the 225gr... shows you things aren't always according to hoyle... but killing isn't that hard.

My choices in the 7mm bullets are 120 NBT/TXS, 139 hndy IL, 140 barnes.

Im using 140gr Barnes TTSX'S in my 280ai with IMR 4350.
2 Elk and 2 Oryx have hated the combo to date.
Shoots itty bitty groups at around 3150 fps.

I run the 160 AB in mine with Ramshot Magnum...and the 150 LRAB with H4831SC.

Good speed. What rifle and barrel?

I have been liking the Ramshot powders but finding that stuff here has been nearly impossible.

You might have to break down and order Ramshot powder..I usually just keep my eye open for it when I'm out and about and when I see it I buy several pounds..

Shot this Friday!
Custom.

Nice gemsbok. New Mexico?

yeah. wsmr, broken horn hunt.

From personal experience one can also add the 162 Hornady btsp to the list. I have been very impressed with it at impact velocity of 2600 fps.

I now have a bunch of 160 AB loaded for the STW, I am sure they will work as well as the Hornadys.

145LRX would be on my short list.

Just curious about why you want to go with a 7mm bullet instead of your 30 caliber rifles that have done well for you on an elk hunt? Trying different rifles is enjoyable but smaller isn't the direction I'd go if I was trying to avoid tracking. Personally I love my 7 RM and it shoots extremely well but ive gone to a 300 Wby for a little more stopping power at 300 yards (hunting open country cross canyon usually). The 180 grain ttsx vs the 150 at similar velocities and trajectory.

that doesn't way over penetrate?

140gr TTSX and 59gr of RL-19.........

specneeds

I can't make it out west every year and I don't feel the need to have a belted mag short mag or an ultra mag whatever. They sat in the safe not being used.
I sold all my rifles but a couple and a pile of handguns to hunt Africa. No regrets either. So now I am in the mist of picking up a few more rifles. As said I have a Kimber Classic Select in 30-06 and I did not want another 06. I thought on the 270 some but decided on the 280ai.
When I started hunting out west the first rifle I bought was a Remington 700 mountain in 280 and had great luck with it for mule deer. So the 280ai was it.
It has taken 39 years but while I think your 300 weatherby is a fine cartridge I would not have any fun shooting it and don't enjoy the recoil or the muzzle blast.
I have also recently picked up a Kimber Classic select in 257 Roberts and another Montana in 260. Both fun to shoot.