Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk Bullet Advice

Was invited on my first elk hunt with a friend for this coming year.

Of my rifles, he said bring my 300WM, so that decision is made.

He said 300 - 500 yards is the most common range, followed by up very close.

So, the question for those with experience is what bullet would you recommend for a 300WM with 24" 1:10 twist?

I have 185 and 210 Bergers hybrids on hand, as well as 175 and 190 SMK's.

Advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Well said! This barnes xlc is an anomaly! Possesing Monty Hall "lets make a deal"type figures. However I did get a measured 2950 with them using a Colt light rifle. This load also shoots out of my jc higgins fn, and a 1903 A3. (I never measured either rifles velocities) But lets look at a few other things about the 300 Mag......Does it not require a 26 inch barrel to get the optimum performance? Do they not tend to weigh .75 or more pounds than a 3006 or 308? Do they not, in fact as I have stated, show superior ballistics using a 200 grain projectile? (Compared to the 3006/308) Is not a 200 grain bullet superior to a 180 in sectional density and ballistic co-efficient? If a 200 groups as well as a 180 why would you need to choose the 180? Thanks........I just can't get my head around not using the 200 grain bullets in my 308 Norma.

The takeaway from this discussion seems to be that every major brand of bullet is working for someone, other than Swift which was not mentioned and doubtless they probably work fine as well.

I'll tinker with some Barnes and Noslers and see what shoots. Honestly, seems like a 150 - 210+ grain anything in the chest would not be conducive to elk health.

Angus, I have 243, 260, and 308's as well. 308 is my go to choice. My friend wants me to bring my 300, so since it is his hunt and invitation I am going with his request, although a 308 will be riding along as a spare.

I am taking the boots advice to heart. I have Lowa Hunter GTX's that are well broken in and have served me well in our areas with sharp rocks underfoot. They are stiffer soled than most hunting boots, more like a high topped light backpacking boot with a half shank. Thoughts on these?

Fitness will be by far the biggest challenge for me. This hunt has really given me a nice goal and some renewed motivation. We already have some horses lined up for bringing an animal out if we are lucky. That was my one condition for the hunt.

Thanks everyone for taking time to provide the input. Looking forward to posting some photos even if it is nothing more than just a nice sunrise with a cup of coffee.

Regards.

To get full reward out of your hunt, you need to pack out at least one quarter on your back..... It's the suffering that builds bonds!!!!!!!!!

As was said, XLCs could be pushed way faster than "regular bullets". They were an oddball and a b*tch to load w/o damaging the coating.

The Barnes manual was very clear about loads for regular X bullets and XLCs being way different.

Some of new TTSXs are the same way. I can edge 4000 fps in my 30" 25-06 Highwall with the 80 gr TTSX. They drop right out even though a falling block has no where near the extraction of a bolt gun.

Been shooting Barnes, since there was a Barnes. Never found an unsafe load yet.

BUT Nosler Partitions, if they shoot in your rifle, are never a bad choice.

Would love to more than you can imagine. But after docs tinkering with my spine courtesy of a lady talking on a cell phone instead of looking through her windshield, if I just make it up the mountain to see the sunrise, the trip will be a great success in my mind. Everything beyond that is a bonus.

I have spent probably over $250 giving Partitions an exhaustive try in my 284 & 308 caliber rifles. No success, no more attempts.