I’m signed up for a Montana 2021 elk/mule deer combo and I’m looking for advice on what ammo I should use. I do not reload so I have to rely on factory offerings. I used Hornady Precision Hunter 300wm 200 gr 3 years ago on an elk hunt in Colorado. Although I successfully harvested a decent bull at a touch over 300 yards I’d like to consider another round. The precision’s were fatal and dropped him in his tracks requiring a few follow ups to ultimately ensure I finished him off (guide told us that morning how tuff elk were and have been known to get back up after being knocked do so keep shoot until they stop moving). My issue is if he didn’t fall I wouldn’t have had much of any blood to follow due to none of my hits passing through. Should that concern me or am I over thinking things?

over thinking it...

I used a 200gr Accubond on Alaskan Moose. Did the job.

Try both 180 grain Partition and Accubond in your rifle. Use whichever round gives you the best accuracy.

If it's worked before, use it again. I like Barnes TSX or TTSX. Been a proven performer. Some people here think the 6.5 Needmore is sufficient for Elk, others will say just hit 'em in the vitals and they'll die, a few rationalize Jack OConner used a 270 for everything, and then there's the final coup de grace - poachers use .22's to kill elk all the time argument, all of which make elk seem as easy to put down as a squirrel. My take is a good bullet, partition, solid copper, or similar is required and the rest is irrelevant, except for distance. A 30-30 will take an elk at 100 yards. A 300 wm - shooting the same 180 grain, .30 cal. bullet will take an elk at 400 yards. My experience has been that each elk is different, some die fast, others will run 100's of yards - given the same bullet, placement, and distance.

Contrary to what your guide said elk do not wear Kevlar. When Shooting a 300wm any bullet will stop an elk so pick the one you shoot best out of your rifle.

Don't fix what isn't broke

Most bullets will work most of the time.

If you want deep penetration, go heavy. Stouter bullets also help in that regard. My choices, depending on the rifle are Barnes TTSX/LRX and Nosler AccuBond/AccuBond LR.I also use Swift A-FRame and Scirocco and the no-linger available North Fork bullets.

The new Federal Terminal Ascent have been accurate in my handloads (.280 Rem and 7mm RM) and I would use them this year if I can find more as components. They offer the best of everything I like about big game bullets - high B.C., poly tip to help B.C.and initiate expansion, bonded core (front half), mono metal rear.

The 180 Partition has worked for me on many elk and deer. Shoot well and you will have few if any problems. Good luck on your hunt.

I shoot A 168 gr TTSX Barnes. Hyper accurate and should easily dispatch those two species

I have had great results with 200 grain partitions on several elk and moose.
Several great bullets are on the market these days, I do like heavy for caliber
bullets on larger game. Two of my grandchildren have harvested moose this season
With 165 grain in 308 win. So whatever you chose after the research you are doing
Will most likely preform great.

Hey all, thanks for the replies so far. I think what I’m gonna do is try some of the suggestions you have given and see what shoots well out of my gun. The issue I’m up against now is finding some of these in stock. I haven’t went to the local places yet but a lot are sold out online

Another vote for 168 Barnes TTSX. Out of my .300 Weatherby, all one shot kills with pass through on large mule deer and bull elk. Should do the same with a .300 Win Mag. All were hit in the vitals and went down immediately if not sooner. A 180 TTSX should work similarly if you can’t find 168’s. I handload the 168’s since the 180 gr and above has more felt recoil in my rifle it seems. Happy Trails

Another vote for Barnes Bullets, in either the 165 to 180 grain variety. The VOR-TX brand ( by Remington), and some of the Federal Premium loadings are using Barnes bullets. memtb

Over thinking it.

A 300 WM? This should be pretty easy, I killed my 1st dozen Elk w/ a 300 savage or a .243. You can't be too close or too steady.


mike r

I would love to know where the first and followup shots hit the elk. Secondly pass through shots are not necessarily a requisite for ample blood trails. Inquiring minds would like to know!

I’ve killed elk with the 200 eldx worked just fine, if your gun shoots them roll with them.

180 Partition, 180 Accubond, 165-180 TTSX to include the incredible 175 LRX

We didnt gut it so I didnt see first hand evidence but based off of the entrance wounds all of the shots were within the vitals. The first shot was a bit high but might have caught the heart, the others were all lung shots due to his orientation. First shot put him down but he got back up and I shot him again and the second kept him down but he was clearly attempting to stand back up so I shot at least one more time and again it was a lung shot. Without seeing the internals, I think the first shot was lethal and he would have died but I dont know for sure. I would think if he would have ran more than the step or two he took between shot 1 and 2 there probably would have been blood but I just typically would think a pass through would produce more blood.

Again, the bullet did what it was supposed to by killing an elk so Im probably over thinking it.

what boliep said

Used AB, LRAB (180, 190) and eldx (200) out my wsm on elk.

All worked fine.

I'll be using the eldx again this year.

Sorry, read that as 300wsm....ignore me.

Try the 200 eldx for a factory load

What is wrong with the Barnes factory loading 180gn TTSX at 3000fps?

I’ve found the Nosler trophy grade 180 AB as well as the Berger match grade 215 load to shoot very well.

I used a handloaded 175 LRX going 3100 from my 300WM on a cow elk a few weeks ago. I have shot Barnes Bullets since the late 80's. I wanted to test the LRX as it is supposed to be a tad "softer" up front, faster opening. My cow was only 100yds, high lung shot, quarter sized entrance/exit, no bloodshot meat, lungs all tore up. 30yd death run. Perfection, ha. I am not a LR hunter, so I am going back to the 30-06 for nostalgic reasons. I loaded the 168 TSX for several 300WSM users and 168TTSX for my last one (My SIL will use it next month for elk) I will see what the 150 TTSX does for me. I'd say "any" cup n core 180 or 165-180 Mono is perfect. Have fun though!!

The original 'X'bullets gave me inconsistent performance so I quit using them. When the TSX came out I still didn't use them due to the reports of others, but when the first tipped version (MRX) came out, I gave them a try. Results with the MRX, TTSX and LRX have been identical - 50% or slightly more straight-down DRT with only one animal going more than a few steps. That one was an antelope that made it about 25-30 yards after being shot with a .257 Roberts/100g TTSX.

My group has yet to recover any Barnes bullet. I've put two lengthwise through mule deer, in the front and out the back. Will be using the 175g LRX in the .300WM for elk this november in my backup rifle. (Primary will be .280 Rem, 150g ABLR.)

I had a bad experience with a ballistic tip leading to a 600 yard run from a lung shot elk. We hunt public close to an unfriendly private ranch so need to stop them sooner. I switched to the 300 Weatherby with 180 grain Barnes TTSX and won’t change back last year nic buck & nice cow combined to slide 20 yards downhill in snow. Both shot heart lungs.