About seven or eight months ago I received an invitation, from one of our church members for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This man, through work and a long time friendship with another gentleman who owns the only elk game ranch in the state of Wyoming.
Where we were hunting at there is one high fence that encompasses 25,000 acres or approximately 39 square miles, if I have my numbers correct.
I actually saw a part of the border fence on one of the days, while hunting in the afternoon.
The two of us could shoot a management bull (very hard to find) and a cow or two cows.
My brother in Christ is in his mid 80's, and about 2 weeks before the hunt, he asked me if I would shoot his elk with my big pistol.
He again confirmed a couple days before we left that he wanted me to use my "big pistol."
I assumed it would be one elk a piece, but after we got here, as mentioned earlier, it was two a piece. I was able to take 3-cow elk, all under 200 yards, and all spot and stalk.
One prone (walking, crawling and belly scooting) and the other two were double kneeling off Bog-Gear with the PSR top.
My second cow was at 70 yards. We getting ready to try and head off another group, when 3 popped out of nowhere.
I didn't have time to switch to the 44, as it all happened to fast.



We had one morning left to look for a management bull.
One the last morning we worked hard and finally found a management bull.
He was in a group of about 10 bulls, and he was bedded down in the shade.
The wind was in our favor, and it wasn't blowing hard.
We climbed a steep ridge, crouch walked, crawling, and then to belly scooting.
We slowly topped the ridge, then had to go a bit further to get clear of the grass. Shot him bedded at under 200 yards.
He went about 40 yards or less and was down for the count.

I wanted to use my S&W RAAP 44 Magnum, but did not have the opportunity. A lot of fun with a good friend, awesome food, area, and accommodations, and have seen a lot of elk too-Great memories.
My Bayside Custom Gunworks 7mm Dakota XP does great on elk too!
Picked up the elk meat last week...Lots of good meals coming our way!

That’s great! Congrats on the freezer stuffers!

Detail on the cartridge and bullets used! Looks like you had a few great shots.

Awesome!

https://press.hornady.com/assets/site/hornady/files/obsolete-data/7mm-dakota.pdf
175 grain Hornady ELD-X at 2925 fps/83.0 grains of Reloader 33.
Only confirmed drops with it to 1000 yards so far.
It stacks shots out to a grand in good conditions.

Lots of elk meat there.

A 7 mm 175 grain bullet at 2,925?? Yep, I'd say that qualifies as a "big pistol," LOL. Congrats on all that fine eating.

How did you like the performance of the eld-x's?

So far, I have taken one buck antelope, one buck mule deer, one bull elk and 3 cow elk with the 175 ELD-X.
To date I am pleased with this bullet, even at ranges under 100 yards....High impact velocities.

Thanks. DId you get full penetration on the elk?

On some, yes.
At under 200 yards the bullet acted tougher than a A-max, but softer than a Accubond.
It is not a bonded bullet, and I don't expect it to act like one.
No animal has gone beyond 50 yards.

I ran my 7 WSM at that. Have fun there.

Nice elk !

I lose around 300 fps compared to typical rifle lengths in the same chambering

Thanks, sounds like I need to try some and see if they'll shoot for me.

Very nicely done.