.03-06 bullet selection - elk out to 500 yards

[Sccritterkiller]

180gr NP work just fine on elk out of my 308...go with what you got..

 

[abbrown]

sorry to hijack a thread but does anyone have any experience or opinions on the 165 grain Sierra Tipped Gameking (gamechanger) on elk? my .30/06 wouldnt group the usual suspects of Accubonds or terminal ascent. it seems to love these TGK's in the sierra factory loading. just curious of their performance on elk. info I can find online varies from them being too soft and frangible to them being too hard and not expanding...

thanks!

I have taken one bull and multiple red stags and hinds with that cartridge/bullet up to maybe 350yds and all died quickly. For what it’s worth.

 

[Bluumoon]

The LRX is not a TTSX. It is designed to open down to 1600 according to Barnes testing but recommend to keep the bullet velocity at 1700-1800. The TTSX is 1900-2000fps minimum.

Source: Barnes Hunting Bullets

Fake news brother. Their version of what is acceptable is way different than mine. Half of the forum is dedicated to uncovering the BS the industry pushes. This is right up there.

 

[Bluumoon]

The LRX is not a TTSX. It is designed to open down to 1600 according to Barnes testing but recommend to keep the bullet velocity at 1700-1800. The TTSX is 1900-2000fps minimum.

Source: Barnes Hunting Bullets

Here, start at the beginning

Thread 'Why Match/Target Bullets For Hunting'

Jan 22, 2021

This is going to be a barrage of questions. It will help to view me as a skeptic relative to the matter at hand. I am going to do some load development for my new 6mm Creed. I live in the southeast where shots are rarely taken at more than 100 yards. But, I fancy that I will take a trip out west one day to hunt antelope, so I am going to do my load development with an eye toward the possibility that I might shoot out to say (for the sake of discussion) 500 yards. This is a hunting gun.

Time to order bullets. I see questions asked frequently across various forums asking about using...

• Fartrell Cluggins
• Replies: 342
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[TaperPin]

It helps to keep in mind factory loads and most 30-06 reloading data are tested to a 5% to 8% lower max pressure than other cartridges using the same case, like 25-06, 270, etc., so while most manuals are showing 2,700 fps or 2,750 fps for 180 gr bullets, when loaded to what the case is capable of, velocities into the 2,800 fps range are common. For this old war horse 100 fps makes a lot of difference at 500 yards when guys are judging it based on velocity. Also, I’m guessing some folks are using data from sea level that seems pretty slow, or there are two different 180 gr Partitions so maybe they are using the semi spitzer?

Anyway, this first group is 180 gr. Partitions and the second is for 180 gr Accubond. No doubt about it, an Accubond has a higher bc (.507) than the Partition (.474), but at 500 yards it’s barely 50 fps difference and the way I zero, the trajectory is only an inch different. I’d have no hesitation whatsoever to take an elk with either bullet going 1,900 fps.

 

[The Guide]

The LRX is not a TTSX. It is designed to open down to 1600 according to Barnes testing but recommend to keep the bullet velocity at 1700-1800. The TTSX is 1900-2000fps minimum.

Source: Barnes Hunting Bullets

Kind of interesting that you trust Barnes marketing info but not Hornady marketing info. What gives one more credibility than the other? Just curious.

Jay

 

[06 SB]

Here, start at the beginning

Thread 'Why Match/Target Bullets For Hunting'

Jan 22, 2021

This is going to be a barrage of questions. It will help to view me as a skeptic relative to the matter at hand. I am going to do some load development for my new 6mm Creed. I live in the southeast where shots are rarely taken at more than 100 yards. But, I fancy that I will take a trip out west one day to hunt antelope, so I am going to do my load development with an eye toward the possibility that I might shoot out to say (for the sake of discussion) 500 yards. This is a hunting gun.

Time to order bullets. I see questions asked frequently across various forums asking about using...

• Fartrell Cluggins
• Replies: 342
• Forum: Firearms

• 

I will not be reading that novel. I have used Barnes TSX, TTSX for many years and are not worried about them opening up. I have used the 210gr TTSX from a 338 Fed that only gets launched at 2500 fps. It always works.

 

[TaperPin]

Here’s the SAAMI pressures for the ‘06 and a few others.

 

[06 SB]

Kind of interesting that you trust Barnes marketing info but not Hornady marketing info. What gives one more credibility than the other? Just curious.

Jay

I had not thought of that conundrum and a great observation and question. It boils down to my own personal experience with Hornady SSTs. I never lost a deer but came close a couple times due to lack of blood trails and the bullet coming apart after hitting a rib. I have never had a single issue with any Barnes either close in or far out there (300 yards) with a 338Fed, 30-06, 7mmRM. For me, my cartridges and they way I hunt, Barnes has always worked as advertised. Hornady, not so much. I use a lot of their stuff, just not the SST and am skeptical of the ELDX/M for hunting deer and elk. In the end, I like two holes so I prefer bullets designed for that outcome. This year I am using Sierra TGK for a few deer to see how they perform. Last year I used Federal Fusions and was very happy with their performance. I like to experiment and make my own conclusions. It makes reloading great again!

 

[Bluumoon]

QUOTE="06 SB, post: 4290867, member: 88063"]
I will not be reading that novel. I have used Barnes TSX, TTSX for many years and are not worried about them opening up. I have used the 210gr TTSX from a 338 Fed that only gets launched at 2500 fps. It always works.
[/QUOTE]


Tells me everything I need to know, good day.

 

[EdP]

It sounds like you are shooting only factory ammo. If so, and if you are hunting in griz country, I would be more concerned about the misfires than the terminal performance and aerodynamics of proven performers like ABs, NPTs, etc. A misfire on an elk may or may not lose you an opportunity, but a misfire on a charging griz could cost you your life. Maybe that is a remote possibility but I find I shoot better when I have complete confidence in my rifle.

 

[BloodyHipsIII]

shot 680 yards wit 150 gr nosler ballistic 3006 cross canyon depends on the shooter more than anything

 

[highcountrymuley]

I also downvote the 180 SST for elk, no experience with the ELDX... I shot large cow 3x at close range (50 yds) before she died. Fragmented bullets everywhere inside. Make them walk out to 150 or more yards and they may work as intended.

 

[Dwnw/theAltitudesickness]

I religiously shoot the hornady 165 sst. I will contradict those who dislike it. Whitetail buck at 40 yards, Barbary sheep ram under 100, cow elk under 200, bull elk and coues buck just under 400. All one shot and done, no issues with blood trailing.

 

[JackButler]

I bang flopped a large bull last season at 275 yards with the 178 eld-m in a lowly 308.

 

[SDHNTR]

For those that don’t like copper…

Antelope buck yesterday. Shot with a 127 LRX at 275yds with a 20” 6.5 creed.

All the mental masturbation over bullets on this site is ridiculous. Use common sense and they all work.

 

[The Guide]

For those that don’t like copper…

Antelope buck yesterday. Shot with a 127 LRX at 275yds with a 20” 6.5 creed.

All the mental masturbation over bullets on this site is ridiculous. Use common sense and they all work.

The 95 grain 6mm and 127 grain 6.5mm LRX bullets are great for their weights to bore ratio. To have a similar bullet in 308 caliber it would need to be about 150 grains and the lightest 308 caliber LRX bullet is a 175 grain. A bullet design that works well in one caliber at a specific weight won't always provide the same performance at another weight and caliber. I think the 95gr LRX in 6mm Creedmoor and the 127gr LRX in 6.5 PRC are great and kill like greased lightning. I think the 127 is mid to average in the 6.5 CM. Still does well but does not have the wound characteristics seen from the faster 6.5 PRC. They still kill elk as that bullet shot the best from my nephews 6.5 Creedmoor and he killed his first elk with it last year. This is in a point and shoot type rifle though with a 3x9 duplex scope and no dialing or holdovers.

Would I expect a 175 LRX loaded in a 30-06 to perform the exact same way? Absolutely not. You might get similar results from a 300WM or a 300WSM. Will the 30-06 still do well with the 175 LRX? I'm sure it would do fine but it won't be the performance level seen from that bullet in a smaller caliber in a lighter bullet with a lower weight to bore ratio when delivering it at a higher speed.

There is no perfect caliber, cartridge, or bullet for every shooting scenario. You have to pick the right bullet for the animal and the right caliber and cartridges to deliver the bullet at the right speed for the distances your shots will be made from.

Jay

 

[Mosby]

I handload and use a WM for elk but the 175 gr Barnes LRX and the 180 gr Accubond are the two most accurate bullets in my gun, with the Barnes winning between those two. I've killed both elk and deer with Hornady bullets too. I would use whatever is the most accurate in your rifle. They're all different.