.308 for Elk

[35WhelenAI]

Thanks for the follow-up, I understand your context now. Absolutely agree.

 

[TheHammer]

I’ve had great luck with my 308s and 168ttsx from 42-447yds. Your setup is great no need to change it if you’re confident with it!

 

[Short Track]

I’ve had great luck with my 308s and 168ttsx from 42-447yds. Your setup is great no need to change it if you’re confident with it!

I had a terrible experience with that exact combination. 4 TTSX through the lungs at 190 yards. Literally 4 shots into the boiler room broadside, until the Elk dropped. All perfect shots. Poor expansion on the TTSX.

 

[MountainMan83]

I had a terrible experience with that exact combination. 4 TTSX through the lungs at 190 yards. Literally 4 shots into the boiler room broadside, until the Elk dropped. All perfect shots. Poor expansion on the TTSX.

I have had great experience with this exact setup. Last 3 elk dropped within 20 yards or less. One bull elk took 3 shots in the boiler room before he tilted over but literally just stood there in shock. Curious how far your elk made it after your initial shot?

 

[Short Track]

I have had great experience with this exact setup. Last 3 elk dropped within 20 yards or less. One bull elk took 3 shots in the boiler room before he tilted over but literally just stood there in shock. Curious how far your elk made it after your initial shot?

Mine went 10 feet, and just like yours, stood there taking it like a man. your 3 shots, I was at 4 shots. Do you think that's acceptable ? What if they ran???? I'd still be in the Rocky Mountains chasing !

 

[Pharmseller]

Practically speaking there ain’t a nickel’s worth of different between a .308 Win and a 7mm-08 Rem. These pics are courtesy of the Mighty-08, so your 308 will be fine.

140 AB at 225vyards.




150 ELDX, 409 yards




140 Partition, 68 yards (yeah I know)




Shoot them where you need to.





P

 

[Pharmseller]

Mine went 10 feet, and just like yours, stood there taking it like a man. your 3 shots, I was at 4 shots. Do you think that's acceptable ? What if they ran???? I'd still be in the Rocky Mountains chasing !

Sometimes they don’t want to die, and if the bullet is just zipzipping through the lungs without hitting bone they can take a pounding.

The bull on the right absorbed 2 180 gr Partitions from a 300 Wby Mag at maybe 90 yards. Didn’t kick nor flinch. Just turned his head and started walking away. The third bullet broke his neck.

That’s how it goes sometimes.





P

 

[kcm2]

You're shooting at a vital zone the size of a trash can lid. Hit the vitals with your 308 and get out the knives. And your self-imposed max range makes some sense.

Best of luck.

 

[MountainMan83]

Mine went 10 feet, and just like yours, stood there taking it like a man. your 3 shots, I was at 4 shots. Do you think that's acceptable ? What if they ran???? I'd still be in the Rocky Mountains chasing !

I guess we just have different expectations for what constitutes good results. The fact neither of our elk ran more than a couple feet seems like very acceptable bullet performance, but chasing it around the mountain would not. Elk are so dang tough, I am surprised they even take any steps after getting shot.Sounds like Pharmseller mentioned the same thing happened with a 300 wby magnum with 180gr partitions. The other two elk I shot with the 168 ttsx died with one shot - one ran 20 yards after getting shot directly in the heart, and the other tilted over instantly with a double lung.

What if they ran? Well, then I would have different opinion of the bullets performance, but the fact they didn't means the bullet did its job. I plan on sticking with my 308 168ttsx combo as long as they continue to drop within a short distance of where I shoot them from.

 

[TheHammer]

I had a terrible experience with that exact combination. 4 TTSX through the lungs at 190 yards. Literally 4 shots into the boiler room broadside, until the Elk dropped. All perfect shots. Poor expansion on the TTSX.

I participated in your thread. And was one of a few who was frustrated with the abundance of emotion vs answering questions. As I stated then and will repeat myself, I’m sorry you had a poor experience and your experience does not at all reflect the majority of the samples I have witnessed. Hopefully you found something that you have confidence in since that time.

 

[Benlarsen21]

Ultimately a viable option within ballistic limitations. Do research and pick components or ammo that have positive reviews and choose ethical shot placement

 

[medvedyt]

not related to elk but if the 300 savage in regular 180 grains can kill a moose or a grizzly the 308 is going a little faster and should work well.

i have only experience with the smaller red deer and 300 weahterby or magnum with 180 gr nosler partition always worked for me as well as the 9.3x62 with the oryx bullet in 286 grains but elk is another step ...

308 worked well on moose but moose are not elk and sometimes when you shoot a moose he is dead but did not get the memo yet ...

tougher animal i have seen killed with a 308 was a bison but again not an elsk ...

all to say you will be good and enjoy the hunt.

 

[35WhelenAI]

If the expectation is a bang flop after one shot and you're hunting elk, if you hunt them enough that's a fools folly. Literally. Folks eliminate good bullets for typical elk hunting ranges by engaging in
internet banter.

We hear more about the one(s) that didn't work when there are hundreds upon hundreds that did work. I've shot enough with all the Barnes variants over the last 30 years to know if I do my part, the animal is in the freezer.

Short Track, your forum name seems to telegraph that is your expectation. Nothing detrimental, however appears to be self-explanatory.

There is a reason the animal only went 10 feet. LO freaking L! No matter how many shots you put through it. It was dead on its feet. If it was going to run it would have done so after the first shot.

Your first bullet performed just fine. I can understand your desire to go to a bullet that blows up on anything but a perfect broadside through the lung shot the next time around in order to see more reaction from the animal so it travels less than 10 ft. Lol, once again, 10 ft...