At odds with elk rifle calibers

[S-3 ranch]

I was a huge .300wm & 180gr fedral bullet fan for 30+ years, till I ruptured a disc in my neck, and switched to a .308win and .270win with modern bullets in both mono and cup & core , high B.C bonded , I think your 7RM is very satisfactory , my buddy from Alaska is cratering everything from whitetail to moose with his CVA scout 7-08 with 140gr ttsx , so a majorly more explosive eldx in 7RM you should see some Whopping action in a elk , in my 270 it’s usually boom ,thump , stagger , roll ( but I can’t remember last time I shot 400<+ yards)

 

[grfox92]

Out of a 7mm-08?

IME, the 162 ELDX is maybe a little soft for 7 mag velocities on elk. My sample size of 4 is too small to draw any definitive conclusions from, but the 4 I traced the path on were all chest shots at 3-500 yds. No large bone impacts. Not much penetration but devastating wound channels. All dead elk, so can't complian, but I will be trying the 165 Norna Bondstrikes next time I take a .284 mag.

The 162 X is an awesome bullet out of a 7mm-08, though.

Yes out of an 08. It was slightly quartering too and I put it through the shoulder and found the bullet in the opposing rear quarter. The damage was too much for an antelope but would have been deadly on am elk. I'm curious to see if how similar the X and the M shoot out if the same gun.

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[EastHumboldt]

You can't have more wallop, if you don't eat your recoil!

(said with Authority)

That right there is a T-shirt!!!
Edit: But I believe the correct quotation is:
“ How can you have any wallop if you don’t eat your recoil?”

 

[bene-201]

I’d say 7mm is plenty - just need the right shot placement

 

[KID]

Try some 160 gr. Nosler Accubonds in your 7mm mag. They are a great bullet that penetrate and expand very well while retaining bulet weight nicely. It would be hard to go wrong with that combination and typically most rifles shoot the Accubond into nice small groups. Practice shooting and best of luck.

Thanks for the info, I'll have try some other ammo for sure. It's funny looking back on all the animals I've killed Elk and Deer with my ole 30 06 and the cheapest Remington Core lokt ammo makes me wonder why I thought it was a good idea to stray. Hunting is definitely confidence over equipment.

 

[LightFoot]

Thanks for the info, I'll have try some other ammo for sure. It's funny looking back on all the animals I've killed Elk and Deer with my ole 30 06 and the cheapest Remington Core lokt ammo makes me wonder why I thought it was a good idea to stray. Hunting is definitely confidence over equipment.

You got the right idea about confidence. Nothing worse than not trusting your rifle.

My guess would be that the rifle doesn’t fit you well, inadequate recoil management, and improper shot placement.

Cup and core - behind the front legs and through the lungs, stay in front of the ribs. Avoid steep quartering angles.

Bonded bullets - up the leg, center of the body or below the centerline. If quartering, center body between the front legs. Better for semi- steep quartering shots.

Monometal bullets - punch through the shoulder at any angle, aim between the front legs, bottom half of body. My experience is these are very reliable but do not create the dramatic results of the previous two.

Factory load for 7mm for elk…
(1) Federal Hybrid Hunter 168gr
(2) Federal Terminal Ascent 155
(3) Barnes Vor-TX 139gr

—— or ——

Just rock with a 30-06 and 180gr core-lokt.


>>>——JAKE——>

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Thanks for the info, I'll have try some other ammo for sure. It's funny looking back on all the animals I've killed Elk and Deer with my ole 30 06 and the cheapest Remington Core lokt ammo makes me wonder why I thought it was a good idea to stray. Hunting is definitely confidence over equipment.

Those very generic cup and core bullets make great wounds at modest impact velocities like the 06 produces.

You can get similar wounds with lower recoiling cartridges and tipped match bullets, or with tougher bonded/ mono bullets and magnum cartridges, at the cost of higher recoil.

 

[ArcherAdam]

If you have the money to spend, I would look into a suppressor to tame recoil and after that possibly a stock change if your still not comfortable. I know you would be trying to get a rifle to fit you vs you fitting the rifle however you have a proven performer there.

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[hereinaz]

Hornady precision ELDX, shooting 500 yds and in. I really don't believe the average Elmer fud like myself should be shooting beyond 500 lol. I've just had a couple goofy situations as of late hitting Elk and not getting a good reaction from the animal, if that makes sense. I have been packing my 30/06 occasionally. Although not a distance king when you hit something you know it. I think it's just me and a lack of confidence with the gun. I plan on getting out and doing a lot more shooting, live animal stuff like coyotes. Get a little more comfortable. I put a new scope on it this year Leupold vx5, just need to shoot more..

I have seen 7s shooting 160-180 class bullets hammer elk from 650-1100 yards. 7 rem mag, 280ai, and 7 short mags, with ELDx, Berger, ELDm, etc. It’s about shot placement—as long as the bullet has the velocity.

I felt like 7 was more than enough gun and dropped to 25 short mags when the 133 grain Bergers came out.

Get out there and shoot more steel in field positions and the live shots on coyotes. You’ll build confidence and kill stuff more easily for sure.

 

[Dennis]

I like the 30 calibers for elk 30-06, 300 WSM. 300 WM, etc..

 

[False_Cast]

It’s more likely that you’ve got too much “gun,” than not enough.

 

[Scoutfan]

Please define "hits harder".

Hits harder-- transfers more energy into animal. Personally I think the 7mag is a great all around hunting round, especially for elk.Good shot placement and a good bullet will make much more difference than going to a 30 caliber. Not enough difference to matter when comparing apples to apples. But-- apples to apples a heavier bullet with a larger diameter,when ran at same speed will normally transfer more energy --hit harder. A larger heavier bullet has more energy to transfer. Are smaller calibers with properly performing bullets effective, absolutely! Do I see a difference in animal reaction when shooting a 243 or my 35 whelen -yep. End result they all die.

 

[Maverick1]

Hits harder-- transfers more energy into animal. Personally I think the 7mag is a great all around hunting round, especially for elk.Good shot placement and a good bullet will make much more difference than going to a 30 caliber. Not enough difference to matter when comparing apples to apples. But-- apples to apples a heavier bullet with a larger diameter,when ran at same speed will normally transfer more energy --hit harder. A larger heavier bullet has more energy to transfer. Are smaller calibers with properly performing bullets effective, absolutely! Do I see a difference in animal reaction when shooting a 243 or my 35 whelen -yep. End result they all die.

Ron Spomer, is that you?!….

 

[Scoutfan]

Nope just another old fudd. Please explain how I am mistaken if both said bullets transfer all their energy into said target.-- apples to apples. I love my 22 calibers and they are extremely effective killers,I also love my 30 and up calibers for the same reason. I pretty much said not enough difference to really matter between 7 and 30. Please explain how a 6mm creed pushing around 108 grain bullet hits as hard--transfers as much energy into an animal as my 300rum pushing a 212-230 grain bullet when they both dump all their energy into to animal? Both animals die quickly with proper shot placement. Can I usually see a difference in reaction - yes. Always -- no.

 

[hereinaz]

Nope just another old fudd. Please explain how I am mistaken if both said bullets transfer all their energy into said target.-- apples to apples. I love my 22 calibers and they are extremely effective killers,I also love my 30 and up calibers for the same reason. I pretty much said not enough difference to really matter between 7 and 30. Please explain how a 6mm creed pushing around 108 grain bullet hits as hard--transfers as much energy into an animal as my 300rum pushing a 212-230 grain bullet when they both dump all their energy into to animal? Both animals die quickly with proper shot placement. Can I usually see a difference in reaction - yes. Always -- no.

Serious question...

Besides seeing the bullet hit harder, on average with same shot placement is there a measurable difference between impact and time of death/how far the animal travels?

 

[The Fish Box]

It’s 2025, just pick a bullet that has the killing characteristics you like choose what level of recoil your comfortable with (cartridge) and go shoot. For every person that’s had great success with a cartridge/caliber there’s ten people that can tell you why it doesn’t work.

If you decided on a 375 allen magnum the 300 RUM guys would tell you it’s overkill and the 408 cheytac guys would ask you why you don’t just shoot a .223 if your gonna shoot a baby gun.