At odds with elk rifle calibers

[grfox92]

These are a devastating bullet and kill very well.

Why isn't there more talk about them? How to they react? Like a match bullet?

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[mxgsfmdpx]

Honest answer. I think on average there is a higher percentage of bang flops or bit less distance traveled and at a slower more drunken state. All the time? No.

I’ve been tracking impact velocity, impact location, and distance travelled after hit with similarly constructed bullets since 2014. Shooting .30, 7mm, 6.5mm, 6mm, and as of this year .224 (13 kills in 2024 which is a low number for me).

Average distance travelled after impact is within 4.5 yards between all the calibers so far. More data to come in 2025.

I will also say that I haven't had/seen as many mid caliber eldm style kills to have a solid comparison. From what I have seen they cause to much blood shot meat and to few pass throughs for my personal preference for most of my general hunting.

In my personal comparison of ELDX, ELDM, and SST bullets, the distance travelled and time to death has very clearly favored these bullets when compared to traditional “hunting” bullets.

I think some animals are just plain tougher than others,no matter what you hit them with.

This is very true. It’s not species dependent either. I’ve seen coyotes slapped in the lungs with a 150 grain corelokt from a .308 and run 200 yards before dying. I’ve seen coyotes drop dead on the spot from the same shot from a 20 grain .17 rimfire bullet. Animals behave differently.

With older style bullets it seemed a much more noticeable difference. I will also say I don't have as much the personal experience on elk as some people on here do. I do have plenty with deer and feral hogs. 200+ pound pigs are extremely tough and tenacious.

We have seen differing results. Pigs in California must be gay because they are anything but tough or tenacious haha.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Why isn't there more talk about them? How to they react? Like a match bullet?

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Because folks read nonsense on the internet about them “blowing up” and don’t try things for themselves.

They expand violently and create good wound channels. Easily punch through ribs and scapula. I have hundreds of kills and photos going back to 2014 using 129 SSTs and 95 SSTs on deer and elk and lots of other critters. Shots from 30 yards in thick woods to way further than most would be comfortable shooting them at deer.

 

[grfox92]

Because folks read nonsense on the internet about them “blowing up” and don’t try things for themselves.

They expand violently and create good wound channels. Easily punch through ribs and scapula. I have hundreds of kills and photos going back to 2014 using 129 SSTs and 95 SSTs on deer and elk and lots of other critters. Shots from 30 yards in thick woods to way further than most would be comfortable shooting them at deer.

My uncle shot an antelope with some flavor of SST out of a 30-06 at 150 yards and it was devastating. They don't get much mention though so I was curious.

I actually have 2 boxes of 180gr in .308 that he reloaded for me. I need to see how they shoot.

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[Scoutfan]

Glad you are keeping better track of everything than I am. Most of my "high volume" killing was before using eld/Berger style bullets so my views on distance traveled my be a little off. I can say that distance traveled with a 35 whelen/accubond vs a eld style seem about equal. The blood trail and lower volume of meat damage favors the whelen.

Well your pigs are in California The ones here die quickly with good shot placement and good performing bullets. We have found several that had old ,lighter 22 caliber bullets in gristle shields . Our goal was simply shoot as many as possible due to crop damage, so running shots are normal around here. Any marginal hits seemed to make them run faster and it wasn't uncommon to see them again a week later.

 

[Pharmseller]

Average distance travelled after impact is within 4.5 yards between all the calibers so far. More data to come in 2025.

Keep in mind that where I hunt, 4.5 yards can make the difference of finding him here, or 13.5 feet from here.



It matters.





P

 

[roadrunner]

Have killed a lot of elk and elk sized animals with a 140 gr AB out of a 270 WSM and 7mm WSM.

Nothing wrong with the 7mm RM.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Keep in mind that where I hunt, 4.5 yards can make the difference of finding him here, or 13.5 feet from here.

View attachment 817698

It matters.





P

I don’t understand sorry.

 

[Pharmseller]

I don’t understand sorry.

Humor

It’s like food

Not everyone gets it

(Making the point that 4.5 yards is insignificant.)




P

 

[270quest]

In the last 5-6 years me, my family, and close friends have killed 28 big game animals with my battle scarred 7 rem mag. 150 scenars at 3150-3200 FPS are bone crushers. 50 yards out to 623. Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, Bears, Antelope, and 1 wolf….

(Tikka Superlite bedded in a McMillan, with a Zeiss 4-16x50)

Here’s just a few of the critters it’s killed…

 

[KID]

So one of my blown opportunities this year I was shooting at a spike distance was 195 to 205 depending on where he was when I hit him with my range finder. With a bipod laying down, I had a solid rest. What's the rule on shooting at a steep uphill and downhill angle.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

At that distance unless it's real steep shouldn't matter much. Chances are likely that when you pulled the trigger the butt of the rifle slipped down due to not being supported properly and you missed high.

 

[KID]

So one of my blown opportunities this year I was shooting at a spike distance was 195 to 205 depending on where he was when I hit him with my range finder. With a bipod laying down, I had a solid rest. What's the rule on shooting at a steep uphill and downhill angle.

He was at a steep uphill angle

 

[Pharmseller]

Figure the horizontal distance. Like a triangle. You’re not shooting the hypotenuse. Doesn’t matter uphill or downhill. Calculate your drop based on horizontal distance. You’ll shoot high if you don’t.

 

[roadhntr]

Why isn't there more talk about them? How to they react? Like a match bullet?

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I lost a huge bull elk with that bullet in my 7 rem mag. High shoulder hit. Bullet never penetrated the shoulder at all. 200 yards broadside hit and the bull dropped but got right back up and ran off without a limp. I'll never use the 154 sst superformance ever again. I've had great luck with the 160 accunond.

 

[Article 4]

The 7mm is plenty for elk, no need to step up to a bigger cartridge.

True - the 7 mag with a 175 accubond was the gold standard for many years. Kills a lot of elk!

You are probably at the limit of performance in your caliber using OTC ammo - only way to get more is to your point, get you a magnum 7 or 30 at some point. WSMs are great but they have fallen a bit out of availability due to all the new stuff on the market.

 

[Article 4]

Just looking for some input on Elk Rifle Calibers, the market is flooded with so many options it makes the head spin. I currently have a 7mm rem mag. It has been an alright gun but it has let me down almost as much as it has impressed me. I have killed a handful of elk with it over the last few years but I'm sure not impressed with it's knockdown. I hunt with a savage rifle , Hornady precision hunter ammo, I do not reload... My step brother hunts with a 300 WSM and I've watched him drop 3 elk with it, every time it's a no question hit, it sure packs a lot more punch. The only thing that sucks about it is the spendy ammo and lack there of in factory ammo options, so it's appeal is somewhat diminished. What's everyone hunting with and if you had to buy a new rifle what would it be? Elk calibers...

Since you don't reload, at this point to get more you are going to have to get another caliber IMO - the 7mm REM has killed a lot of elk and will in perpetuity but if you have to have more, a faster 7mm or a big 30 is likely the way.

Huge fan of the 30 Nosler and the 300 PRC - You will get more punch on the elk, and more punch on your shoulder which for a hunting rifle, I kinda enjoy. Tons of OTC ammo choices available too.

 

[HandgunHTR]

So one of my blown opportunities this year I was shooting at a spike distance was 195 to 205 depending on where he was when I hit him with my range finder. With a bipod laying down, I had a solid rest. What's the rule on shooting at a steep uphill and downhill angle.

As others have said, if your range finder is angle compensated, it is giving you the actual horizontal difference, so you shoot for the range that it tells you.

That being said, if you are shooting a steep uphill, you need to aim low so that the bullet will continue upwards through the vitals. If you aim high, you will get the top/middle of the onside lung and the very top of the offside lung, which means a potentially long track with not much blood trail unless you get lucky and hit the spine. On a steep downhill, you need to aim a bit high, so the bullet travels downward through the good stuff.
Take some time to study the anatomy of your animals. It will help significantly in figuring out where to aim to get maximum effectiveness.

 

[wind gypsy]

If a 10+ MOA target was missed at 200 yards with a solid rest, cartridge is down the list of concerns.

 

[TaperPin]

He was at a steep uphill angle

I’m pretty sure you could be in a helicopter firing directly down and a 200 yard hold wouldn’t be off enough to miss an elk.

The main things that will drive a shot like that wide enough to miss are contacting a branch or dirt between you and the animal, or the elevation knob brushed against something and you’re a full turn or two off, but you would have seen that after the fact.

You may not have seen dirt or a branch in the scope, but when using a low bipod it’s not a mater of if, but when being so low to the ground gets you in trouble. I couldn’t take a shot on a 200 yard bear because of it, and another shot at a deer across a meadow. Because of that, 200 yard shots are now automatically taken from a sitting position, or even shooting over a pack usually provides more opportunities to get up higher. It’s better you learn the lesson on a spike up close so it’s obvious, rather than on the buck of a lifetime at distance.