At odds with elk rifle calibers

[hereinaz]

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.

Sounds like a very high hit that shocked the spinal cord, that is the only real shot that can “drop” a bull that then gets right up. Without a limp.

I can’t believe that a 7 rem mag bullet didn’t penetrate at 200.

There is no explanation that makes any sense to me somehow all that lead and copper just stopped without penetrating. I have captured multiple chunks of copper on the far side of an elk with highly “explosive” bullets.

The far more likely explanation is a shot that went high and shocked the CNS.

 

[KID]

@KID have you landed on a cartridge decision?

Probably going to try some Accubonds out of my 7 mag and compare to what I've been using. But definitely not buying a different gun..

 

[Pharmseller]

Probably going to try some Accubonds out of my 7 mag and compare to what I've been using. But definitely not buying a different gun..

Good on you. Reloder 26 works well for me with 160 AB.




P

 

[KID]

Good on you. Reloder 26 works well for me with 160 AB.




P

 

[FredH]

Probably going to try some Accubonds out of my 7 mag and compare to what I've been using. But definitely not buying a different gun..

Accubonds are fine bullets. I have had good luck with 160 gr. Partitions, 160 gr. Speer Hotcor's, 175 gr. Hornady SP Interloks and 150 gr. Ballistic Tips. I was loading my own ammo for years before I got my first 7MM RM and was a big fan of the 7x57 years before that. With those bullets I never had any penetration issues. I have 162 gr, ELDX's loaded up for my next elk hunt. Hope they do as well as the others have. You could get a lighter kicking rifle similar to the 7 mag you own and practice with it. Something with better barrel life. I am a big fan of the 30-06 also. It did very well with 180, 200 gr. Partitions and 180 gr. Speer Hotcors. I make every effort not to slam shoulders but am not above a neck shot right in front of the shoulder. It's a meat thing.

 

[Pharmseller]

I use 162 ELDX now, they perform very well and they’re easy to find.




P

 

[Scoutfan]

Probably going to try some Accubonds out of my 7 mag and compare to what I've been using. But definitely not buying a different gun..

Accubonds are my go to choice for the majority of my hunting.

 

[bonepoint]

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…

Have you shot the 180 at game, too? Just wondering how the two compared.

 

[270quest]

Have you shot the 180 at game, too? Just wondering how the two compared.

I have not, my tikka is not quite twisted for that bullet.

 

[Forsyth21]

Listen to the founders of Rokslide podcast(shoot2hunt) with the guest Form on that discusses what actually kills an animal. He’s shot thousands of large animals and done wound channel analysis on each one. He’d say 7mm Mag is way too much gun.