Bigger cartridge choice?

[Sean1]

I have a soft spot for 300WM

This would be a logical choice. I do reload but 300wm can be found everywhere. But my hangup is, is the 300 truly enough difference to justify the upgrade.

The 300 PRC would be cool. The 338wm would probably give that gap to make a difference. Both would not have readily available ammo if needed to find in a bind.

 

[Koda_]

I will say I am underwhelmed with my 160 accubonds from my 280 on deer. I went to them because I wanted something more substantial than ballistic tips. So far they seem to perform very similar to ballistic tips.

I’m a little concerned they will be too fragile for elk. Maybe I am wrong

a 280 is more of an elk caliber than deer caliber in my book. 160gn is a common elk weight and will be just fine. If your truly underwhelmed then try a different bullet but on a deer it will probably pass thru most times.

 

[Sean1]

a 280 is more of an elk caliber than deer caliber in my book. 160gn is a common elk weight and will be just fine. If your truly underwhelmed then try a different bullet but on a deer it will probably pass thru most times.

Strangely enough, I have yet to get a pass through on an average size whitetail.

 

[theycallmemud]

If I was you I would just use the 280 and save the cash for more tags.

 

[Sean1]

Put some 162eldm in that 280 and fire away!

I’ll never tell someone they shouldn’t buy another rifle though! If you want to buy one, then hell yeah! The 300prc would be a great choice. I’d shoot 225 eldms out of it.

How do these compare to an Accubond or a Partition? Terminal performance wise

 

[Koda_]

Strangely enough, I have yet to get a pass through on an average size whitetail.

interesting, then how is the Accubond "underwhelming"?

 

[BigNate]

You don't NEED bigger anything for elk. If you want a .338WM go ahead and get one. It's the only bigger caliber you listed.
A 300WM is the same as a 30-06 a couple hundred yards farther out. A 280ai has better ballistics but if you aren't practicing at longer range it means nothing over the 30-06. The 25-06 is nearly identical in performance to the 270W and both get used extensively in the west. Even the 243w and 223 have been used for elk.

Why not use the 8mm it's a .323 if you just want caliber?

BTW, I've taken elk with a 257 Roberts on the low end, several in between and up to .338WM. They all worked fine with good bullet choices.

 

[Bubbadoyle]

That's the same caliber as 30-06!

Yes, it drives me nuts that people use caliber and cartridge interchangeably.


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[def90]

.308 has probably killed as many elk as anything else.

 

[Sean1]

interesting, then how is the Accubond "underwhelming"?

I would think they would exit with good terminal damage rather than grenade inside the deer like a ballistic tip does. Kind of bridge the gap between the ballistic tip and the partition

 

[Sean1]

Yes, it drives me nuts that people use caliber and cartridge interchangeably.


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Sorry, I should’ve titled it cartridge

 

[Sean1]

You don't NEED bigger anything for elk. If you want a .338WM go ahead and get one. It's the only bigger caliber you listed.
A 300WM is the same as a 30-06 a couple hundred yards farther out. A 280ai has better ballistics but if you aren't practicing at longer range it means nothing over the 30-06. The 25-06 is nearly identical in performance to the 270W and both get used extensively in the west. Even the 243w and 223 have been used for elk.

Why not use the 8mm it's a .323 if you just want caliber?

BTW, I've taken elk with a 257 Roberts on the low end, several in between and up to .338WM. They all worked fine with good bullet choices.

Not a fan of the 8mm

 

[Sean1]

Yes, it drives me nuts that people use caliber and cartridge interchangeably.


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Fixed it

 

[Koda_]

I would think they would exit with good terminal damage rather than grenade inside the deer like a ballistic tip does. Kind of bridge the gap between the ballistic tip and the partition

If you want a perfect mushroom and weight retention then try a solid copper. Otherwise all cup and core bullets can often come apart inside, especially with adding more velocity (300wm). "grenading" inside the deer sounds like good terminal damage but maybe you just hit a bone just right? You can try a partition but I hear those often trade off with accuracy but I dont know.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

You don't NEED bigger anything for elk. If you want a .338WM go ahead and get one. It's the only bigger caliber you listed.
A 300WM is the same as a 30-06 a couple hundred yards farther out. A 280ai has better ballistics but if you aren't practicing at longer range it means nothing over the 30-06. The 25-06 is nearly identical in performance to the 270W and both get used extensively in the west. Even the 243w and 223 have been used for elk.

Why not use the 8mm it's a .323 if you just want caliber?

BTW, I've taken elk with a 257 Roberts on the low end, several in between and up to .338WM. They all worked fine with good bullet choices.

If that even, I’ve always figured 300wm buys me 100yds over my 06 but my 06 keeps bullets above 1800fps put to 450-500 which is farther than I prefer to shoot so I have no need for a 300wm.

 

[Ross]

Go with the 30-06, unless you want to try something different. Become a proficient shooter and don’t be afraid of the boogeyman aka recoil Many 60 yr old men shoot them or larger calibers fine, I’m sure you would be ok as well

 

[roadrunner]

The 25-06 is nearly identical in performance to the 270W

Sort of. As long as you're using as near an equal set up as you can as in similar bullet weights (120 gr and 130 gr).

both get used extensively in the west.

Yes they do. I took a cow elk one year at 320ish yds with a 25-06 and a 110 gr bullet. Don't believe I'll do that again though.

 

[mtnbound]

Curious on your opinions. I am contemplating a bigger caliber rifle for elk hunting and other species larger than deer. However not sure it is truly worth it.

I currently have the following
.223 Remington
.243 Winchester
25-06
280 AI
30-06

I usually use my 280 or 30-06 for deer hunting. I took my 280 elk hunting this year with no opportunity to use it.

Would it be worth getting a 300 mag or if I wanted to go bigger would a 338 win be better? Or just continue to use my current ones?

I do have an 8mm Mauser that will hopefully turn into something else in the future

Thank you

You do not mention your effective range, but what you have will easily get the job done. I would use the 280AI. If you want an exit hole, choose a Copper bullet like a Barnes LRX and keep your impact velocity above 2000 to get some bullet expansion. Once you pick the bullet, get your accuracy dialed in and put it in the vitals. Contrary to the belief, elk are not 4ft thick with bulletproof hide.

 

[The Guide]

H

I would think they would exit with good terminal damage rather than grenade inside the deer like a ballistic tip does. Kind of bridge the gap between the ballistic tip and the partition

I was also underwhelmed by the performance of the Factory Nosler 280AI ammo in Partition and AccuBond offerings when I first had my rifle built. Bought the ammo to get the brass as it was hard to find 280AI brass right after it was SAAMI approved. I had much better performance from the 168 Berger. The 162 ELDX wasn't as accurate as the Berger was but I don't have experience with it on game.

We all like new guns and new cartridges to shoot but have you exceed the capability of the rifles you already have? Are you shooting them to the edge of the terminal performance limits that they already provide? Would upgrading one of your current rifles (scope, ammo, stock, trigger, etc) provide you with more bang for your buck than just getting a new gun? My 280AI with the 168 Berger will get me to 800 to 850 yards depending upon my density altitude before it drops below terminal... Did that keep me from building a 7mm PRC? Nope, because I'm shooting the 7mm PRC out to and past 900 on steel and rocks and the terminal velocity with the 180 ELDM is just over 1200 yards where I hunt. I have a couple of 300WM rifles also. They are running 215 Berger loads which will get you to just over 1100 yards where the 30-06 with a 178 ELDX will get you to just over 750 yards. You really have to decide what your maximum range is and see if your current rifles will get you there. Sometimes the best solution is to just upgrade your current gear and shoot more.

Jay

 

[Sean1]

I can’t see myself taking shots at game beyond 500 yards as I do not have the range to practice beyond that where I live.