Choice of 7mm for bull elk

[Shortdraw]

I have a bull hunt coming up this fall. I have a 7-08 and 7mm Rem Mag in the gun safe. Which should I bring? (I'm asking now to make sure I get plenty of practice in by fall)

7mm-08 Pros: lighter rifle than the 7mag, I shoot it well, and has killed everything I've shot at but that's been only deer and a bighorn sheep. I generally shoot 140g Accubonds
7mm-08 Cons: less oomph than the 7mag.
7mag Pros: I shoot it well, more oomph. I'll probably shoot 160g Accubonds or Baarnes TTSX
7mag Cons: Heavier than the 7-08

FWIW I really don't want to shoot beyond 400yds, preferably closer than that. Heck, the last bull I shot was standing at 75yds!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Laramie]

Both are more than adequate so there is no right or wrong answer.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

either way, i would not pick a TTSX.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Both are more than adequate so there is no right or wrong answer.

Either is a good option for your shot and distance. Bonded bullets or the TTSX are great choices. Practice is key, the more consistent you are the better


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[Bearded Bowhunter]

If inside 400 is the parameter you are setting for yourself, take the 7mm-08. Lighter recoiling for faster follow ups if necessary, lighter to carry. Both will work fine though.

 

[TNHighlands]

Shoot the 162 eldm/x in either and have fun.

 

[Shortdraw]

either way, i would not pick a TTSX.

Have you had bad experiences with the TTSX? I'm most likely to use the Accubond but I'm still curious.

 

[BuckSmasher]

I have a bull hunt coming up this fall. I have a 7-08 and 7mm Rem Mag in the gun safe. Which should I bring? (I'm asking now to make sure I get plenty of practice in by fall)

7mm-08 Pros: lighter rifle than the 7mag, I shoot it well, and has killed everything I've shot at but that's been only deer and a bighorn sheep. I generally shoot 140g Accubonds
7mm-08 Cons: less oomph than the 7mag.
7mag Pros: I shoot it well, more oomph. I'll probably shoot 160g Accubonds or Baarnes TTSX
7mag Cons: Heavier than the 7-08

FWIW I really don't want to shoot beyond 400yds, preferably closer than that. Heck, the last bull I shot was standing at 75yds!

Thanks in advance!

I would take the 7mm mag unless it the weight difference is significant. All the above will work. Accubonds and TTSX are both great bullets. Killed lots of stuff with x bullets, last years bull shouldn't didn't shake them off.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Shoot the 162 eldm/x in either and have fun.

I highly suggest about using a match bullet for hunting and highly recommend a different bullet than the ELD bullets.

That’s coming from myself as an outfitter and several other outfitters that have seen constant failures


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[PrisonMike99]

Even if you’d prefer to shoot 400 yards and closer, the elk don’t care and they may only present a shot at 500-600 in which case the 7 mag is optimal. Don’t limit yourself because you wanted to save 2 pounds(est). Better to bring enough gun for longer distance and hopefully get a closer shot . As far as ammo, match grade bullets thump bulls just fine as long as the shot is placed well. Good luck.


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[LongWayAround]

Even if you’d prefer to shoot 400 yards and closer, the elk don’t care and they may only present a shot at 500-600 in which case the 7 mag is optimal. Don’t limit yourself because you wanted to save 2 pounds(est). Better to bring enough gun for longer distance and hopefully get a closer shot . As far as ammo, match grade bullets thump bulls just fine as long as the shot is placed well. Good luck.


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Most hunters have no business shooting at animals at 600yd. The fact that the OP is asking this question probably means he is in that majority.

 

[Shortdraw]

I DEFINITELY have no business shooting animals at 600yds! Steel plates maybe...

 

[06 SB]

I love me some TTSX bullets but use others as well. I want two holes in my animals. A TTSX usually gets me that unless there is some exigent circumstances. I have used a lot of bonded bullets and actually prefer them for most situations. Based on my experiences, the animals shot with a TTSX tend to run a bit further than hit similarly with a bonded bullet. I do not know whether the initial wound channel is more significant with bonded bullet or some other factor is involved.

As to your choice, it truly is up to you. I have the same choice and am taking my 7mmRM with 165gr Norma Bondstrikes.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

As far as ammo, match grade bullets thump bulls just fine as long as the shot is placed well. Good luck.


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The whole “any bullet or caliber is suitable as long as you place the shot well” is one of the worst and stupidest things to rely on. Sure I ca kill a bull elk at 15 yards with a proper and well placed 22LR. But is it efficient? Guys don’t think about the “what if” what if you nick a branch 10’ in front of the bull and now your bullet piles into the shoulder. What if you pull the shot? What if a big wind gust comes up? Now your bullet failed or you have a bad shot.

Match bullets are not made for hunting applications they are used for target shooting, have you guys looked up the internals of match grade vs the hunting counterpart?

This comes down to the same stuff of well I seen a guy shoot a bull at 1250 yards with a 6.5 Creedmore so that means I can, then they’re posting asking what could have happened on their shot cause they didn’t recover the bull.

You cannot and should not rely on “the perfect placed bullet” every time and if you say well I’ve never had an issue I always hit my mark perfect you haven’t been hunting long enough or have never shot over 50 yards.


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[Q_Sertorius]

The whole “any bullet or caliber is suitable as long as you place the shot well” is one of the worst and stupidest things to rely on. Sure I ca kill a bull elk at 15 yards with a proper and well placed 22LR. But is it efficient? Guys don’t think about the “what if” what if you nick a branch 10’ in front of the bull and now your bullet piles into the shoulder. What if you pull the shot? What if a big wind gust comes up? Now your bullet failed or you have a bad shot.

Match bullets are not made for hunting applications they are used for target shooting, have you guys looked up the internals of match grade vs the hunting counterpart?

This comes down to the same stuff of well I seen a guy shoot a bull at 1250 yards with a 6.5 Creedmore so that means I can, then they’re posting asking what could have happened on their shot cause they didn’t recover the bull.

You cannot and should not rely on “the perfect placed bullet” every time and if you say well I’ve never had an issue I always hit my mark perfect you haven’t been hunting long enough or have never shot over 50 yards.


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Please show me where I can hit an elk with an ELDX or Gameking (or other “hunting bullet”) and kill it, but the same spot hit with an ELDM or TMK won’t kill it.

I won’t entirely discount your experience, but I think you have been around a lot of people who can’t shoot well, can’t shoot well from field positions, don’t shoot well under pressure (or all of the above).

PS - please show me a branch that won’t deflect a .264 143-grain ELDX going 2900 FPS, but will deflect a .264 140-grain ELDM going 2600 FPS.

 

[TNHighlands]

There are hundreds (maybe more) of examples of match bullets creating massive tissue disruption from .224 up to .300 caliber in elk, moose, etc in this forum. I don't think you can categorically write them off as "not hunting bullets". Evidence just doesn't support that notion.

There's no debate that bonded and copper bullets kill. But, they produce long, relatively narrow wound channels, which aren't the preference of many here.

Neither flavor can overcome inaccurate shots. Better BC's, minimum expansions velocities, etc favor the match bullets for precision and accuracy at range.

This has been debated ad nauseum at this point. Nothing will convince either side that they're wrong.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Have you had bad experiences with the TTSX? I'm most likely to use the Accubond but I'm still curious.

Yes, multiple times with the 308 165 gr penciling with a 300 win mag. Stopped using monos all together as a result

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Please show me where I can hit an elk with an ELDX or Gameking (or other “hunting bullet”) and kill it, but the same spot hit with an ELDM or TMK won’t kill it.

I won’t entirely discount your experience, but I think you have been around a lot of people who can’t shoot well, can’t shoot well from field positions, don’t shoot well under pressure (or all of the above).

PS - please show me a branch that won’t deflect a .264 143-grain ELDX going 2900 FPS, but will deflect a .265 140-grain ELDM going 2600 FPS.

How am I supposed to do that, I’ve seen more failures with people using ELDX than any other bullet at all kinds of distances.

Didn’t say an eldx wont deflect when a match will, what I’m saying is when your bullet doesn’t go to that perfect spot that ur aiming for you can’t rely on perfect placement perfect kill. But an ELD-m is a thinner jacket which means more chances of fragmentation or complete failure


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[streamerfish]

The simple answer is whichever one you want. Both are more then enough.

Personally I would lean into the 7mm-08, less recoil, a little cheaper to shoot, easier to shoot more, get more practice in etc.

 

[jkoehle1]

means more chances of fragmentation or complete failure

This is junk science.

Fragging bullets cause MORE damage.