Elk hunt rifle options

Ctpa61

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Both cartridge's are capable for the task. Give some consideration to the terrain and cover you will be hunting. You will carry the rifle a lot more that you will shoot it, so I would choose which ever was lighter and easier to handle. Especially after the shot, a heavy pack of meat AND a heavy rifle are no fun on the walk out.

CT
 
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What would be the advantage of using a ballistic tip on an elk? I would think something that penetrated better and didn't come apart would be much better but maybe i'm missing something?
Nosler Ballistic Tips aren’t created equal across the caliber spectrum. Nosler designs the particular bullet for its likely intended game. Gone are the days of the same jacket thickness and design from .17 to .458.
 

BCD

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Nosler Ballistic Tips aren’t created equal across the caliber spectrum. Nosler designs the particular bullet for its likely intended game. Gone are the days of the same jacket thickness and design from .17 to .458.
But wouldn't the ballistic tip still limit penetration???
 

Laramie

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Like mentioned, it really depends on the caliber. In .30 caliber for instance, they have a much thicker jacket than say a 6mm. The .30 will, in general, penetrate more because expansion is slower.
To be clear, I think a true bonded bullet is a much better option. As a guide I have however seen several elk taken with NBT from .270 caliber up.
 
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But wouldn't the ballistic tip still limit penetration???
Depends on which one. Some Ballistic Tips are every bit as tough as some Accubonds. The 95gr 6mm, 120gr 7mm, 180gr .308, and 200gr .338 are all pretty tough bullets. A friend’s son used the 120gr NBT in his 7mm-08 to take his first elk at 175 yards. Complete pass-through on a broadside shot.
 

Spoonbill

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I wouldn’t go much past 300, 400 would be the absolute max for me.
The 26 nosler isn’t going to drop as much as a 308, so your holdovers at 300 and 400 won’t be as much. Either will work, so just bring what you shoot best.
 

Laramie

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Depends on which one. Some Ballistic Tips are every bit as tough as some Accubonds. The 95gr 6mm, 120gr 7mm, 180gr .308, and 200gr .338 are all pretty tough bullets. A friend’s son used the 120gr NBT in his 7mm-08 to take his first elk at 175 yards. Complete pass-through on a broadside shot.
This is not accurate. The information is available directly from Nosler if one chooses to ask. Their jacket thickness increases as caliber increases. They are great bullets but are not designed, nor intended for game larger than a deer. That's why they make the partition and the accubond. Here is a quote straight from the manufacturer-

What is the difference between the Ballistic Tip® and the AccuBond®?​


Externally, they look the same except for the tip colors, Ballistic Tip® bullets are color-coded by caliber while all AccuBond® bullets have white tips. Internally the Ballistic Tip® is not bonded and is designed for controlled expansion on medium game with approximately 50-60% weight retention. Conversely, the lead alloy core of the AccuBond® is bonded to the jacket. This bonding increases weight retention (65-70%) and slows expansion resulting in deeper penetration and enhanced bone-breaking potential in larger animals.
 
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This is not accurate. The information is available directly from Nosler if one chooses to ask. Their jacket thickness increases as caliber increases. They are great bullets but are not designed, nor intended for game larger than a deer. That's why they make the partition and the accubond. Here is a quote straight from the manufacturer-

What is the difference between the Ballistic Tip® and the AccuBond®?​


Externally, they look the same except for the tip colors, Ballistic Tip® bullets are color-coded by caliber while all AccuBond® bullets have white tips. Internally the Ballistic Tip® is not bonded and is designed for controlled expansion on medium game with approximately 50-60% weight retention. Conversely, the lead alloy core of the AccuBond® is bonded to the jacket. This bonding increases weight retention (65-70%) and slows expansion resulting in deeper penetration and enhanced bone-breaking potential in larger animals.

If you actually section the bullets I mentioned, their jackets are thicker. There are indeed tougher ballistic tips. The jacket is thicker in the shank and they hold together much better. What you posted is a generic statement from Nosler, who probably has a vested interest in us paying for a “tougher” bullet.
 

erle1139

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I've killed two bulls with my 308, one with 180 gr accubond and the other with 150 gr Barnes TTSX, both within 100yds. The Barnes was a complete pass through high lung shot and the 4x4 raghorn dropped and died on the spot. Accubond was in the rear part of lungs and was not a pass through, the average 5x5 ran about 70 yds before falling dead. I do like the Barnes TTSX, they did they're job well and are very accurate in my rifle and they're what I'm currently shooting. I know the ammo's limits though, and would keep any shots within 350ish yards. A 168 gr TTSX 308 will kill an elk just as dead as anything else if used within it's limits and placed where needed. That being said...I did buy a 300 wsm this year for my elk hunt lol.
 

Laramie

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If you actually section the bullets I mentioned, their jackets are thicker. There are indeed tougher ballistic tips. The jacket is thicker in the shank and they hold together much better. What you posted is a generic statement from Nosler, who probably has a vested interest in us paying for a “tougher” bullet.
So you are implying that Nosler cherry picks a couple of calibers and secretly makes a couple of bullets tougher than advertised.. at an increased expense... without charging more for them. That makes complete sense- carry on.
 
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So you are implying that Nosler cherry picks a couple of calibers and secretly makes a couple of bullets tougher than advertised.. at an increased expense... without charging more for them. That makes complete sense- carry on.

I believe the designer’s name is Gail Root. He was a big 243 fan and engineered the 95gr BT to be a tougher bullet for better performance on game. The 120gr 7mm bullet ended up being tougher because it was fashioned out of a cut-down bullet that was heavier and had a higher percentage of jacket vs lead. It is popular with silhouette shooters because it’s flat shooting and hits hard. This explains the exit my friend’s kid got on an elk. The bigger calibers are heavier jacketed as well. Probably so they perform reliably on bigger animals that people are likely to use them on.

Google it. Gunwriters from various publications confirm this. I believe John Barsness, having sectioned these bullets, has confirmed this.

Carry On
 

Gila

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This’ll be my first year drawing for elk, have mainly hunted whitetail until now. I currently have a .308 and a 26 Nosler to use. Which would be the better option? I familiar with the 30 cal argument for larger game, but in this case the Nosler carries quite a bit more energy. In 308 I’ve mainly used 168 grain TTSX, while in the Nosler I’ve used the 142 grain Accubonds. Which would be the better choice of the two for elk?
I think it is 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Either one will do the job nicely. I would say use the rifle you have the most confidence in and the one you shoot the best. Get out there and practice if you can find the ammo. One thing to keep in mind is that generally the copper alloy bullets need a higher velocity (about 2000 ft/sec) to expand. Just a SWAG here, but on those two cartridges the max. range on a good broadside shot is probably around 400 yds. Just some food for thought here.
 

Laramie

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I believe the designer’s name is Gail Root. He was a big 243 fan and engineered the 95gr BT to be a tougher bullet for better performance on game. The 120gr 7mm bullet ended up being tougher because it was fashioned out of a cut-down bullet that was heavier and had a higher percentage of jacket vs lead. It is popular with silhouette shooters because it’s flat shooting and hits hard. This explains the exit my friend’s kid got on an elk. The bigger calibers are heavier jacketed as well. Probably so they perform reliably on bigger animals that people are likely to use them on.

Google it. Gunwriters from various publications confirm this. I believe John Barsness, having sectioned these bullets, has confirmed this.

Carry On
I have seen the 95 BT discussed on many forums. I did google and the only results I found are discussions on other forums similar to this. I'm not in any way implying they are a bad bullet. I shoot the Hornady version- the 95 grain SST, for antelope and deer frequently. I'm sure it is very possible to get a complete pass through on an elk with them. However, they are not comparable to the accubond, interbond, or any other truly bonded bullet when it comes to weight retention, and overall "toughness" as you originally claimed.
 
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I have seen the 95 BT discussed on many forums. I did google and the only results I found are discussions on other forums similar to this. I'm not in any way implying they are a bad bullet. I shoot the Hornady version- the 95 grain SST, for antelope and deer frequently. I'm sure it is very possible to get a complete pass through on an elk with them. However, they are not comparable to the accubond, interbond, or any other truly bonded bullet when it comes to weight retention, and overall "toughness" as you originally claimed.

Oh, it wasn’t the 95gr bullet I was referencing with the pass-through, it was the 120gr 7mm bullet.

The original NBT retained 50% of their weight on average. These other ballistic tips are retaining 60%, much more in line with the Partition and Accubond.

Given the solid base and thick jacket, those particular ballistic tips are viable choices for elk within the designed expansion threshold. Bullet companies are out to make money and they do it by planting the seed in our head that elk are now armor plated.
 

Wrench

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You will be fine with either to WAY further than you will believe. Choose a bullet that works in your velocity window and rock on.....keep in mind one is a speedster and NEEDS a tougher jacket up close and one will not take a tougher bullet to its potential at much distance.

Id roll an accubond / swift in the 26 and a simple cup and core or partition in the 308......and never worry inside 500 plus.
 
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