140 ET or PT.

[jmad_81]

I'm going to be loading a 140 of one of those two in my 280 AI for my wife for elk this fall, and the gal that just moved in next door wants me to teach her to load for her Remington 280. They will need something for elk and deer.

Kind of looking for a one bullet for everything ladies type of load. Whats your thoughts on bullet selection. SPS has both for a pretty good price.

 

[DrMike]

I'd be partial to the E-Tip for one bullet. The performance on moose from a 130 grain E-Tip in my 270 WSM was great. No doubt the Partition will work, but the assurance of penetration with the E-Tip on elk would tip the scale for me.

 

[jmad_81]

Thanks Doc, that is kind of the way I was leaning for just that reason.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I think 140's are light even for a ladies load as an all-around personally though I cannot say the 140 AB, PT, or ET would fail at all. I think a 150 grain bullet at 2850-2900 would still be tolerable recoil and provide just a little bit more for elk. Its the same reason my all-around in the 30-06 is a 165 instead of a 150, its just a little more for elk (though I have never lost an elk with a 150 grain premium bullet in my 30-06). Maybe something to consider but my Mom uses a 7x57mm Mauser and I load her either the 160 grain Sierras, 154 grain Hornadys, or the 140 grain Noslers.

 

[jmad_81]

I tend to like the bigger bullets as well, but I'm thinking that the 140 ET will retain more weight than a 160 AB, and out penetrate it as well. And hopefully have less recoil for the ladies.

Just my $.02 though.

Thanks for the input.

 

[onesonek]

I'm much in the same thought with jmad, on the 140 gr ET, for the lady. Otherwise, I would go with no less than 150 PT, with the 160 gr PT my personal preference. But with the weight retention of the ET, I would have no qualms using it myself.

 

[Guest]

I can't speak for what they'll do on elk, but I can tell you that I've been impressed with the E-Tip in the field on white-tails. Very consistent expansion and more penetration than I could ask for. If you didn't see the description from last hunting season, I shot into a white-tail at the base of the neck and it rode the spine all the way and exited just to the right of where the tail meets the rump. That's a ton of bone and muscle, and at least 4' of penetration. Can't imagine it wouldn't make it to the lungs/heart of an elk.

 

[SJB358]

I tend to like the bigger bullets as well, but I'm thinking that the 140 ET will retain more weight than a 160 AB, and out penetrate it as well. And hopefully have less recoil for the ladies.

Just my $.02 though.

Thanks for the input.

Jake, I wouldn't underestimate that 140gr PT at all in your 280AI. Although the ET will retain more weight, the way it mushrooms with a larger frontal area, I am not totally sure it would outdo the PT. I think the PT is going to grenade that frontal core and may have a smaller frontal area that penetrates as well as the ET. I ran the 140gr PT in my 7RM for a long time and NEVER recovered a bullet from a deer. Now, these were Northern deer, so some went into the upper 180+ range, but they were also put in a few deer from some hard angles and they all made it through. I know I wouldn't sweat the 140gr PT in a fast 7, or even a slower 7 on elk. Granted, both are excellent bullets so you can't really make a bad choice.

Since they are both on sale would make it a hard choice for me. I have been wanting to try an ET for awhile as well, but I know the PT's will usually shoot well for me with just a little amount of range work. Scotty