7MM 140gr Accubond for Elk?

[tecumseh]

I ran into one of the guys I hunt out west with this morning at the range and was putting the finishing touches on a load he's worked up in his 7mm-08 for Elk this year with a 140gr AccuBond and asked what I thought about using that weight bullet for Elk in that caliber? I told him as long as he placed his shots behind the shoulder he should be fine. His gun shot that bullet the best out of everything he tried.

I'm courious to see what everyone's thought on this are?

 

[JD338]

Myself, I would go with a heavier bullet but I was told that it is a popular elk bullet in the Bend OR area.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

I generally prefer more mass in my own loads. The primary exception being in monolithic bullets, which tend to penetrate more than lead core bullets. Having said that, I would use a 140 grain AccuBond, or a 140 grain Partition in my 280. If that was what I was carrying and the opportunity presented itself, I'd look for a good shot in all likelihood. However, if I go afield deliberately looking for elk, I'll likely have more mass in my cartridge.

 

[tecumseh]

I agree with both of you. I sent him an email telling him I can give him some 154 gr Hornady interlocks I've been trying out in my 280 if wants to see how they shoot. That load he worked up with the 140'S will be the goods for any medium sized game he would want to go after.

 

[Songdog]

If you can kill a bull with a broadhead.... you can sure as hell kill one with a 140 AccuBond at 2850!!

If you think caliber is going to allow you to shoot through the bad stuff to get to the good stuff.... you're barking up the wrong tree. Starting a bullet anywhere but the shortest distance through the boiler room on a bull elk.... is asking for trouble, at minimum. Sure.... you might run a 200 AccuBond out of your RUM through the ball joint (12-16" of muscle and large bone) of a fleeing elk at 70 yards.... but then it still has to go through 14-18" of intestine full of 30lbs of schitt (literally.... and it's good bullet stopping stuff).... then, it has to go through another 12-18" and 40lbs of gonna' be schitt in the stomach (excellent bullet stopping stuff) before it even reaches the stuff that will still take a while (read miles and miles of hell) before killing it. Throw in another 12-16" to get all the way inside the diaphram.... and another foot and a half to go before we make it to the heart! That's 5-FEET through rut enraged, prime condition, sometimes freaked out, 750+ pound beast. I think I can count on one hand the caliber/bullet combos I'd trust to make that run EVERY TIME. A well constructed bullet of good caliber (I'd go 6.5's as a minimum..... though I prefer 7s).... placed well.... will kill elk with aplomb.... the combo your friend is shooting certainly fits the bill.

A bowhunter's integrity we must have on elk.... even with a boom-stick.... to quote my main man Charles Barkley.... "Any thing else, would be uncivilized."

 

[6mm Remington]

If that bullet shoots great in his rifle, I sure don't see any reason to change personally. What is 14 more grains of bullet really going to do? I only shot 140 gr. Partitions in my .280 Remington and killed several elk with it, and it worked fantastic. I sold it prior to the Accubonds coming out, but I feel they would work as well. I would feel confident in it.

 

[str8meat]

they will do fine.

 

[jmad_81]

That's what i was planning on using in my wifes 7-087-08 for elk and bears. My dad shot his bull last year with a 140 bt out of my 280ai and it worked fine. I preference the ab though. I wouldn't worry about it. Poeple been killing elk with a 130 out of a 270 winchester for a long time. A 140 out of a 7-08 is not much different IMO. Shot placement is everything!

 

[mcseal2]

I wouldn't be scared of it, I have had excellent penetration from the 140gr AccuBond in my 7 mags and 270WSM. That said, I emailed Nosler about using it for elk a couple years ago while working up loads for a rifle and they said that they don't recommend it for elk. They prefer the 160gr bullet.

 

[SJB358]

That's what i was planning on using in my wifes 7-087-08 for elk and bears. My dad shot his bull last year with a 140 bt out of my 280ai and it worked fine. I preference the ab though. I wouldn't worry about it. Poeple been killing elk with a 130 out of a 270 winchester for a long time. A 140 out of a 7-08 is not much different IMO. Shot placement is everything!

Well said Jake. We are shooting bullets that will move around some blood and organs. I did okay with the 140 AB's in my 270WSM on elk and deer. I wanted more and stepped up to the bigger rifles, but I would, without a doubt hunt elk again with the 270 and 140AB's/150 PT's.. They drive deep.

SD is spot on, you better bring alot of A-Game to get through that kinda elk.

 

[tecumseh]

He called this morning and is going to swing by this week and pick up some bullets to try, he just found out he drew a tag along with the other guy I went with last year. I might be tagging along again this year with another bear tag in hand.

 

[EOD Diver]

Hope you can find 160 ABs. I'm doing some load workup for a buddy's 7RM, and we haven't been able to find 160 ABs anywhere. Tried the local sportsman's warehouse, midway, cabela's, and even nosler with no luck. We finally went with 140 ABs. It's got me scratching my head, as it's Nosler's go to bullet in 7mm for elk. You'd think they'd make a ton of 'em. Please let me know if you find a secret cache.
Joe

 

[jmad_81]

Don't get me wrong, I preffer a bigger bullet myself. But for for the 7-08, I feal the 140 AB is a great fit. I shoot the 160 AB out of my 280 AI and really like it.

 

[SJB358]

Hope you can find 160 ABs. I'm doing some load workup for a buddy's 7RM, and we haven't been able to find 160 ABs anywhere. Tried the local sportsman's warehouse, midway, cabela's, and even nosler with no luck. We finally went with 140 ABs. It's got me scratching my head, as it's Nosler's go to bullet in 7mm for elk. You'd think they'd make a ton of 'em. Please let me know if you find a secret cache.
Joe

I would bet 2nds will be flowing before too long Joe. At least that is what I am hoping.

 

[YoteSmoker]

For my wife's 7mm08, I load 140 TTSX primarily with elk in mind as she doesn't like the recoil of the 30-06 and we hunt elk and deer in the same season. She shot her late season doe with a 140 AccuBond and it worked perfectly. I'm sure it would work well on elk also but prefer the added insurance of a bullet that holds most of its weight on game larger than deer.

 

[baltz526]

The 140gr 7mm is a great combo. The 7mm-08 will limit the range on elk. I would want the impact velocity over 2400fps which makes it about a 250-300yrd elk combo in my opinion. About all that you can expect out of the 308 family of cases.

 

[EOD Diver]

Scotty,
I hope you're right. I'm holding my breath...
Joe

 

[SJB358]

Scotty,
I hope you're right. I'm holding my breath...
Joe

Yeah, the issue is tryinig to get 2 bullets I want at the same time..

 

[6mm Remington]

Scotty,
I hope you're right. I'm holding my breath...
Joe

Yeah, the issue is tryinig to get 2 bullets I want at the same time..

That Scotty is a good guy. He turned me onto some 165 gr. Accubonds blemished ones for my 30-06 and I picked up 150 bullets!! I have had a heck of a time finding them and I hit the mother-lode. I just think he likes seeing us use our credit cards!

 

[SJB358]

Scotty,
I hope you're right. I'm holding my breath...
Joe

Yeah, the issue is tryinig to get 2 bullets I want at the same time..

That Scotty is a good guy. He turned me onto some 165 gr. Accubonds blemished ones for my 30-06 and I picked up 150 bullets!! I have had a heck of a time finding them and I hit the mother-lode. I just think he likes seeing us use our credit cards!

Don't worry mate, mine gets worked just as hard. I am holding out for some of the bullets I really need like the 338 250's and 358 225 AB's and 250 PTs. I would also take 160 AB's for the 7mm, and the 200 AB's for an 8mm..