Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,789
- 6,036
Good advice Elkeater! 
Changing loads for Elk vs. deer
- Thread starter muleman
- Start date
wildgene
Handloader
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,597
- 2
...well being 'old school, shoot the biggest bullet you can shoot well' & a firm believer in hydrostatic shock, I'd see if I could get him shooting the .325 WSM w/ a 220gr. Sierra SBT (B.C. 0.521) over 63grs. of RL-17 @2800fps., ballistics wise, right up dere w/ the 8mm RM or .338 WM 210-225gr. loads w/ less recoil & a lot less muzzle blast. Lower end, I'd work up loads for the 7-08 or 6.5 WSM w/ heavier bullets. If one bullet did it all, we'd all be shooting 'one' bullet, but lighter bullets are generally designed/ constructed to perform on lighter targets. Elk bones, even the ribs are easily 3X the size, mass, & density of deer, a tougher bullet is probably a good bet. Personally, I'd feel a lot more confident in a 165gr. in the .308, a 160gr. in the 7mm, any extra 'drop' will probably be offset by less windage, 'drop' is easy, wind is always the bugaboo...
pharmseller
Handloader
- Feb 13, 2012
- 554
- 88
Elk aren't armored. Put a well-constructed bullet (my experience is limited to Accubonds and Partitions) through the lungs and you'll have a dead cow.
These elk were taken with a 7mm-08. One shot each.
140 Partition, 346 yards, exited. DRT.
My dad's biggest bull so far, 140 AccuBond, 225 yards, exited. 90 feet.
Note the shot placement:
Same Partition load, 68 yards, bullet recovered. DRT.
Placement is more important than caliber. Practice from field positions and shoot them in the lungs. Don't over think it.
P
These elk were taken with a 7mm-08. One shot each.
140 Partition, 346 yards, exited. DRT.
My dad's biggest bull so far, 140 AccuBond, 225 yards, exited. 90 feet.
Note the shot placement:
Same Partition load, 68 yards, bullet recovered. DRT.
Placement is more important than caliber. Practice from field positions and shoot them in the lungs. Don't over think it.
P
