Hi, I shoot a .300 Win. Mag. I use a 180 grain Partition bullet at the max load for hunting elk. I was wondering what your opinion is on using the 165 grain Partition at a max load for hunting elk? Is the lighter bullet at higher velocities better than a larger bullet moving slower? Or visa-versa? Also, I shot an elk this past season at 130 yards with the 180 grain load. When I skinned the animal I found copper jacketing from the bullet at the exit wound. I was a little surprised. I thought the Partition was suppose to hold together better. Do you recommend that I switch to an Accu-bond? Partition Gold? Thanks, John
What is the best elk load?
- Thread starter Ferd
- Start date
Well, Ferd, I am with POP on this one, do not mess with success. If that bull died and the bullet exited, at what point did it fail?????
I shot an elk last fall with a 180 grain Partition from my 300 Wby Mag. The distance was about 250 yards. The bullet broke the right shoulder, took the top off the heart, and was found under the skin on the left shoulder. It weighed 68% of its original weight.
I have no intention of changing loads for elk. Elk are LARGE animals that are very tenacious of life. I certainly have no intention of going to a lighter bullet, a heavier one, maybe. Actually, the previous hunt for elk I used the 225 Partition in my .338 Win Mag with equal success.
Point is, the 180 Partition did well for you, so what if you found some jacket pieces? I use 180 grain bullets in my 300 magnums, period. For deer, pigs, elk, etc. Heck, I shot a nice coyote with one this fall, worked great.
But, if you REALLY must change bullets, I would recommend the Partition Gold. It is a little tougher than the regular Partition. It has a steel cup in the rear like the Fail Safe. My step-son shot a cow elk this fall with a 150 grain Partition Gold from a 270 Winchester. That bullet went clear through that LARGE cow elk and killed another one standing behind it!!!
R F
I shot an elk last fall with a 180 grain Partition from my 300 Wby Mag. The distance was about 250 yards. The bullet broke the right shoulder, took the top off the heart, and was found under the skin on the left shoulder. It weighed 68% of its original weight.
I have no intention of changing loads for elk. Elk are LARGE animals that are very tenacious of life. I certainly have no intention of going to a lighter bullet, a heavier one, maybe. Actually, the previous hunt for elk I used the 225 Partition in my .338 Win Mag with equal success.
Point is, the 180 Partition did well for you, so what if you found some jacket pieces? I use 180 grain bullets in my 300 magnums, period. For deer, pigs, elk, etc. Heck, I shot a nice coyote with one this fall, worked great.
But, if you REALLY must change bullets, I would recommend the Partition Gold. It is a little tougher than the regular Partition. It has a steel cup in the rear like the Fail Safe. My step-son shot a cow elk this fall with a 150 grain Partition Gold from a 270 Winchester. That bullet went clear through that LARGE cow elk and killed another one standing behind it!!!
R F
- Oct 30, 2004
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Well fellas I will be completely honest. In the start of my handloading/hunting career I use to love tinkering and trying all the different bullet weights and styles of bullets etc. Honestly there is nothing wrong with that and besides it keeps the gun business alive. Now, since I have been through so many guns and bullets/powders etc I have come to the following conclusion.
I have a specific and proven (on animals and targets) load for each on of my rifles. I stick with it and I know its virtues and/or limitations very well.
Now that said I do occasionally play with another load but not on game. I just feel these loads are the best for said rifle.
Incidentallyevery load in every one of my rifles features a Nosler bullet except 2.
204 Ruger----no Nosler 20 cal to try so I use Hornady.
and 416 WBY MAG ---I want a super High BC bullet...hence the 330 gr GS Customs.
I have a specific and proven (on animals and targets) load for each on of my rifles. I stick with it and I know its virtues and/or limitations very well.
Now that said I do occasionally play with another load but not on game. I just feel these loads are the best for said rifle.
Incidentallyevery load in every one of my rifles features a Nosler bullet except 2.
204 Ruger----no Nosler 20 cal to try so I use Hornady.
and 416 WBY MAG ---I want a super High BC bullet...hence the 330 gr GS Customs.
You don't need a 300 WM to hunt those little deer. I use a 223 in Arizona for our mule deer.
I have a 270 and a 300 WM as well. I shoot partitions out of ALL of them.
But a friend killed a bull elk that had a dressed wight of 935lb. that he took with one of my hand loads in a 308 using a 165 gr. Partition. It was dead befor it hit the ground with one shot @ 140 yards.
I just wish that Nosler would come out with a 70 to 75 gr Partition in .224" That would be my dream bullet for my Ar15 addiction.
:grin:
I have a 270 and a 300 WM as well. I shoot partitions out of ALL of them.
But a friend killed a bull elk that had a dressed wight of 935lb. that he took with one of my hand loads in a 308 using a 165 gr. Partition. It was dead befor it hit the ground with one shot @ 140 yards.
I just wish that Nosler would come out with a 70 to 75 gr Partition in .224" That would be my dream bullet for my Ar15 addiction.
:grin:
- Nov 4, 2004
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I shot an elk last fall with a 180 grain Partition from my 300 Wby Mag. The distance was about 250 yards. The bullet broke the right shoulder, took the top off the heart, and was found under the skin on the left shoulder. It weighed 68% of its original weight.
I have no intention of changing loads for elk. Elk are LARGE animals that are very tenacious of life. I certainly have no intention of going to a lighter bullet, a heavier one, maybe. Actually, the previous hunt for elk I used the 225 Partition in my .338 Win Mag with equal success.
But, if you REALLY must change bullets, I would recommend the Partition Gold. It is a little tougher than the regular Partition. It has a steel cup in the rear like the Fail Safe. My step-son shot a cow elk this fall with a 150 grain Partition Gold from a 270 Winchester. That bullet went clear through that LARGE cow elk and killed another one standing behind it!!!
R F[/quote]
RF,
Congratulations on your success!
Can you post any pictures of your trophies and bullets? I like many others enjoy looking at bullet photos.
I have used the 210 gr PT in my 338RUM for both Elk and Mule Deer with spectatular results. All shots were 1 shot kills with complete penetration.
I switched to the 250 gr PT to keep meat destruction down. Still get the spectatular results on WT Deer with less wound trama. I have not shot any game with the 225 gr PT yet. This is why I wrote to Nosler in another thread, Partition Penetration.
Regards,
JD338
I have no intention of changing loads for elk. Elk are LARGE animals that are very tenacious of life. I certainly have no intention of going to a lighter bullet, a heavier one, maybe. Actually, the previous hunt for elk I used the 225 Partition in my .338 Win Mag with equal success.
But, if you REALLY must change bullets, I would recommend the Partition Gold. It is a little tougher than the regular Partition. It has a steel cup in the rear like the Fail Safe. My step-son shot a cow elk this fall with a 150 grain Partition Gold from a 270 Winchester. That bullet went clear through that LARGE cow elk and killed another one standing behind it!!!
R F[/quote]
RF,
Congratulations on your success!
Can you post any pictures of your trophies and bullets? I like many others enjoy looking at bullet photos.
I have used the 210 gr PT in my 338RUM for both Elk and Mule Deer with spectatular results. All shots were 1 shot kills with complete penetration.
I switched to the 250 gr PT to keep meat destruction down. Still get the spectatular results on WT Deer with less wound trama. I have not shot any game with the 225 gr PT yet. This is why I wrote to Nosler in another thread, Partition Penetration.
Regards,
JD338
In response to JD 338, I have some pictures of elk that I have shot with Nosler Partitions but I just have not bothered to post them. Everyone says it is easy, I just never have tried.
I have not bothered to take pictures of the bullets recovered, they are rattling around in a drawer some place.
The 180 Partition and the 225 Partition that I recovered from elk look like a Nosler advertisement. They are perfectly even in their mushrooms and I think one had 68% weight retention and the other 65%.
Maybe I will get around to posting the elk pictures. If nothing else, maybe I will send them to Nosler so they can up them in the photo gallery.
Thanks, R F
I have not bothered to take pictures of the bullets recovered, they are rattling around in a drawer some place.
The 180 Partition and the 225 Partition that I recovered from elk look like a Nosler advertisement. They are perfectly even in their mushrooms and I think one had 68% weight retention and the other 65%.
Maybe I will get around to posting the elk pictures. If nothing else, maybe I will send them to Nosler so they can up them in the photo gallery.
Thanks, R F
- Oct 30, 2004
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RF. If you need any help with this...let me know.
POP
POP
- Nov 4, 2004
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R Flowers":2qmieao4 said:
RF,
Great Photos!
Contratulations on a very nice bull.
Happy Holidays.
JD338
As long as you are thinking of experimenting with different bullets, I would try to 180 or 200 grain AccuBond. My experience has been the the AB performs just as well at the PT and in every rifle I have it shoots more accurately.
I've been using the 200 grain AccuBond in a 300 wby and I shot 3 elk with a total of three bullets. The closest being about 100 yards and the longest being over 500 yards.
I've been using the 200 grain AccuBond in a 300 wby and I shot 3 elk with a total of three bullets. The closest being about 100 yards and the longest being over 500 yards.
