calling all elk hunters

tlo7mm · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:54 am Post subject: calling all elk hunters

those of you who hunt elk with a 7mm rem mag, what is your favorite pet load for taking down the big ones?

PaulS · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

a 3006

Just use a heavy bullet that you can put where you point it.

sorry, I don't load for 270 or I could be of real help
as opposed to no help like this post. Embarassed

Elvis · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:11 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

I havent shot a wapiti YET!!!! But they are on the bucket list. all the gaff says use a heavy projectile but the other camp says they are easier to put down than a red deer as they have a bigger kill zone with no more protection.
I suggest your most accurate load will be your best bet.

slimjim · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:55 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

Elvis wrote:

other camp says they are easier to put down than a red deer as they have a bigger kill zone with no more protection.

tlo7mm, a long-time elk hunter told me this before I went on my first trip last year. My .270 with Hornady 130 GMX was very effective at 225 yards. Most guides said if you want the most meat, do a head or neck shot. I don't think the bullet matters as much then but accuracy sure does. For a heart lung shot, I prefer a bullet that will expand and penetrate while retain its weight which is why I use a Barnes, GMX, or other monolithic bullet.

Here is a link to my elk hunt last year if you are interested.

www.huntingnut.com/ind...mp;start=0

MacD · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:58 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

Shot a big bull moose with a 7mm Rem Mag. It was a handload of my friend and he believes it was a Speer bullet probably a 175 Grand Slam. My Lyman manaul lists the load as:
Rem.Large Rifle Magnum primer
56 Grains RX22 to start
OAL 3.260

My friend doesn't have his data for the load but he uses H4831 for most of his 7mm loads. The Lyman manual starts this @ 53.7 grains for the same bullet. BTW he now uses the Nosler Accubond 160 for moose. He wouldn't share his load info but Nosler has load data on their site.

Bushmaster · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:26 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

H4831/H4831SC is a great powder when using a heavy bullet 150 grains and up.

tlo7mm · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:54 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

I am planning on loading up 160 gr nosler partition for Elk but I was interested in hearing what everyone else had to say. Hey bushy, i have loaded some 160gr speer sp with H4831sc and it is a very accurate load. I am very happy with it since it was the first test loads I did for the big 7. I also have some sierra gameking 160gr that I was considering loading for elk hunting. I have more nosler partitions than I will ever be able to use killing elk though.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

160 Partition will be great on them.

DO NOT use the 160grn Gameking. I did once and while it did drop the elk, it was a unbelievable mess. It hit the near shoulder and just exploded. Nothing exited, lost all meat on that shoulder. Elk was still kicking when I walked up to it.

I hear great things with 160grn Accubonds on elk, I bought a couple boxes to try myself but havent had time to work up loads yet.

-DallanC

tlo7mm · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

I have been told not to use any type of belistic tip bullet on anything if you are going to hit bone. I try to hit the vitals so that should not matter but my brother always shoots elk in the shoulder.
I loaded up some hornady sst's for my wifes 30-06 for hunting deer and was considering getting something else for her to hunt elk with.
This actually posses a question I would like to find the answer to. That is why would you not want to use belistic tip bullets for big game?
anyone have an openion on this subject?

slimjim · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:01 am Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

tlo7mm wrote:

I have been told not to use any type of belistic tip bullet on anything if you are going to hit bone. ... This actually posses a question I would like to find the answer to. That is why would you not want to use belistic tip bullets for big game?

First there is the Nosler Ballistic Tip. This specific bullet does not maintain its weight or penetrate well. I've read of situation where even deer are shot in the shoulder and the bullet does not penetrate and the game is lost. I believe this is where you lesson learned originates from.

However, a ballistic tip on a monolithic bullet like Hornady GMX and Barnes TTSX should not have an issue hitting bone and still penetrate.

tlo7mm · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

slimjim wrote:

However, a ballistic tip on a monolithic bullet like Hornady GMX and Barnes TTSX should not have an issue hitting bone and still penetrate.

does this apply to the Hornady sst? will it hold together well enough at least for deer hunting?

slimjim · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

tlo7mm wrote:

does this apply to the Hornady sst? will it hold together well enough at least for deer hunting?

I have no experience with the SST. It is a lead-core bullet which will loose weight as it expands.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

My understanding is that the SSTs were designed for deer hunting. I've only shot one deer with an SST, so far, (129 gr., 6.5mm from a .260 Rem) and the heart/lungs just poured out when I opened him up. I've got some loaded for .308 too but haven't shot game with them yet.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

I have nothing but thumbs up for the Nosler partitions on elk and moose.

tlo7mm · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: calling all elk hunters

The sst is basically a interlock with a balistic tip , at least that is what i have read since i posted last. There is a lock ring (cannelure basically) that keeps the core bonded to the jacket but everything in front of the lock ring mushrooms easily and fast.