Author Topic: Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?  (Read 1299 times)

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Offline swecology

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« on: November 27, 2004, 02:28:14 PM »
O.K., I'm going to expand my original question a bit.  I'm handloading for a 7mm WSM.  I figure that this question though, can cover experiences with a 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm-08, 7mm STW, etc.

I am trying to decide where to start with "what" bullet, and I'm considering three brands:  Hornady, Sierra, and Nosler/Combined Technologys.

What have your experiences been with any of these, good or bad, pro or con?  Which would you recommend for Arizona Elk?  Mule Deer?

Any help or insight you might be able to give would be very appreciated.

Matt

Offline longwinters

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2004, 02:58:43 PM »
Guys like me can  never stay inside of the lines of a question like this  :roll: .  I would go with the Nosler Partition for elk.  Even though I have never hunted elk, I have reloaded quite extensively for my 7mm and with the accuracy I could get and the Partition reputation I would go here 1st.

Long
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Offline Aardvark

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Elk load
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2004, 03:17:31 PM »
I'm not sure if you load your own or not but I do and my conclusion is the new 175gr Partition has a coefficient rating of .519 which is higher than any other 7mm bullet that i know of for hunting.
 I shoot a .280 remington and have loaded lots of different projectiles. The higher the BC, the flatter it will shoot and deliver more punch when it gets there.
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Offline longwinters

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2004, 08:25:02 AM »
Aardvark,

Nice to see another 280 fan.  Have you tried the Nosler Accubonds?

Long
Life is short......eternity is long.

Offline Zachary

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2004, 08:36:12 AM »
When you're talking elk, accuracy is important, but it takes a passenger seat to terminal performance.

When I think of an "elk only" 7mm bullet, the 175 grainer first comes to mind.  The Partition is excellent, as well as the Trophy Bonded.  However, you can use a 160 grain Barnes X bullet (or actually the newer TSX bullet) and it should give you the same terminal performance with flatter trajectory.

Zachary

Offline Bubba Jack

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2004, 10:15:18 AM »
Just started reloading for  my 7mm-08. Loaded some 140 partitions and some 139 sst's for deer. Read alot about the partitions and wanted to see first hand. The first deer of the season was 220+ pounds, shot it quartering towards me in right shoulder. Partition exited left rear ham. Inside destruction was really amazing, about a 4 inch diameter channel of death all the way through the deer. The partitions are tough bullets, that preform well. I would load them for elk, but move up in bullet weight.

I think they are a little more than needed for deer, but I really liked the end result. I am sure with shot placement and a partition would be "the end" for a elk out of any 7 mm rifle.

Bubba Jack

Offline jackfish

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2004, 02:27:08 PM »
.284" 154 grain Hornady Interbond
You learn something new everyday whether you want to or not.

Offline oliverstacy

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160 gr. Accubond
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2004, 09:40:54 AM »
I have been reading a ton on these new bullets and like everything I've read.  Granted they are written by people paid to promote the newest things.  I have as of this fall killed to 8 pts. with the 140 gr. AB in my 270 Winchester.  They shoot great and penetrated well.  Didn't have the rapid expansion I've seen with the ballistic tips.  

Just a thought.  You could use 140 gr. Accubonds for deer size game and then jump up to 160's for elk.  I think I need a 7 WSM!!

Josh
My wife once made the mistake of telling me "all of your guns look alike"...No, I've had this gun for a long time! LOL

Offline Aardvark

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.280 fan
« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2004, 01:26:49 PM »
Quote from: longwinters
Aardvark,

Nice to see another 280 fan.  Have you tried the Nosler Accubonds?

Long

 I love the .280. It is soft on the shoulder and easy on the throat and the barrel compared to a 7Mag.
 Mine is built on a M98 action with a 25" E R Shaw barrel in #3 contour, 1 twist in 9".
 I figure that will make up for some velocity and range that the cartridge itself gives up to the 7 Mag.
 To your question about the accubonds, the answer is no, but I'm sure That in enough time I will. I handload a lot and love to "play"..... :wink:
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Offline Coyote Hunter

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2004, 05:22:09 PM »
The 7mm 160g Speer Grand Slam has worked for me for over 20 years without a hitch.

This year I switched to the North Fork bonded 160g bullet but didn't have any success in finding an elk.
Coyote Hunter
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Offline MickinColo

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2004, 03:24:10 PM »
I use to have strong opinions on bullet weight and design for elk when I was younger. But in the last 25 years of elk hunting, I’m convinced that it’s not so much the weight and design but placement, placement, and placement. If you can’t shoot your gun straight, no matter if it’s a 243 or 460 Weatherby, give up on elk and spare the animal of the misery.  

Elk can be hard to down (not as hard as moose but hard) and if you don’t place the bullet in the vitals, it’s gone and you better be somewhat good at tracking if you plan on eating it.

I have seen an elk downed with a single shot from a 243 with a 100 grain bullet but that rifle was in the hands of a marksman (not me, I wouldn’t use anything less than a 25-06 on elk and that would be in a pinch). I’ve tracked a poorly hit elk for a mile that was hit 2 times with a 375 H&H.

If I were to pick a good elk caliber, it would be something like this.
At the lowest end, 25-06. The 270s, the medium (7mm Mauser) and up 7mms, the medium 30 caliber (300 savage) up to the high mags. 338 up to the 375 H&H are ok but not necessary. 45/70, 38-55 are nice black timber “brush” guns.

For elk I use a 7mm Rem Mag and a 45/70. I’ve used a 300 Win Mag for a number of years but it never really gave me more than the 7mm except more recoil. As far as bullet selection, I use a 160-gr. Sierra HPBT. It works every time I’ve pulled the trigger and I can drop it in the dirt and the rocks and it doesn’t deform.    

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Keep your powder dry and your flint sharp

Offline swecology

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7mm bullet choice
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2004, 05:40:54 PM »
MickinColo,

Oddly enough, that  HPBT is exactly the bullet that I decided to order today, along with the BTSP in the same 160gr. weight.  Paul Box at Sierra termed it "...a hammer..." on large game.  Turns out he shot all of the load development for Sierra's new manual.

Thanks for your input.  I agree with the 25-06 statement also, as I own one.  It's a great long distance whitetail round, but it would be stretching it to it's absolute abilities on elk.

Matt

Offline MickinColo

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2004, 01:48:27 PM »
Hi swecology,

I couldn’t agree with you more about the 25-06. I love the round (own one myself) but anything that shoots less than a 150 gr. bullet is marginal at best for elk.

If you can get those Sierra 160 HPBTs to work accurately in your rifle, you’ll fall in love with them. Paul Box knows what he’s talking about.

Mick  :grin:
Keep your powder dry and your flint sharp

Offline Questor

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2004, 02:30:20 PM »
I would use a relatively heavy Nosler Partition. It's a great premium bullet but not as expensive as some of the others, like Swift A frames and Barnes X's. I'd use it on mule deer too.
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Offline Bear Wallow

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Which 7mm Bullet would you use for Elk?
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2004, 10:26:51 AM »
I use 175 core-lokts on elk