Is a 220 grain .30-06 bullet to much for bull elk?

[dhershberger]

I'm going rifle elk hunting with my .30-06 and I'm planning to use 220 grain Remington Core-Lokt bullets. Is this to heavy of a bullet for bull elk? I know the 180 grain bullets will do the trick and are better for longer shots but I think that 220 grains have better takedown power. Any advice is helpful, thanks!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My general take is that you will be giving up a lot of ballistic performance. The 180 gr hits real hard and you get flatter shooting. My baseline for load performance has always been to try and get as close as possible to 3000 fps at the muzzle. Just my opinion.

Remember one thing...dead is dead. 180 or 220, so why penalize yourself.

 

[8750]

220 gr is good if you are hunting the black timber. It can crash through brush and small limbs and have a better chance of doing its job.

 

[Grantbvfd]

220 gr is good if you are hunting the black timber. It can crash through brush and small limbs and have a better chance of doing its job.

A bad shot is a bad shot. Shooting through limbs and brush isn't a good idea with a 100, 180, 220 or even 350 grain bullet. You will have more knockdown power with a 220 grain.

I assume u are using factory loads...? If that's the load your gun likes then use it.

 

[Scott S]

I know the 180 grain bullets will do the trick and are better for longer shots but I think that 220 grains have better takedown power. Any advice is helpful, thanks!

Actually a larger bullet doesn't offer more "takedown power" like you think it does. Stick with the flatter shooting 180 grain bullet like the Accubond or Partition and practice bullet placement. I killed my 6x6 elk with a 30-06 and 180gr Accubond. The faster 180gr bullet will provide both a large killing channel and you will also get a greater terminal velocity impact and shock on the vitals as well.

Give the 180 gr a try and you might find that you are pleasantly surprised.

 

[dhershberger]

I think I'll take 180 gr. bullets and 220gr. bullets and if I get a long shot I'll use the flatter shooting 180 gr. bullets but if I get within 150 yds. then I'll use 220gr. bullets.

 

[llp]

You will be better served with the 180 grain bullet. There is no doubt the 220 grain will kill an elk, but you are sacrificing more than necessary. The performance edge goes clearly to the 180 grain bullet over 100 yards. And at less than 100 yards, either bullet will give you all the penetration and power you need. I've shot lots of elk with the 180 grain bullets, some as close as 25 yards, and never had reason to question this bullet weight. If you have lots of the 220 grain load, and don't mind the limitations, then ok. But this would never be the first or best choice.
llp

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I think I'll take 180 gr. bullets and 220gr. bullets and if I get a long shot I'll use the flatter shooting 180 gr. bullets but if I get within 150 yds. then I'll use 220gr. bullets.

Careful with this, as your point of impact can vary widely, depending on load. I have also killed elk with a variety of bullet weights. I would consider loading up a "hard" 150 grain bullet, like the Barnes TTSX. This load will flatten the trajectory significantly, and would dispatch bulls easily, with proper placement, of course. The 30-06 doesn't have the powder capacity to make good use of a 220 grain projectile, IMO. Within a 150 yards, I don't think that elk would notice the difference between them.

 

[dhershberger]

Careful with this, as your point of impact can vary widely, depending on load. I have also killed elk with a variety of bullet weights. I would consider loading up a "hard" 150 grain bullet, like the Barnes TTSX. This load will flatten the trajectory significantly, and would dispatch bulls easily, with proper placement, of course. The 30-06 doesn't have the powder capacity to make good use of a 220 grain projectile, IMO. Within a 150 yards, I don't think that elk would notice the difference between them.

True, the weight can change the point of impact a lot so probably picking one bullet weight is the best. I do think that 150 grain bullets are a little light for bull elk so I think the bullet I will use is the 180 grain. I haven't tried the Barnes TTSX in 150 grain yet but I'll test it and compare it to 180 grain Remington Core Lokt. I do agree that 150 grain bullets can do the job when properly placed but I think the 180 grain has more forgiveness and knockdown power.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I really think it has more to do with shot placement than anything elso. I have killed 5 or 6 elk and 2 moose with 30-06 150 gr Sierra GameKings. All were 1 shot kills. One bull moose was standing uphill and slightly turned away from me, one shot in shoulder and down he went. Found the bullet was lodged in the horn. Passed thru and lodged there. I shoot a .300 Wby with 180 gr Nosler Partition now and it does a great job. Shoots a lot flatter than the 06 at longer ranges. Pick a bullet and load, and if it groups the way you want it to, stick with it and do a lot of practice at various distances.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

True, the weight can change the point of impact a lot so probably picking one bullet weight is the best. I do think that 150 grain bullets are a little light for bull elk so I think the bullet I will use is the 180 grain. I haven't tried the Barnes TTSX in 150 grain yet but I'll test it and compare it to 180 grain Remington Core Lokt. I do agree that 150 grain bullets can do the job when properly placed but I think the 180 grain has more forgiveness and knockdown power.

I shot a bull with a 180 grain corelokt from an 30-06 a few seasons ago. He ran about 20 yards and dropped. The bullet entered the ribs behind the off shoulder. No exit. The bullet was in the chest cavity and weighed 98 grains after cleaning.

I shot a bull the following year with a 140 TSX from a 270 WSM. The bull didn't take a step. The bullet shattered the on shoulder, turned the lungs to ribbons, crushed the off shoulder, and was caught in the hide on the off side. Somehow the Barnes "petals" were sticking out in the air on the off-side, but the body of the bullet was stuck in the exit hole. One petal sheered off somewhere inside, but the bullet stilled weighed 122 grains after cleaning.

Both bullets made the lungs inoperable. I don't know what the "knock down" power was. I know the Barnes was the bigger bullet after doing the job. The Barnes had better penetration for sure.

I agree with Colorado Cowboy in that shot placement is way more important than bullet choice. Find one that shoots well out of your gun and use it.

Just remember that 180 grain CoreLokt is going to be 150 grains or less really soon after impact.

 

[dhershberger]

Bittroot Bulls and Colorado Cowboy: Your'e right, bullet placement is much more important than load and caliber. I have a question for Bitteroot Bulls: What was the yardage when you killed your bull with a .30-06 180 grain Core-Lokt and what was the yardage when you killed your bull with a .270 with a 140 grain Barnes TSX. I do think it is important to have proper bullet placement but also it is important to have enough caliber it make a clean kill. The .270 is on the light side for elk calibers but with proper placement, not too long yardage, and with a Barnes TSX I think that the .270 probably could perform pretty well. One more question: I've been looking at bullets and I really like the .30-06 Federal Vital-Shok with Barnes TSX tips in 150 and 180 grains. Do you think this a good bullet choice for bull elk? Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it alot.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I guess I'm old fashioned...maybe just plain old is a better description, but I use Nosler Partition exclusively in my .300.

 

[jay]

maybe give a 165 grain in a partitioner a try. somewhere in the middle. i like that round for elk and deer, little more punch than the 150 but lighter than the 180 for those extended ranges. everyone is right about shot placement, if you know your guns capabilities and have a steady rest you could take down an elk with almost anything. good luck fellow newmexican...

 

[dhershberger]

maybe give a 165 grain in a partitioner a try. somewhere in the middle. i like that round for elk and deer, little more punch than the 150 but lighter than the 180 for those extended ranges. everyone is right about shot placement, if you know your guns capabilities and have a steady rest you could take down an elk with almost anything. good luck fellow newmexican...

That's another good option that I haven't thought about. I use the 165 grain mainly for Oryx hunting but I'm sure it would work for elk too especially in a partition load. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I have a question for Bitteroot Bulls: What was the yardage when you killed your bull with a .30-06 180 grain Core-Lokt and what was the yardage when you killed your bull with a .270 with a 140 grain Barnes TSX.

The 30-06 was under 100 yards, probably closer to 80 yards.

the 270WSM was over 400 yards.

I would be confident in the 150 Barnes doing the trick just fine. The 180 TSX would do well also, just not quite as flat shooting.

Find what you are confident in, and stick with it. I hope you get to do an on-game test of whatever bullet you go with this year.

Good Luck!

 

[In God We Trust]

I use a 30-06 and I shoot 180 grain bullets. I have killed elk, mule deer, and whitetails with these bullets. I would say that 165 is the perfect all around bullet. My kid brother uses a .270 and shoots 140 grain bullets. They do the job as well. I have hunted elk a long time and I would say 220 is way overkill.

 

[dhershberger]

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[NDHunter]

Now I understand why Mike Eastman explains in his book's why he doesn't get into what type of caliber, bullet, scope, etc. to use. It mostly just comes down to personal preference. Shoot an elk broadside through both lungs with anything bigger than a .243 and it is going to kill it. Shoot an elk through the guts with a .300 and you are going to have a tough time getting it.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

That is why I believe shot placement and confidence in your weapon are the most important things that a hunter can have. I learned some very hard lessons over 50 years ago on this when I was a very young, inexperienced hunter.