Is a 220 grain .30-06 bullet to much for bull elk?
- Thread starter dhershberger
- Start date
Elkoholic307
Banned
You're not always going to get that perfect broadside shot; which is why I'm now using a 338 Ultra. Even in an extreme quartering away shot, I can punch an elk through the guts and that 250 gr. NAB will still have enough steam to destroy the vitals.
In God We Trust
Very Active Member
Elkoholic307
Banned
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
I load nothing but the Nosler 165 gr. Accubond or Partition in my 30-06 and they are both great bullets that I feel would work just fine for your elk hunt. I would chose a good 165 or 180 and then shoot which bullet shoots the best in my particular rifle. Good luck on your hunt!
David
David
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
I shoot 150 gr. barnesXBT's in my model 70 30.06....it loves them, my model 700 won't group
with them. It likes heavier bullets. I loaded-up some 200 gr. accubonds for it..it likes those and 180's.
I agree with Mike Eastman, use what you're familiar with. Those 220's aren't those round nose corelokts
are they? I never liked the performance of the early corelokt's, they come apart. I guess with the modern
high performance bullets we have to choose from nowadays...we're spoiled.
with them. It likes heavier bullets. I loaded-up some 200 gr. accubonds for it..it likes those and 180's.
I agree with Mike Eastman, use what you're familiar with. Those 220's aren't those round nose corelokts
are they? I never liked the performance of the early corelokt's, they come apart. I guess with the modern
high performance bullets we have to choose from nowadays...we're spoiled.
Yeah, the 220 grains are round-nosed because more weight has to be added without making the bullet longer because it would screw up the caliber. The 150's are the most pointed, 165's very pointed, 180's are still very pointed, and the 220's are pretty round which doesn't help them at all balistically. I think 180's or 165's are the right choice.
turkeyhunter60
New Member
trkytrack2
Active Member
A hell of a lot of elk have fallen to the 150 gr. bullet and a hell of a lot have been killed with a .270 with a 130 gr. bullet. Shot placement is the key to any quick kill on any animal, big or small. My 30-06 prefers 165 gr. boat-tail bullets; shoots a one inch group at 100 yards with them and has plenty of killing power. If your rifle groups well with a 180 grainer or a 220 grainer, shoot the bullet that groups the best in your rifle.
trophyhill
Member
Elkoholic307
Banned
Funny you mention that. A friend of mine double lunged an adult cow this year with his .270 and a 130 gr. SST and it went almost 2 miles before dropping. He had to shoot it a total of 3 times.
trophyhill
Member
i double lunged an adult cow elk a few days ago with my 7mag/140gr Accubond bullet. she went maybe a hundred yards. shot placement is everything.
Elkoholic307
Banned
Obviously, but a lot times it depends on what the animal is doing before you shoot it. If there is a lot of hunting pressure, then it is most likely stressed and full of adrenaline.
You don't have to believe my example. I'm not sure that I do; 2 miles is a long ways. I am just re-telling what was told to me, I wasn't there. The hunters didn't have a gps or a rangefinder so it was their 'gut-feeling' that it went 1.5 - 2 miles. Either way, it was shot in the lungs and went a long ways. This is why I never go under-gunned.
Everyone knows shot placement is key, but not enough people realize that the 270 Win. is not a suitable elk cartridge.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
Count me in the group of "not enough people." I think it is a perfectly suitable elk cartridge at moderate distances with a quality controlled expansion bullet.
Old Hunter
Banned
The .270 is plenty for elk. It's been killing elk since 1925. I'd never shoot an SST though. They have a habit of blowing up. Shoot a good bullet like the Accubond, Partition, TSX etc.
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
Exactly! I've heard So many "horror" stories of 7mm rem mag and less. "7 shots in the heart and he still ran 1.5 miles!"
I call bs! Any double lung or heart shot and that elk is running on adrenaline. sorry. He's running purely off of stored ATP energy and is in Fight or flight mode. And it will end up in flight. A lot of lesser calibers have been killing elk for a long long time. A lot less than a .270
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Elkoholic307
Banned
I expected these kind of replies. All I'll say is, for the kind of elk hunting I do, the 270 is inferior.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I figured you probably did expect it.
I thought I would oblige. Inferior for you, OK. Suitable for others, you bet!