2004 MT bull

[cmiddleton]

I'm shooting a 300 win mag with 180 gr i have shot 3 elk with it and they all dropped so fast i didn't see them go down.
its bullit placement stick it behind there ear and they never take a step.
wasn't to good on my 4x4 bull this year broke the skull plate but he didn't go anywhere he never herd the gun go off.
I hunt by hog park in your neck of the woods and the long shots have been 80 yards.
thick timber over there

 

[JoseCuervo]

Hey Buzz,

Congrats on the nice 4x. That is actually a pretty good bull for a 4x.

The 7mm is adequate for Elk, the .300Winnie is better, and the 338 is even better. Kinda funny how when you fling a bigger bullet at an elk out of the same case, it works better... But I don't think anybody on this board has shot enough elk, under enough controlled circumstances to make decisions based upon field performance.

And I hate to see comments advocating "shoot them behind the ear" garbage. Unless of course CMMiddleton is referring to the Front Shoulder as being "behind the ear". I would hate to know how many of the "behind the ear" shots have missed by 3 inches and blown off the lower jaw, resulting in no blood trail, and an animal that will starve to death. :MAD :BLEEP:

 

[jerrym]

ELkgunner you were reading my mind. This year while hunting I had a cow give me the headbob like a whitetail trying to figure out what I was. That would not have been the time for a head shot. Your margin of error is pretty small, guys that can do it are better shots then me. JerryM

 

[BuzzH]

Jigmaker,

Sorry to disagree, but I wouldnt shoot hornady bullets at big-game if I was paid to shoot them.

The jackets are chicken skinned and the velocity of the 7 mag combined with heavy boned critters like elk would create situations I'd rather not get involved in. Been there, done that, and its no fun. I rank hornady bullets slightly better than a sierra, but really its a coin flip as to which one is worse on game. That elk was dead after the first nosler passed through his lungs, elk are just tough, and I dont take chances. The difference with the 338 is a bigger wound channel, more tissue damage, more penetration, and the ability to break bones. I've never seen anything work better on elk than a 338 and 250 grain noslers.

I should have just stuck with the 338 and this just proves what I already know, the sub-30 caliber rifles just dont perform on elk like the 30's and up do. I dont expect them to either, but I just wanted to get familiar with the new rifle.

Nothing wrong with the 7, it shoots great, and I'll kill a pile of Wyoming mule deer with it...I'll just leave it at home when elk hunting. Its a great deer rifle for sure.

I do use hornady bullets for practice bullets though, they're cheap.

 

[Delw]

Wtg Buzz,


Delw

 

[waxy]

awesome..............great bull

 

[Jigmaker]

BuzzH
I have taken 15 Elk with my 7mm haven't had one take more than 30 steps. use to use 175 gr but at max load it was to much went through with out much expansion 154 do much better also tried nosler had same thing happen yea it puts them down but I look for major internal damage and a big exit hole just in case he does run noslers give me an exit hole no bigger than when it went in

 

[Elkhunter]

Congrats on the bull Buzz. Thanks for the short story and the picture. Glad you had a good time out with your brother.

 

[cmiddleton]

well elkgunner if you cant shoot where your aiming dont shoot. at 80 yards i can do it and have every time. if at 80 yards you cant hit them in the head you wont hit them behind the shoulder at 200. not alone 400 and beyond which seems to be ok to most people but not with me.
shoot what you are capable of doing. how many run off due to shooting to far away. I'll bet more then head shooting at under 100.