Blood trail for elk

[williaada]

Does anyone has suggestion for a bullet that will produce a decent blood trail after hitting an elk in the boiler plate? I have used a Barnes TTSX and killed a couple of cow elk. The elk died within my view. This year I am hunting in a more timbered area, and am concerned there will be little blood to trail the animal.

 

[Addicting]

Lot more to this than just bullet. TTSX work well at decent velocities.

 

[fwagner]

Worry more about where the bullet is going and the blood trail will take care of itself...

 

[nrpate05]

I've never recovered a Barnes bullet. IME, a complete pass through leaves the best blood trail.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Id suspect thered be a better blood trail with copper? I would argue more damage is > blood trail and bergers, eldx, and ablr are good at that...

I cant imagine a well hit animal making it very far, never have in my experience regardless of caliber/bullet.

 

[belshawelk]

This is why I shoot in shoulders and break em down. Like a bear. i dont like trails.

Heavy copper LRX going really fast and hitting really hard. About 2600FPS and 3000FPE does the trick

I know send the hate mail.

 

[MTLabrador]

There’s no guaranteed blood trail on an elk, but if your bullet makes a good wound channel in the right place they’re not going to go far. I’ve had both the 168 and 180 TTSX not exit out of a .300 win mag. Both bullets did a lot of damage and neither bull made it out of sight. If I had to pick one bullet for elk for the rest of my life it would be an Accubond.

 

[Shed God]

I would suspect on a cow elk. Wound it in the head. And u will be fine. Regardless of bullett.

 

[MTLabrador]

I would suspect on a cow elk. Wound it in the head. And u will be fine. Regardless of bullett.

This man knows what’s up. Right in the fuggin head.

 

[LuketheDog]

Wound it in the head. I would suspect on a cow elk. And u will be fine. Regardless of bullett.

FIFY...with that punctuation you were darn near a haiku, very poetic...but I'd ditch the head shot advice.

 

[44hunter45]

Does anyone has suggestion for a bullet that will produce a decent blood trail after hitting an elk in the boiler plate? I have used a Barnes TTSX and killed a couple of cow elk. The elk died within my view. This year I am hunting in a more timbered area, and am concerned there will be little blood to trail the animal.

Are we talking about a 243 Winchester or a 300 RUM here?

 

[Addicting]

Are we talking about a 243 Winchester or a 300 RUM here?

It’s not a Creedmoor because it would just drop in its tracks.

 

[williaada]

.280ai

 

[Caseknife]

Depends on where the bullet hits the animal. Low in the chest will drain the blood out rapidly. High in the chest, the lungs may be shot and the animal is dead, but until the blood flow hits the outlet hole, you won't have much blood to follow. Poke a hole in the bottom of a full bucket of water and it will empty right out, hit it at the waterline and you won't get much water to come out.

 

[Phaseolus]

30-06, 180 grain accubond at 330 yards, best blood trail I’ve had.

 

[williaada]

Think I may try the accubond this year.

 

[fowladdict]

6.5 with Hornady 143 grain

 

[Huntnut60]

6.5 with Hornady 143 grain
View attachment 330429

6.5 with Hornady 143 grain
View attachment 330429

I'll have what he' is using.

 

[Shed God]

Huntnut60 do u like men. It's in your name

 

[Dave N]

Huntnut60 do u like men. It's in your name