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Rifle Elk Caliber and Bullet Choice for 2023

Better use the red stuff though.
Red Loctite will cook out. Use an epoxy.
The idea that an elk can tell the difference between the frontal energy of a 130-140 grain bullet from a .270 and a 130-140 grain bullet from a 6.5 is laughable.
The biggest bodied bull I have ever killed, and a hunting buddy had ever helped pack out took a 136 grain hammer almost due north to south and it exited. I have no reason to believe a 123 hammer moving at the same speed wouldn’t yield a very similar result.
 
Howdy All. I will put a time limit(deadline) on input for this spreadsheet. This deadline is July 2 @ midnight Central time. Thanks to all who have participated! I will see if I can post it, in some manner, afterwards for your downloading.
 
7mm Hand loaded with a 162g Barnes or the .338 Ultra with a Barnes hanging out the end!
 
The idea that an elk can tell the difference between the frontal energy of a 130-140 grain bullet from a .270 and a 130-140 grain bullet from a 6.5 is laughable.
In your example, the miniscule difference between 6.5 mm and 6.8 mm will not. The huge velocity difference between a creedmoor and 270 will. But to demonstrate how the frontal area of a bullet imparts energy and killing power, we can use Chuck Hawks Rifle Cartridge Killing Power Formula (kps=KExSDxSA(frontal area). Take two loads, creedmoor with 140 accubonds and 308 win with 180 accubonds. Both are heavy for caliber bullets with similar muzzle velocities(~2650fps), section density, and bc with the creedmoor having slight advantage in both. To account for the KE advatange of the 180 v 140 gr bullets, we will use the same value of 2000 ft.lbs. The KPS for the ceedmore is 2000x0.287x0.0547 or 31.4. The KPS for the 308 is 2000x0.271x0.0745 or 40.4. The larger diameter bullet is almost 25% more efficient at killing at the same KE. The real difference is the 308 has 2000 ftlbs at 250 yards while the creedmoor is less than 100. Yes, the creedmoor can kill elk, but there are so many better choices.

 
In your example, the miniscule difference between 6.5 mm and 6.8 mm will not. The huge velocity difference between a creedmoor and 270 will. But to demonstrate how the frontal area of a bullet imparts energy and killing power, we can use Chuck Hawks Rifle Cartridge Killing Power Formula (kps=KExSDxSA(frontal area). Take two loads, creedmoor with 140 accubonds and 308 win with 180 accubonds. Both are heavy for caliber bullets with similar muzzle velocities(~2650fps), section density, and bc with the creedmoor having slight advantage in both. To account for the KE advatange of the 180 v 140 gr bullets, we will use the same value of 2000 ft.lbs. The KPS for the ceedmore is 2000x0.287x0.0547 or 31.4. The KPS for the 308 is 2000x0.271x0.0745 or 40.4. The larger diameter bullet is almost 25% more efficient at killing at the same KE. The real difference is the 308 has 2000 ftlbs at 250 yards while the creedmoor is less than 100. Yes, the creedmoor can kill elk, but there are so many better choices.

Chuck hawks is all I need to read

Also not sure how you came up with 100ftlbs for the creedbro at 250
 
Chuck hawks is all I need to read

Also not sure how you came up with 100ftlbs for the creedbro at 250
I didn't, but let me clarify:
Creedmoor 140 AB 2650 MV = 2041 ftlbs at 50 yards (less than 100)
308 win 180 AB 2650 MV = 1984 ftlbs at 250 yards

If your pedigree is greater than Chuck Hawks why are you writing on hunt talk and not making money from your vast knowledge base?
 

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