Rifle Elk Caliber and Bullet Choice for 2023

[Deleted member 16014]

What is wrong with the creedmoor? Ask yourself why you are using magnum calibers while relegating the creedmoor to a youth rifle? My 2 cents, not enough bullet mass, not enough frontal energy, and not enough energy to reliably kill an elk on a quarting shot or if you have to put it through the shoulder. Under ideal conditions, the creedmoor fine. Ideal shots are hard to comeby where I hunt. Individual results may vary.

@rtraverdavis How does Mrs. Krinklesworth feel about the essential “frontal energy” metric?

 

[TheJason]

I’ll have to re-evaluate the frontal energy from my 6.5.

 

[AckleyHunter]

I’ll have to re-evaluate the frontal energy from my 6.5.

Some girls like the pencil dick

 

[BackofBeyond]

@rtraverdavis How does Mrs. Krinklesworth feel about the essential “frontal energy” metric?

Personally, I dig the frontal energy on Mrs. Krinklesworth.

 

[TheJason]

Some girls like the pencil dick

At this point in my life, dick size is not in my top 100 worries.

Does a pencil dick make a wound channel?

 

[PNWGator]

77TMK out of my 223 is my first choice if legal…(#pencildickmakesawoundchannel)

130TMK out of a 6.5PRC only because I don’t currently have the ability to deliver an 108 ELDM out of a 6CM.

Hit rates, wound channels and depth of penetration matter.

 

[mtmuley]

77TMK out of my 223 is my first choice if legal…(#pencildickmakesawoundchannel)

For elk? mtmuley

 

[woods89]

77TMK out of my 223 is my first choice if legal…(#pencildickmakesawoundchannel)

130TMK out of a 6.5PRC only because I don’t currently have the ability to deliver an 108 ELDM out of a 6CM.

Hit rates, wound channels and depth of penetration matter.

But you step up to a magnum for moose, right?

 

[PNWGator]

For elk? mtmuley

100%

Zero compromise.

 

[mtmuley]

100%

Zero compromise.

Have at it. Ever done it? mtmuley

 

[PNWGator]

But you step up to a magnum for moose, right?

Lol.

Been there. Done that. No.

Equally effective.

 

[PNWGator]

Have at it. Ever done it? mtmuley

My first choice for killing ALL big game inside of 450 is a 223 with a 77TMK if legal.

The hit rates are high. The wound channels impressive.

It‘s a mind bender for most.

 

[PNWGator]

PS

I’ve either killed, or have been present for deer, elk, bear and moose with the 223 77TMK.

Humane killing isn’t an issue. Period.

 

[mtmuley]

The hit rates are high. The wound channels impressive.

So are mine. mtmuley

 

[PNWGator]

So are mine. mtmuley

i believe you, no question.

That said, there is a lot to be learned with an open mind.

 

[rtraverdavis]

@rtraverdavis How does Mrs. Krinklesworth feel about the essential “frontal energy” metric?

She is very much into full-frontal energy.

 

[SilverDollars]

Howdy Everyone,

Well the numbers are adding up. I've been organizing and putting the input on a spreadsheet that I will post at a future date. At the moment, I have this texted input for your review.

Volume, Caliber, Bullet, State

1 => 35 Whelen w/ 225 gr Nosler AB - handload - CO 1st
1 => 375 H&H w/ 250 gr TTSX - WY
1 => 300 RUM na - na
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 160 gr Nosler AB - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 166 gr Hammer Hunters - na
1 => 6.5 PRC w/ 156 gr Bergers - CO 1st
1 => 30-06 w/ 200 gr Partitions - na
1 => 338 WinMag w/ 225 gr TTSX - handload - na
1 => 6.5 Creed w/ 130 gr TMK(156 Berger) - CO 3rd
1 => 30-06 w/ 166 gr Hammer Hunter - na
1 => 280 AI w/ 150 gr Barnes TTSX - MT
1 => 30-06 na - na
1 => 50 Cal Encore w/ 250 gr Barnes TEZ - na
1 => 300 PRC w/ 199 gr HH - na
1 => 30-06 w/ 165 gr Nosler AB - WY
1 => 30-06 w/ 180 gr Copper - na
1 => 6 Dasher w/ 109 gr ELD - na
1 => 300 H&H w/ 180 gr Partitions - OR
1 => 30 Nosler w/ 210 gr Barnes LRX - na
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 150 gr CX - CO 1st
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 165 gr Partitions - na
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 160 gr Nosler AB - WA
1 => 308 Win w/ 150 gr Barnes TSX - ID
1 => 338 Federal w/ 160 gr Barnes TTSX - WY
1 => 7 SAUM w/ 175 gr Nosler AB LR - na
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 140 gr Sierra Gamekings - na
1 => 7mm-08 w/ 139 gr Hornady GMX - WY
1 => 6.5 Creed w/ 139 gr Scenar - na
1 => 6.5 PRC w/ 156 gr Berger - MT
1 => 338-06 w/ 210 gr Barnes TTSX - WY
1 => 300 WSM w/ 175 gr Barnes LRX - MT
1 => 300 PRC w/ 212 gr ELD-X - na
1 => 270 Win w/ 126 Hammer Hunters - na
1 => 338-06 w/ 210 gr Barnes TTSX - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 220 gr ELD-X - CO 3rd
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 175 gr Barnes LRX - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 180 gr Nosler AB - WY
1 => 7 Mashburn w/ 180 gr Scenar L - NM
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 140 gr Nosler AB - CO 2nd
1 => 340 Weatherby w/ 225 gr Barnes TTSX - NM
1 => 270 Win w/ 130 gr Barnes TSX - WY
1 => 7mm Dakota w/ 180 gr Berger - na
1 => 6.5 Creed w/ 123 gr Hammers - na
1 => 270 Win w/ 150 gr Partition - CO TBD
1 => 7 SAUM w/ 180 gr Berger Hybrid - WY
1 => 280 AI w/ 160 gr Nosler AB - WY
1 => 270 Weatherby w/ 130 gr Barnes TTSX - na
1 => 308 Win w/ 168 gr Sierra TGK - na
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 175 gr CoreLokt - NV
1 => 270 Win w/ 140 gr Nosler AB - na
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 160 gr Partitions - na
1 => 270 Win w/ 140 gr Sierra GameChanger - MT
1 => 7mm RemMag w/ 168 gr VLD - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 180 gr Win Power Points - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 185 gr Berger Juggs - na
1 => 6.5 Creed w/ 130 gr TMK - na
1 => 30-06 w/ 165 gr Nosler AB - NM
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 215 gr Bergers - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 180 gr Nosler AB -NM
1 => 280 AI w/ 131 gr Hammer Hunters - na
1 => 300 WinMag w/ 180 gr Nosler Partition - na
1 => 6.5 PRC w/ 130 gr TMK - na

This input door will close soon! Thanks to everyone who has inputted useful information!
____________

 

[brockel]

or if you have to put it through the shoulder. Under ideal conditions, the creedmoor fine.

Comments like these make me actually wonder if some people have actually deboned an elk shoulder. That blade is not thick. I’ve seen a 63 grain Sierra soft point go right on through it with no issues. This killing critters just isn’t that tough.

 

[ballplyr6]

Wha5 are these hammer hunter bullets everyone is talking about. Never heard of them. Are they bonded or like vlds and eldx

 

[brockel]

PS

I’ve either killed, or have been present for deer, elk, bear and moose with the 223 77TMK.

Humane killing isn’t an issue. Period.

77tmk wound channel is very impressive. Just wish they weren’t so hard to find.