Rifle Elk Caliber and Bullet Choice for 2023

[AckleyHunter]

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.

Comments like this make me wonder the same thing. I've seen 22 cal bullets not penetrate the "sheild" of a 150lb hog. I've tracked whitetail for miles because 150gr corelokts come apart on a deer shoulder and only puncture one lung. Individual results may vary. Just don't be that guy who goes and kills another elk because you can't find the one you shot with your 77gr tmk.

 

[BackofBeyond]

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

They are a solid copper bullet.

 

[JLS]

i believe you, no question.

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

Pencil dick

 

[JLS]

I’ve tracked elk for miles feet/yards after they succumbed to the frontal energy of an 85 grain Barnes TSX.

#pencildickreportingfordutysir

 

[MTLabrador]

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.

 

[JLS]

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.

Pencil dick.

 

[brockel]

Comments like this make me wonder the same thing. I've seen 22 cal bullets not penetrate the "sheild" of a 150lb hog. I've tracked whitetail for miles because 150gr corelokts come apart on a deer shoulder and only puncture one lung. Individual results may vary. Just don't be that guy who goes and kills another elk because you can't find the one you shot with your 77gr tmk.

Stole these pictures from another sight as I cant find the pictures of a bulls shoulder destroyed after them little 6.5s went through it. Like I said this isn’t stopping much.

 

[brockel]

Well what do you know a little digging and I found a picture of the wife’s bull from a couple years ago. Here is opposite side shoulder after that little 6.5 went through both shoulders. Wonder what would have happened with more frontal energy

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

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!
____________

Hey, where's my 9.3!?

 

[Wind Gypsy]

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 => 6.5 PRC w/ 130 gr TMK - na

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

I do believe the first choice was 223 w/ 77 TMK for 6.5 PRC guy

 

[PNWGator]

I do believe the first choice was 223 w/ 77 TMK for 6.5 PRC guy

Wind Gypsy is correct. First choice is 77TMK from the 223.

 

[WildWill]

Hey, where's my 9.3!?

The proverbial BBC to all these pencil dicks.

 

[JLS]

Come at me bro…

 

[Addicting]

Hey, where's my 9.3!?

Hanging out with my 22

 

[Stocker]

152mm howitzer, probably gonna use some air burst shells, I feel comfortable out to 7,000 ish yards if I have a decent spotter. I do have some API shells for follow up shots when needed. I’m afraid I’m a bit undergunned, but there was nothing bigger at my local gun shop. I’m hoping in a couple years to get that rail gun Germany built in WW2 so I can really reach out and poke em.

 

[brockel]

152mm howitzer, probably gonna use some air burst shells, I feel comfortable out to 7,000 ish yards if I have a decent spotter. I do have some API shells for follow up shots when needed. I’m afraid I’m a bit undergunned, but there was nothing bigger at my local gun shop. I’m hoping in a couple years to get that rail gun Germany built in WW2 so I can really reach out and poke em.
View attachment 281928

Should have some frontal energy

 

[Ben Nicholson]

300 win mag, barnes ttsx 180 grain.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

152mm howitzer, probably gonna use some air burst shells, I feel comfortable out to 7,000 ish yards if I have a decent spotter. I do have some API shells for follow up shots when needed. I’m afraid I’m a bit undergunned, but there was nothing bigger at my local gun shop. I’m hoping in a couple years to get that rail gun Germany built in WW2 so I can really reach out and poke em.
View attachment 281928

Going to suppress it?

 

[jphares44]

7mm Rem Mag, either 175 gr. Berger or 162 gr. ELD-X handloads (still evaluating the two), CO 3rd season

 

[Stocker]

Going to suppress it?

Hollowing put a hot water heater now. A commercial one, should work.