Best factory 7mm mag ammo for Colorado elk

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Tactical Rancher

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Prepping for my second Colorado elk hunt ever and am looking to optimize my ammunition selection for my old Model 700 7mm Rem Mag. I used Federal Premiums last time with 160-gr Nosler Partitions (but never got a shot). Those are getting pretty spendy these days though...

Does anyone have recommendations for other cartridges that can compare but might allow me to save a few $$? I can hit reliably out beyond 400 yds, so would like to retain effective killing power at those ranges too. Thoughts?
 
Those Nosler Partitions are had to beat for elk, my friend. Pricey or not, keep a box in your bag.
 
The Nosler Accubond is a little less expensive but will perform about as well as the Partition. Don't think you have to buy Federal ammo to get Noslers, there are other companies that load the same bullets. Here's a list of good loads under $40 a box.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=421638&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=913887&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=137714&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=756922&t=11082005
 
PremiumSauces said:
You don't have 3 or 4 left from the prior hunt? You say you didn't get a shot..
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:D Yeah, I did have several left, but it's been three years now since that hunt, and my friends and I have shot up that box on the range for fun. I should probably buy a box of Walmart range ammo and keep the nice stuff in reserve.

So, to change the direction of the question, are there any bullets that OUT-perform the Nosler Partitions? It's amazing that technology that old could still be the best!!
 
I don't know if you can buy them factory or not, but my brother who hunts elk in MT uses the Barnes Triple Shock for his 7mm loads.
 
you know what is pretty good? plain ol blue box federals; I used them in a 243 remmy 788 not too long ago. Shot a piggie at about 100 yds, proly 150 lbs. Just behind his left shoulder as he began quartering away to his right. Autopsy showed that it had destroyed the top of his heart and lungs, and destroyed the offside shoulder, and then made a little exit hole.
 
Core-lokts

For elk I doubt you need a premium bullet out of your 7m/m mag. There's been several thousand killed with core-lokts out of lesser calibers than yours.. I've killed several with 130 gr. .270 and 175 gr. 7m/m Mag core-lokts.
 
I've talked to a few people that thought the Swift A-Frame was what the Partition wanted to be when it grew up. But if you think the Partitions are pricey.........

I am the king of cheap bullets, but even I wouldn't risk all the investment (in both time and money) of a Colorado elk hunt by using a cheap bullet.
 
"For elk I doubt you need a premium bullet out of your 7m/m mag."

+1 for that.

Besides a few hundred-thousand Elk harvested with non-premium bullets over the years - I wouldn't be too surprised if the design Folks at Federal (et al) sorta figured somebody might try to use their standard 7 Mag ammo on Elk sooner or later.;)

:cool:
 
You are elk hunting -not prarie dag hunting??The "best" bullets are about a dollar each.How many are you planning on shooting?
 
materm said:
You are elk hunting -not prarie dag hunting??The "best" bullets are about a dollar each.How many are you planning on shooting?
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Sorry, I should have clarified. I'd like to do a thorough sighting-in with the new load. Then, it's become great fun to use the 7mag for long-range informal competitions with my friends, so there's that.

The Federal Premium Nosler rounds are about $2.50 per shot (I'm not set up to reload), so it's looking like I should get a box of those, and then a box of cheaper 160-gr stuff that has a similar trajectory for all my target play. The premiums should last me at least four years with a fresh sighting-in each year, and then a box of dollar-a-shot rounds would suffice for the entertainment.

Sidenote: I noticed a similar thread asking about the effectiveness of various .30 cal bullets. http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=388556 That thread brought up several types not mentioned here. Is it because those types aren't as good in 7mm, or just happens to be the difference in opinion of 7mag shooters and .30 cal shooters?
 
Is it because those types aren't as good in 7mm, or just happens to be the difference in opinion of 7mag shooters and .30 cal shooters?
Click to expand...

Nah, it's just that you brought up the Partitions so that's kind of where the discussion went. There are really a lot of good bullets out there. It's just a matter of preference within certain parameters. 284 vs 308 is close enough that a bullet design will perform similarly on game given similar weights.
 
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