300wm 168 g A max For Elk?

[tequillaeagle]

So i have been shooting for a little while and trying to work up a hand load, what has been working the best so far for my 300 win mag is a 168 g A max bullet behind 4350 80.5 grains ,,, What i would like to know is this enough to kill an Elk,, i know shot placement is key but i thought that the average elk round was 180 - 200+ grains,,

 

[Rokman]

I imagine that it would, but if I got another chance to kill an elk, I would rather have a hunting bullet over a target bullet. There are too many good hunting bullets in that caliber to chance it.

 

[amflyer]

If I remember correctly, an A-max has a pretty thin jacket. It's main use is target loads. Work up a load with a 165 grain or 180 grain Interbond and you should be fine.

Also, although every rifle is slightly different, hence the "start low and work up" mentality in handloading, your loads of 4350 (irregardless of manufacturer) are way above the max listed loads for Hornady's manual. By a lot.

I would take a look at some data if it were me before doing much else.

 

[bobelk99]

I believe it is imperative to use a tough hunting bullet for elk. I have killed a few, and still am amazed at their stamina.

I have used 160 and 175s in 7mag, and my favorite load is 210 in a 338.

Your gun and energy are fine. You just need to use a bullet that is designed to penetrate when you accidentally don't make a perfect shot.

I use Nosler Partitions, but I am old fashioned. There are lots of bullets just as good, and probably some better, on the market.

 

[xphunter]

I use A-Max's for pd's through deer size animals, but I would not recommend them for elk myself.
If you are looking for a higher BC bullet then I would go with the Berger or JLK bullet (very similar to the Berger).

 

[Roughneck08]

Barnes Triple Shock!

 

[Runningman]

been working the best so far for my 300 win mag is a 168 g A max bullet behind 4350 80.5 grains

1st off Hornady only recommends a MAX load of 69.8 grains of IMR 4350 in the 300 Winchester Mag. I sure hope your charge was a typo.

And no I would not recommend a 168 A max on an Elk hunt in a 300 Win Mag. They are a very thin jacketed bullet closer to a varmint bullet in my experience.

When Hornady 1st released the 7mm 162 A Max back in the 90s I shot some out of my 7mm STW. I could not believe what I was seeing at 1st. Some of the bullets were disintegrating in mid air. They would just turn into gray mist cloud about 75 yards down range with some fragments hitting a target at 100 yards. The 7mm 162 Gr A Max is the only bullet I ever had that issue with in my 7mm STW.

 

[kyle1974]

two words... **** NO!

don't use a lightly jacketed bullet made for shooting targets on an elk.

I think they are marginal (at best) for whitetails, to shoot an elk with one is just asking for trouble.

there are WAY too many reliable bullets in .30 caliber to use to take a chance with a target bullet for elk.

 

[waffentomas]

Agree with above, give up a touch of accuracy if you need to, for a tougher bullet. The 165/168 wt is OK, though.

 

[Rokman]

You might want to try Hornady Interbonds, Nosler Partitions, Nosler Accubonds, or one of the Barnes hunting bullets just to add to what I said earlier.

 

[Boxhead]

Just substitute the 168 gr TSX or a 180 Partition and a max book dosage of RL22 powder and you'll be fine. All of my game larger than deer have fallen to either the X, TSX or Partition with zero problems. I would never consider using a target bullet to hunt big game with, particularly elk.