7mm rem mag 140 grain nosler partition too light for cow elk?

[TonyM]

Thoughts on using 140 grain nosler partitions out of a 7mm rem mag on cow elk? Too light for shots under 300 yards (absolute max)? I'm taking a buddy out west on a whitetail hunt/ cow elk. Looking for a dual purpose round. If the partitions shoot well, will they suffice for both? Roughly 3100 fps..... Not sure if this post would be better under hunting forum...kinda crosses both topics...

 

[huntinco]

Not at all to light.

 

[helotaxi]

Should have similar terminal performance to a 165gn from a .300 WinMag.

 

[jimniowa]

That is one of the best bullets for 7mm mag

 

[CharlieBT]

Good choice for dual purpose and parameters mentioned. Best of luck!

 

[Clark]

I shoot for the lungs.
I use plastic tipped fast expanding bullets.

Others aim for the shoulder and use partitions.

Don't take long range shots at elk while the are walking. That requires some leading. Thanksgiving morning 2009 I used up all the 13 rounds I was carrying.

 

[gamestalker]

I have had no problems at all with 140's for elk. In fact, back in the 1980's I was dropping elk and just about everything else with a 130 gr. from my .270 win.. Just make sure you don't skimp on your velocity. Keeping it above 3100 fps will do the trick.

 

[Kachok]

I would step up to 160gr Partitions for elk, but 140s will do the trick in a pinch for sure, keep it behind the shoulders and your penatration should be more then enough. 160s would allow for more shot angles.

 

[Old Dog Man]

7 mag for elk

I know a guide in Col. that uses a 243 with 100gr. bullet, been killing elk for over 30 years. He picks his shots and puts it in the right place. So yes a 7mag with will do both deer and elk. Have a good time, wish I was there. Never killed an elk (on my bucket list though) maybe someday. Al

 

[Casefull]

Don't take long range shots at elk while the are walking. That requires some leading

Do not lead them very much or you will hit in front of them. I usually hold a few inches in front of their chest. Hunters lead too much and hold over to much almost always. At 3000 fps it takes .3 of a second to travel 300 yds. The walking elk will only travel a few feet in that amount of time.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Personnaly, I'd want to use the 150gr or 160gr Partition in the 7mag.
I've used the 140gr Partition in my 7mm08 and a close friend used my rifle to take a 6x6 bull in Colorado in '05 using my handloads with 140gr Partitions. All his shots were at an estimated 250yds (by guide) and the three that he shot the bull with were broadside hits and complete pass throughs w/3" exit wounds.

However, later that fall, I shot a 70lb yearling whitetail in the chest at ~100yds, facing me with "left over" ammo from his trip. The bullet expanded to .30", shead ~40% of its weight (just as it's supposed to), and I found the bullet under the hide in the paunch. (jacket was folded back against the short shank). The deer ran ~200yds, w/o a blood trail, and by chance/luck, I found it lying in a small open area next to a densely wooded area along a nearby stream. (load was 46.0gr of IMR4350 for chrono'd 2,775fps m/v from 20"bbl of Rem. Mod-7).

Penetration was only about 18", and though internal damage was extensive, I was underwhelmed by the performance of the bullet. I've shot many deer with this rifle (over 50 since '04), and even the formerly "cheap" Remington Corelokts dramatically out-perform what I saw from this Partiton.

I know this is an example of "one", but sometimes "one" is enough.....
What was remarkable about my friends elk was that the fourth shot he fired at the elk was a Sierra 140gr "ProHunter" that I'd sent him with, to practice/check sight-in with. He's not a "savy" shooter/hunter and just grabbed a hand full of ammo, ignoring my admonition to use the 20rds of Noslers for actual hunting. the Sierra (last shot fired) impacted the shoulder and broke both shoulders and was balled up under the hide on the far side, which dropped the elk where it stood. Retained approx 75% weight. I was appalled that he had to shoot four times, but he said everyone in camp was amazed at the performance of the "little 7", and that the outfitter tried to buy the gun from him....... Everyone else in camp were carrying 10lb+ "magnums" and were still shooting elk 5-8 times...... (?????). (FWIW; my brother uses a pre-'64 Win Mod70 in .308wcf with 150gr Partitions to shoot elk, has taken over a dozen, and never shot one more than twice..... and that only once)..

The whole point of the 7mm Mag is to push a 160gr bullet to 3,000fps for the purpose of shooting elk across canyons. To use the 140gr is to "hobble" it, IMO. Leave the 140's and lighter for coyotes, small deer, and lesser "varmints".

Use the 160gr Nosler Accubond.....Or better yet, the 150gr Swift Scirroco, or A-frames. They retain more weight than a Partition. There is a reason Nosler came out with the Partiton "Gold"s about 12yrs ago.....