bullet performance on elk

[gspn]

I got back from my elk hunt yesterday. I had originally planned to use a 160 grain Nosler Partition in my 7 mag but I simply couldn't get them to shoot right through my gun.

I ran out of time to get the load right so I grabbed my sons .30-06 and shot a 150 grain Hornady Interlock.

I had a friend who was shooting Hornady 162 grain SST's through his 7 mag.

I hit the elk with 3 out of 3 shots at ranges between 150 and 200 yards, and recovered one bullet. One was a complete pass through in the lungs so I have no complaints about it. The one I recovered hit a quartering away shot, passed through the heart, and hit the far shoulder where the core separated from the jacket. The jacket below is what was found lodged against the far side of the elk under the skin. The Interlock that i recovered had a weight retention of roughly 25%.


Untitled by scarfam, on Flickr


My buddy hit the elk in the rear leg at 150 yards with his 7 mag. The Hornady SST absolutely shattered the leg bone and mushroomed perfectly. No separation at all, and a weight retention of 65%.

Untitled by scarfam, on Flickr

I thought I'd share these pics for those of you who like to track such things...it's a few more data points to use when evaluating terminal ballistics in hunting rounds.

 

[wankerjake]

Yep, the 150gr interlock from a 30-06 is an all too familiar sight. We've recovered probably dozens of those from elk over the years, and that's usually how they look. Usually don't pass thru unless you get a lung shot or through the neck, even on cows.

Switched to bonded bullets and monolithic copper a few years ago and I love the results so far

The SST looks pretty good, front or hind leg?

 

[gspn]

The SST looks pretty good, front or hind leg?

Hind leg. Hit the bone dead center and smashed it into more pieces than I could count. It really did a number on that bone. I was VERY impressed with the SST.

It actually surprised me a little bit, because my last experience with an SST was terrible. My son shot a 170 pound whitetail buck in the shoulder a few years ago with an SST from his .243. That bullet blew up on impact...it never penetrated the through the shoulder into the chest cavity. The buck ran 311 yards from the scene of the crime and it took about 4 hours of tracking to find him.

This SST experience lines up more with what people tell me about the bullet. I'm sure I just got a bad apple on the one my son used...maybe this will help me return to the SST.

 

[wankerjake]

Elk carry bullets very well, as you saw. Blew up his hind leg and couldn't even tell. That's why I dropped cup and core.

 

[gspn]

Elk carry bullets very well, as you saw. Blew up his hind leg and couldn't even tell. That's why I dropped cup and core.

It was surreal when I walked up to him. When I saw the shot placement, I was dumbfounded that he just kept on truckin. He never missed a stride.

They are a very impressive animal. He also made an impressive set of burritos last night too!

 

[wankerjake]

Haha yes, I love eating them as well.