One bullet for mulies and elk

[gspn]

I'm starting my research on which bullet to use for an upcoming mule deer/elk trip and wanted to consult with those of you who have experience on these types of hunts.

I'll be using a 7mm Remington Mag and the shot window could range anywhere from 0 to 300 yards...under perfect conditions that might stretch to 400 but it would be a rare event.

I'll be hand loading and will use the next few months to work up a load and practice with it.

I need an accurate bullet that will perform reliably on both critters over a fairly wide range of distances/speeds.

So far I'm looking at Accubond, Sierra GameKing, and Core Lokt. I know the Accubonds and GameKings can be made accurate in my gun...but I've only used them on whitetail. They perform really well on whitetail...but an elk is like a dump truck by comparison.

The Accubond also gave very positive terminal performance on the mule deer I shot last year (60 yards, high shoulder shot, dropped in it's tracks).

So there's my quandary. What say you?

 

[Art Eatman]

From reading of hunter success, the 150-grain in .270s and 165- or 180-grain in .30s work just fine.

So, I'd go with a Sierra GK of some 160 in a 7mmMag.

 

[witchhunter]

I favor the Nosler Partitions. I have used them for 40 years and can't imagine using anything else. Just my opinion, but I have dug them out of some big bucks and have always done a great job.

 

[Liberty1776]

Remington 175 gr. Core Lokts..

 

[BigBore45]

Game kings have worked fine for me out of a .308 win on big Kansas deer and Texas hogs. I run 150 grain or 165 grain both work great. Call serria and ask, they have been helpful to me over the phone.

 

[Resist Evil]

At one of my low financial times, I was asked to go hunting by my best friend. I had never hunted before and did not have a rifle. Figuring that if I'm going to buy a rifle of my own, it better cover any game I might end up hunting here in Colorado for years to come because I doubted I'd be able to afford another.

I chose the flat-shooting 7mm Rem. mag. For fifteen years or better, I've hunted elk, deer, and pronghorn. I've used 160 grain Nosler Partitions as loaded by Federal and and that bullet has reliably done its job if I do mine. I'm like you in that 300 yards is about my limit (except for the pronghorns...where I hunt they're small and far away) and maybe out a little further if that cow wiggles its butt a little.

Since it's the only bullet I've used and it has worked with one shot every time, I'm obviously recommending it. No matter what you choose, good luck with your hunt!!

 

[wankerjake]

Accubond gets my vote.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Sierra game kings have killed every elk my family has harvested.

 

[osprey176]

Any of the bullets you mentioned should work fine. I would suggest 160-175 gr,and try a few different brands to see what shoots best in your rifle.

 

[jmr40]

With a well constructed bullet like the Accubond, Gameking or several others you don't really need anything above 150-160 gr for either, I'd even go as light as 140 gr on elk with a quality bonded bullet. You could substitute the Partition in the same weights too. They aren't as aerodynamic and aren't the best long range bullet, but 300 yards ain't long range. The 160 and heavier bullets main advantage is better BC's resulting in better performance at ranges beyond 400 yards.

Corelokts are an old school bullet that works well within a narrower velocity range. They work, but I don't think the same bullet weight would be satisfactory for both elk and deer. If I were to choose that bullet I'd err on the side of using heavier 175 gr bullets if only choosing one weight.

 

[Don McDowell]

The 160 gr Speer hotcors are very good bullets, and we never did run across an elk that didn't die when one of them went bashing thru the ribcage..
I tend to like to find one bullet for hunting and then there's no worry about changing zero's when changing loads.
I had an almost catastrophic season with Sierra Game Kings in the 7 mag 40 years ago, and have not shot a sierra bullet since. Hornday Interloc and Speer Hotcors serve very well.

 

[X-Rap]

I have had good luck with Hornady Interlocs, Modeler Balistic Tips, Sierra Handlings and Rem Core Lokt in multiple calibers. Specific to 7 mag the 154-175 gr. Hornady and Nosler have both performed well on deer and elk.

 

[Sunray]

Any bullet suitable for deer will work just fine on elk. Doesn't have to be a premium bullet either. Plain old SP's were killing 'em long before premium bullets existed.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The faster you push a bullet the tougher it needs to be. Game kings and regular old cup and core bullets work just great on a big bull elk IF you have a really good shot angle. A good bonded bullet, partition, solid shank or an expanding mono metal will give better straight line penetration and will penetrate heavy bone much more reliably than a traditional cup and core.

The benefit to that is it give you more shot options. The way I hunt elk I enjoy having that option. I'm not saying don't use a traditional bullet, rather I am pointing out the benefit of a quality, controlled expansion bullet.

I really like Barnes TSX, Nosler Partition and Accubond, Swift A-Frame and the GMX and Interbond bullets from Hornandy. If I am going to use a traditional cup and core bullet it will almost invariable be a Sierra Gameking as they are so consistently accurate in everything I shoot them in. You also can not go wrong with Corelokt, Interlocs, Speer Grand Slam or lots of other bullets. You just have to know your shot limitations.

When my girls were young they both killed cow elk with their .308 or .30-06 loaded to .30-30 levels. IE A 150 gr Sierra Round nose at 2200 ish FPS. We got within 150 yards and waited for the right shot. It is simply a matter of adjusting your hunting style to your equipment.

 

[gspn]

The benefit to that is it give you more shot options. The way I hunt elk I enjoy having that option. I'm not saying don't use a traditional bullet, rather I am pointing out the benefit of a quality, controlled expansion bullet.

That makes good sense. Now the hard part...finding Accubonds! They are sold out everywhere. Might have to go do a different brand but I really like the thinking on shot options. I don't think I want to count on having a perfect broadside shot opportunity...luck rarely works out that well.

The thought of a bullet shedding it's jacket and core as it tries to penetrate a bunch of muscle, only to hit bone after that...leaves me nervous.

I'll shop around for a good controlled expansion bullet. I'll sleep better every night from now til October that way.

Thanks to ALL for the input, it gave me a lot of solid, real-world insight that I can use not only on this trip, but going forward in general.

 

[oneounceload]

My 7mm was the most accurate with a 160 SMK, but the Nosler partition was close enough that it became my default bullet for mulies and elk when I lived out West.

 

[H&Hhunter]

It is hard to argue with a Nosler Partition for an all around hunting bullet.

 

[gspn]

It is hard to argue with a Nosler Partition for an all around hunting bullet.

Couldn't find any online anywhere, but I checked my local shop this morning and they had them. I picked up two boxes of 160 grain partitions. I'll start loading tonight. Thanks again to all for the input.

 

[Nature Boy]

It is hard to argue with a Nosler Partition for an all around hunting bullet.[/

H&H,

I've been trying to work up a load for these in 150gn .308 in preparation for deer season but haven't found the magic recipe as of yet. Would love to use them. I'll keep working on it.

 

[X-Rap]

I tried partitions in 338 win mag and never could get real tight groups, I guess following that I've never given them much of a chance.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I have shot a lot of deer with a 30 caliber Sierra Game King in either 150 or 165 . I used it as others have said because it was consistently accurate and most of that time I didn't know that there was any particular difference between one bullet or the other. Still don't have a strong feeling about it on deer.

I won't say it was common, but it was not unusual for the copper jacket to separate and be pretty shallow in the wound and the lead to be hung in the hide on the far side sometimes in pieces.

The reason I don't feel strongly about it is because it killed them dead as a hammer anyway. But, I can see on elk sized game where a bullet separating and scattering around couldn't penetrate as well as one that stayed intact.
So, I killed my first elk with a Sierra Game King which worked fine but switched to Partitions after that because it seemed logical. They have worked fine as well. I suspect the difference in game lost with a traditional bullet that would be gotten with a better bullet is pretty small. But, for the difference in cost in the scheme of a hunt it does not make much sense to skimp.

 

[X-Rap]

If your going to be putting a lot of rounds down range the cost will mount with the premium bullets.
I load for a number of 280 & 7 mag rifles and they have all taken their share of elk and deer and use the Hornady Intelock in 154gr exclusively.
For 300 WM and WSM the 180 SGK has done a very good job.
30-06 and 308 gets 150 & 165
For 338-378 I've had good luck with the 200 gr balistic tip but I see they are no longer listed so I will probably switch to the accubond.
I've been messing with some berger bullets but for hunting my most expensive bullets have been the balistic tip.
I've probably seen more elk killed with the Hornady Interlock and I wouldn't hesitate to use them and they are the cheapest of them all.

 

[gspn]

If your going to be putting a lot of rounds down range the cost will mount with the premium bullets.

Agreed. My plan is to work up an accurate load with the partitions, then switch to cheaper ammo for target practice throughout the summer. A week or so before I leave for Idaho I'll just switch back to the Partitions and re-zero.

 

[Leanwolf]

GSPN, what part of Idaho will you be hunting elk and deer??

Those 160 grains Nosler Patition bullets in your 7mm Rem. Magnum will take down anything here in Idaho quite efficiently ... and about any other place in our U.S.

Good luck on your hunt.

L.W.

 

[gspn]

GSPN, what part of Idaho will you be hunting elk and deer??

Those 160 grains Nosler Patition bullets in your 7mm Rem. Magnum will take down anything here in Idaho quite efficiently ... and about any other place in our U.S.

Good luck on your hunt.

L.W.

It's in South East Idaho. I can't recall the units and I don't have my tag in front of me...maybe units 70-74? Or 71-74.

I have a buddy that lives there and we put in for a party hunt. I can't wait. Lots of work to do before October. Load workups, shooting, hiking...lots of fun work.