Bullet Weight for Elk?

I (hopefully) will be going on my first Elk hunt this year. I intend on using my very loyal .30-06. I've heard differing opinions and was looking for more on what is the correct bullet / bullet weight. From the friend I will be hunting with, most shots he has taken in the past were under 200 yards, he mentioned most likely under 150 yards.

It seems that most if not all agree the 'correct' bullet for elk is a partition bullet of good make/quality. Comments?

Bullet weight is where I'm at a loss as this seems to vary greatly. I currently shoot a 165 grain for PA whitetails. My thoughts were to shoot a 165 grain partition for elk. I've had people mention they thought that was too light and suggested 180 grain partitions. Comments please?

My intention would be to handload these rounds.

Any thoughts, opinions, $0.02 worth would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Heavier is better so long as you can push it fast enough to expand. At that range, there's no question of not being able to get a 200 grain bullet to expand, so that's your first best choice ... 200 grain Nosler partition. A 180 is your second choice.

Chuck - either the 165 or 180 will do the job and all that I ever use. But, typically I will use 180s in the '06 for elk and have never lost one. Well, that is not quite true - years ago when packing/guiding and in bear country, the top two would always be 220s. Your range numbers are about right 100 to 200 yards - oh, there will be some idiots that take 400 and 500 yard shots - but fortunately they are few and far between. My thoughts - if I can't get within 150 yards or so, they deserve to walk another day.

I intend on using my very loyal .30-06. I've heard differing opinions and was

Have you given any thought to the Barnes X bullet. I have used them on white tail, more bullet than is needed, but it works. We have had customers with great success with the 180gr X bullet. People have used 300 Win Mag, 30/06 spg, and others with great results.

Kent Will http://www.willsgunshop.com

Congratulations!

<snip>

Chuck, bullet weight is important, so is bullet placement. If you know where your 165 gr. bullets will hit when you pull the trigger on your very loyal .30-06, don't change a thing. If you're going to change bullets, you'll need to spend some time at the range anyhow, so go ahead & step up to a heavier bullet. As you know, you'll need to make scope adjustments when you change bullets, so if you're changing bullets, spend the time at the range. You'll need to readjust that scope if you switch back to 165's for deer. I've taken a number of elk with a 140 grain Hornady from my .270, so those 165s will do the trick, especially under 200 yards.

180 grains is what I would use in the Nosler Partition. You can drop to 165 grains in a Barnes-X for the same effect and a little more velocity, if you wish. I would try IMR-4350, VV 160/540/560, and Reloader 19 and 22 to find out which worked best in my rifle (R19 for me...).

I've heard comments that ranged all over the map too, but MOST people say to go with the highest bullet weight that still gets you 2500 fps minimum, or maybe a little more if possible and if the terrain demands it.

I have set my 30-06 up with 180-gn Partition handloads tht leave the barrel at 2750 fps. I guess if I absolutely knew that shots would be short, I might consider bumping up to 200's or 220's... But the 180 is the best 'general' weight for a 30-06 for elk, they say. At least most of them do! <g>

I just got done talking with a guy the other day who swore up and down that 165's were best, though, and had killed several elk with a 30-06 shooting 165's. I don't think I've EVER heard anyone advocate 150's, but, since a 150 is what people recommend for a .270, it'd certainly work from a 30-06.

Good luck!

I have killed 10-12 elk with the 06. Cows and bulls. I handload also. I have had good results with the Nosler partition 180 grain. One or 2 of the elk were with the 200 grain Nosler partition.

Looking at exit holes, and wound channels......general trauma......I would say that the 180 did a better job for me.

That got me to thinking, so I called Nosler and talked to them. They strongly recommended the 180 Partition over the 200 grain Partition...for the 30-06 used for elk. They said the 200 grain was constructed quite a bit 'tougher', and could not be counted on to expand as well as the 180, at typical 06 velocities.

Since their advice for the most part fit nicely with what I had already observed, I have since done all my 30-06 elk hunting with the 180 grain Nosler Partition. I have also killed a number of mule deer, does and bucks, with the same load. Seems to do the job, as long as I place that bullet wisely.

Lee Carkenord

Hey Chuck, Wish I were going with you. How comfortable are you with shooting the 165 partition bullet? Is your gun is sighted in for that bullet? A well place 165 grain bullet would be an excellent choice and you don't have to resight in your gun. However the 180 partition bullet will give you more energy on impact. I shot my first African Cape buffalo with a Rem. 270 with a Sierra 150 grain bullet .... one shot. It didn't drop her but still manage to kill her. So your 165 grain partition in my opinion would be a very good choice. Jim Furman

Enjoy the day ....let tomorrow take care of itself

I have use Winchester Fail Safes in 180 grain for years. The key to elk is energy. You should not shoot beyond the 1000 lbs of energy range of you rifle. I am from Michigan, being from PA you will see animals a lot farther than you are accustom to, Get a range finder and a good pair of binoculars. Good luck

Hi Friends:

Been hunting antelope, deer, elk, and bears since 1966 in Colorado. My favorite bullet and rifle for antelope is my 6mm Remington Varminter with a 100 grain Speer spitzer, boattail, number 1220 bullet at a muzzle velocity of about 3,000 fps (chronograph). However, this last season I shot a large buck with a 270W Remington M700 with a 130 grain Sierra spitzer, flat base, number 1830 at a muzzle velocity of about 3100 fps (chronograph) at about 365 yards. Performances of the two bullets were about identical and all were excellent. Most antelope were shot between 250 and 400 yards. Have shot many with the same 270. Have also shot antelope with a 165 grain bullet with several different rifles in 30-06 at muzzle velocities of about 3,000 fps (some chronographed) with no meat damage; several with a 200 grain Sierra boattail with a custom 300WM rifle at a muzzle velocity of about 3100 fps (chronograph) with no meat damage; one with a 270 grain Hornady spire point flat base, number 3710 with a 375 H&H at a muzzle velocity of 2750 fps (chronograph) at about 175 long strides, no damage to the meat. In fact this was one of the neatest kills of my life on antelope.

Have stopped shooting deer in recent years; however, have shot many mule deer of all weights (120 to 300 pounds). About half were shot with the 30-06 load described above and about half with the 300WM load described above. No problems with any of the kills and bullet performance was about the same and excellent. Killed one deer with a 358W Browning lever rifle, Model 81, with a 250 grain #3520 Hornady at about 2350 fps. It was quartering away and shot it in the spine just in front of the hind quarters. A second shot was required to dispatch it. Shot several with the 270W load and rifle described above and my 6mm. My favorite deer cartridge is the 270W with the load described above. I have shot them in the head, neck, and chest. I prefer the chest shot if possible.

Have shot elk with a 30-06 with the above load (and other loads), 300WM with the above load, 358W with the above load, 45-70 Marlin 1895S with a 405 grain Remington, soft flat point bullet, at a muzzle velocity of about 1800 fps with an excellent result and no meat damage, and a 375 with the above load. My favorite cartridge and rifle for elk is the 375 with the above load. Have made two bad shots. Shot a bull in the right hip joint while it was quartering away from me with the 300WM and the above load at a range of about 50 yards. Three or four days later I found it in the same heard with its leg dangling and I regret that, after great effort, I never had the opportunity of another shot. I stopped hunting elk with the 300WM thereafter. The second bad shot occurred when I shot a bull on the wrong side of the chest diaphragm with the 375 H&H with the above load at a range of about 150 yards. It did not go down; however, as I was walking to it, I could see that it was very sick. A second shot dispatched it, and that is why I prefer the 375. I also like my 358W and 45-70 in thick woods for elk (and deer). In my opinion one should not take a going away, quartering shot at a moving elk with less than a 250 grain bullet. However, I am totally aware that any elk can be killed with a 6mm 90 grain bullet or larger cartridge if it is standing broadside at about any range. On the other hand I am asking that you PLEASE pass on any other type of shots. I have never shot an elk that was blown off its feet (as deer often are). Most have stood and looked at me or have run about 50 yards, as if it were missed, before expiring.

My favorite big game cartridge is the 375 H&H and I never leave home without it (if big game hunting). My 375 rifle is a post 1964, model 70 Winchester with a Leupold 4X scope.