338 Win Mag Cow Elk Bullet?

[Bravo 4]

I think the Hammers would be perfect for what you are doing. Killed my cow last year with the 236 Hammer Hunters and they had great penetration and terminal performance. As Steve said, I'd go with the Sledge Hammers at those ranges.

 

[memtb]

One cow Barnes in the center of the chest, founder her a week later nearly a mile away, not a drop of blood and dry ground and we could stay on them. Hit looked decent just small wound channel.
Watched a bull take a half dozen of them before I finished him for the guy while he was fumbling more ammo. Small wound channels don't get it for me, I want the lungs to look like they snorted a grenade, the 250 Berger is like a light switch, I've seen very few bullets knock the life out of an elk but that's one of them.
I cut game for a long time and meat loss is a serious thing, that's why I quite shooting elk with Barnes, you can eat the hole with a Barnes but you will loose elk if you shoot enough of them, every elk we have dropped the hammer on after changing was dead within feet, it was the best change I ever made!!

With over 25 years of Barnes X,TSX,TTSX use, we've never experienced what you've seen.....though anything can happen at any given time. Granted the Berger's give dramatic results, but perform best on broadside shots (according to many reports) or longer shots where velocity is somewhat lower. For elk, or any large game.....I want a bullet that will stay together on shots taken, measured in feet, or on a large, heavy bodied animal when a "raking" shot is required. Granted, impact velocities should be above 1900 fps, for optimum results.....somewhat limiting the range at which game should be taken! Though, I guess if "only" cows are on the menu, and the hunter is patient enough for the perfect shot, passing on less than desirable shots....the the "grenade" is a great choice!

For the best of both worlds, penetration, and "some" fragmentation....the Hammer Bullets would be a great bullet choice! memtb

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

CEB Maximus or Hammers! Other monos don't compare.

 

[bigngreen]

With over 25 years of Barnes X,TSX,TTSX use, we've never experienced what you've seen.....though anything can happen at any given time. Granted the Berger's give dramatic results, but perform best on broadside shots (according to many reports) or longer shots where velocity is somewhat lower. For elk, or any large game.....I want a bullet that will stay together on shots taken, measured in feet, or on a large, heavy bodied animal when a "raking" shot is required. Granted, impact velocities should be above 1900 fps, for optimum results.....somewhat limiting the range at which game should be taken! Though, I guess if "only" cows are on the menu, and the hunter is patient enough for the perfect shot, passing on less than desirable shots....the the "grenade" is a great choice!

For the best of both worlds, penetration, and "some" fragmentation....the Hammer Bullets would be a great bullet choice! memtb

Most don't even know they actually hit the animal, close timber and you loose sight at the shot and you find no evidence of a hit as far as you can track them. I would have said we had 100 percent perfection till I started shooting elk out in the open then we quickly realized there was issues that we hadn't seen. I won't shoot an elk with a rifle any different than I would a bow, raking shots are not an option unless an animal is wounded but for a first shot it's not a shot me or anyone I would hunt with will take, were hunters not a pack of wolves!!

 

[jacknifejc]

If all shots are under 300 yards a softer bullet like the 225 gr. Speer spitzer boat tail or Sierra Gamekings (up to 250 gr.) would work very well. With heavier bullets you won't get as much meat damage. The hydrostatic shock from a faster bullet causes a lot of damage. All heavier bullets pack a lot of energy in the 338 wm. Softer bullets will expand and do their job better than a harder bullet at closer range though. I love the 338 wm. It's my favorite caliber.

 

[TRG65]

I shot my elk with 250 Accubonds. However, that batch of Accubonds had tips that would fall out. Even happened with my 2nd round when I shot my elk. I've since gone to shooting 230 ELD-Xs. I'm pushing them 2869 from a 24" barrel.

 

[memtb]

bigngreen, I hunt because I love to hunt and spend time out of doors. I also hunt to put meat in the freezer.....but, certainly will not pass on a trophy, if presented with a shot. I "will not" pass on a "raking shot".....because I have complete faith in my bullet and my rifle's/cartridge's capabilities. Often an entire season can go by with few chances for a kill, which for us means......we have to buy beef! We've only "had" to buy beef once.... a very "bitter pill" to swallow! To date, I've only recovered one Barnes, an original X in '92 or '93, and have never lost an moose, elk, deer, or antelope that was hit. Oh, and the recovered bullet, traveled full length through a rag-horn bull, shattering the pelvis, and due to the angle of the bullet travel.....made three (3) hide penetrations. Recovered.....it had one petal broken off, retaining 95% of it's original weight. Combine that, with the numerous elk, antelope, one moose and one bear that my wife has taken with Barnes bullets since '96..... with no bullets recovered. All were one shot kills from approx. 30 yards to a measured 400 yards.She however, did loose one elk, which was my fault. I hurried her, on a walking bull, about to go behind a ridge. The shot went thru the leg, without breaking bone. We had a very minor blood trail, which eventually quit.

In my 56 years of big game hunting, I've had bullets that disappointed me greatly. however as earlier stated, in over 25 years with Barnes being my "only" hunting bullet....I have "never" been "wronged"! memtb

 

[Hespco]

Years back I took three elk ( bulls ) with the Barnes 175 gr "X" bullet , all under 300yds. . Now long discontinued. Have hung up my 338 & have been taking elk with my 6.5's & Barnes 120gr TSX for years. Have never failed me. If it were me I see no reason why the Barnes 185gr should not serve you well. Especially under 300. Flatter shooting & less recoil for that range than the heavier bullets. Also faster time of flight. Far less blood shot meat with the Barnes if you misplace your shot into a meaty area.

 

[19elkhunter51]

My best friend is, unfortunately, a WB nut, his current elk rifles is a 340. My caliber of choice is a 338 Edge. He uses the old Barnes MRX i believe is 275 grains and I use the Lapua TTSX in 285 grains. We both believe in bigger faster. The elk that we have shot, if they don't drop in their tracks, leave copious blood trails, typically very short blood trails before they fall down dead.
Prior to switching to the TTSX bullets, I did not shoot anything but Sierra Gamekings. Never had any problem with the Sierra bullet other than jacket core separation. Also did not like the lead spread through all that great meat.
I use Berger for shooting varmints and paper. Don't believe that they are the right bullet for use on big game. I know that will elicit a huge amount of outrage and whining but it is my opinion that the Berger bullet has a jacket that is made for paper targets not for hunting an elk that has a reputation for soaking up huge amounts of lead.
Offered as my opinion only, your mileage may vary.

 

[skipglo]

Hello Jim,

Run our 186g Sledge Hammer for fast and flat to your range or if you are more comfortable with a bit more weight run the 225g Sledge Hammer. Both of these will be great choices for the 338wm. The 2.5mm hollow point opens very quickly for very hard hitting bullet. Our very soft copper performs the same with high vel impacts as it does with low vel.

Good luck on your elk hunt!

Where can a fellow find the Hammers in Canada? Does anyone know?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Where can a fellow find the Hammers in Canada? Does anyone know?

We are in the process of getting the needed paperwork done so we can sell through reloader international. They ate an exporter that can sell all over the world.

Soon!

 

[bigngreen]

I shot Barnes from the originals, took a LOT for me to even look at other bullets, watching hundreds of elk shot on open fields and seeing every effect of every hit was a game changer, in the last 9-10 years I have shot one round per tag on everything EXCEPT when I tested Cutting edge bullets for a season then went back to Bergers. Took me seeing about 100 elk rolled before I finally was convinced, Hammers are the only mono I'll shoot now days.
No doubt as a meat cutter I loved Barnes and pushed them hard BUT as a hunter I won't run them for anything bigger than a deer in typical chamberings, I shoot them all day long on deer or antelope but not heavy game with typical north american hunting chamberings.

 

[Enduro4fun]

I shoot the 210 TTSX at 3000fps in my 338WM and I have been impressed quick kills without destroying a bunch of meat.

 

[skipglo]

We are in the process of getting the needed paperwork done so we can sell through reloader international. They ate an exporter that can sell all over the world.

Soon!

Please post here the minute it happens. I keep hearing so many folks here raving about your product that I would be a fool not to try them. Can't wait! I'm going to Texas in July and they are on my shopping list!