338 Win Mag Cow Elk Bullet?

[Lefty G-gear]

270 WINCHESTER, SIERRA 140 GR, BTHP
Well, this looks like it works - with 2-rounds...
Maybe 7mm or .30 on up are better...
...or, what's the BEST .270 bullet to use?

 

[Lefty G-gear]

225-yards
130-gr. .270 Win. - This was better...
(5-minute mark - on...)

 

[RevJim]

I have friends who use a .270W on elk every year. One uses factory Fusion 150gr, others use 140AB, 150 Partition. I heard of another guy who used the 140 Failsafe ammo when it was still available. I think he went to the 130 TSX. Anyhow, penetration seems to be the goal with those guys.

 

[RevJim]

Well, I finally decided that I am going to use my 270W and the 160NP load it shoots so well. I really like the rifle, which is a tad lighter than the identical Mod 700 338 and kicks "much, much less", ha. I traded it to my gunsmith friend for a JC Higgins Mod 50 (270W) I had traded "to him" last year. I just wanted a spare and its a good solid rifle.

 

[MTBULLET]

use the bullet you and your rifle shoot the best, then place your shot where you want it

 

[RevJim]

For sure, this 160NP is a long one. I don't know if the partition is in a different place than the 150, no matter to me. I've shot just "some" game with Barnes, and while I trust them, I like using Nosler BTs and Partitions also. Anyhow, I'm just going to shoot the devil out of this Mod 700/160 load through the summer and fall and "poor it on" "ol Elsie" come December! I've got applications out some antlerless deer(2) & antelope. I also had some preference points for each, so "just maybe" I can get this rifle "bloody" before the elk.

 

[Coyote_Hunter]

.338WM and 225g AB for me. Chose it based on down-range retained energy with acceptable trajectory. Last one was at 487 lasered. Have used this same load to bust a clay pigeon on the 600-yard berm - one sighter, next one a near miss, last one a hit.

 

[5gauss]

Most people kill cows with smaller calibers than a 338WM here in Utah (at least the ones I've talked to) and usually to save meat. I want to know what you 338 Mag guys have used on elk; light/fast or heavy/slow or medium/fast/slow ( ha) that did not bloodshot a lot of meat? The last elk I killed was with the old Barnes 185 XLC going fast from a 338WM. It was perfection. I like how the newer TSX & TTSX shoot, but never used one on game. I won't be shooting past 300yds ( chip shot for most of you LR hunters!) but will be picking one out of a herd I'm sure. Love that elk meat! I want to hear from you guys! Here is my choices I have on hand: 160TTSX/185TSX/225TTSX, 180NAB/200NBT/200NAB/210PT/250PT/250NAB. I will even tually end up playing with them all, I like to work both ends against the middle in load workup. I have loads ready to try with the 160TTSX , the 200NBT and the 250 NAB.

Shot a few with 225 Accubond no issues, no meat damage behind the shoulder. I use it for all game so I can be dialed in with the same load....no confusion. I get confused easily however...

 

[19elkhunter51]

I hunt with a group of six-eight hunters depending on tag acquisition and we all load and use Barnes TTSX bullets. In our thirty caliber rifles we use 175 grain TTSX and in our 338/340 we use 285 TTSX. I won't lie about how many elk we have taken but we do hunt hard and seem to take an above average number of elk compared to whatever the average in the area we hunt. In OUR experience, Barnes is the best of all worlds. Shoots small groups, good or great terminal performance with no lead.
We almost exclusively hunt for cows and spikes. We have had to shoot some bulls but try to avoid those tags. Antlers just don't cook up very well.
I can't remember how long ago it was (at 68 one or two years kind of blend together) but one of our group met up with a large cow elk coming out a a drainage at rifle touching range. When finally got over the surprise and shot her it was between 48 and 52 yards, depending on which range finder we used. It was a 90 degree broadside shot into the shoulder. I will say it was quite the mess. He was shooting the aforementioned 175 grain TTSX out of his 30-06. Blew up the close shoulder and lodged under the shoulder blade of the off shoulder. The distance between looked like someone had taken a really dull spade bit through the lungs. She dropped in her tracks.
To answer your question, in my opinion, the 185 grain is as light as I would go in the Barnes bullet. I have never been able to get any Nosler to shoot worth a hoot. Just me but I know I can make the Barnes shoot.
Good luck with your hunt.

 

[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!

Readily available.....if...you can have your pilot make a stop in Montana.... right?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Readily available.....if...you can have your pilot make a stop in Montana.... right?

Exactly! We are building an air strip outside the shop for drop in shoppers!

 

[skipglo]

Exactly! We are building an air strip outside the shop for drop in shoppers!

Well,.,,.........get er built!

 

[Coyote_Hunter]

RevJim -
You list a lot of options from Nosler but missed the one i use - the 225g AB. Based on my ballistic calculator it provided the best retained energy at the longest range (600 yards) I'm willing to shoot.

So far I've taken two elk with this bullet, including my longest ever at 487 yards. Based on the results of those two, I will continue to use them with extreme confidence. They expand but still penetrate deeply (with exits in my case). Things in the path get destroyed.

 

[RevJim]

Well, I traded the 338 off and sold the .270! I had been drooling over a CA Mesa in 300WM for two years. I haven't used a 300WM in many years, but have killed a solid 2 dozen nice animals with it, like the round a lot. When it all got down to the wire ( and sitting around here healing up from this new hip I just got!) I decided that "make do, won't do anymore"! I ordered the Mesa a few days ago and I will shoot the 150 TTSX as fast as I can get it to! ha Weatherproof, very handy, flat shooting ( I don't shoot at unwounded game past 375yds , just a personal whammy thing) and nice to look at. So thanks for all the advice guys, I still appreciate all the knowledge and stories!