Is a 270 WSM an adequate elk round?

[khart1988]

For what is worth, I've had amazing luck with hammer hunter 180 gr mono's in 30 cal. On elk. Over the years I've migrated away from the good old partition. This is mostly due to me moving from a thick forest (225 yard max shot distance, most under 100 yards) to very open country. I still run the partition in my 30-06 but I don't hunt with it much at all any more. I had a learning period about 10 years ago with my 6.5 SAUM trying many different bullets. For me, with my experiences, the ELD-X and the hammer hunters were the only bullets i found similar wound signatures to what i was used to with the partition. Now days I hunt smaller game like deer and antelope with the 6.5 SAUM and 143 ELD-X and elk and black bear with the 180 hammer hunter, and moose with the 300gr burger .338 (but I hate that bullet, it throws lead all over the meat. I need to find a new bullet for the 338). I do not have experience with the 1:3 class twist rate of the 8.6 BO, but i do like the idea of it. I will probably never build one since where I live now is such open country though.

For sure, the mono bullets work well. It's tough for anything to live when a supersonic piece of metal is driven through its lungs!

The partitions have always been great, because you get the penetration and expansion of the base paired with the added wound cavity caused by the front of the bullet upsetting and breaking off.

I have yet to use the ELD bullets but they look to be one of the best choices today. I would absolutely choose them over a mono for any situation that doesn't legally require me to use a lead-free bullet.

And yes, 300 grains of 338 is a lot of lead to displace through a body. The 8.6 is an intriguing cartridge, and if going with a mono, the bigger diameter the better. Probably not the best round for open country, but would certainly solve the matter of excess metal in a moose, and a big subsonic with a silencer would be sweet in heavy timber. I just personally don't see 338 as necessary for a moose, and refuse to pay $4-$5 a round for my general purpose rifle when when the factory ammo I shoot is $1.50.

 

[dhbikerczar]

For sure, the mono bullets work well. It's tough for anything to live when a supersonic piece of metal is driven through its lungs!

The partitions have always been great, because you get the penetration and expansion of the base paired with the added wound cavity caused by the front of the bullet upsetting and breaking off.

I have yet to use the ELD bullets but they look to be one of the best choices today. I would absolutely choose them over a mono for any situation that doesn't legally require me to use a lead-free bullet.

And yes, 300 grains of 338 is a lot of lead to displace through a body. The 8.6 is an intriguing cartridge, and if going with a mono, the bigger diameter the better. Probably not the best round for open country, but would certainly solve the matter of excess metal in a moose, and a big subsonic with a silencer would be sweet in heavy timber. I just personally don't see 338 as necessary for a moose, and refuse to pay $4-$5 a round for my general purpose rifle when when the factory ammo I shoot is $1.50.

Oh. 338 is not needed for moose! My father in law has taken many with a bow or good old 30-06. I just had an itch for 338 so I had Lane Precision Rifles build one. I probably won't even go for another moose for a couple more years. By then I'll probably find a better bullet. By better I simply mean one I prefer. As insanely big and strong as a moose is, they go down surprisingly easy with a shot in the boiler room.

 

[Rotten]

You guys make my head hurt.
Just get close and shoot the **** thing. It's like watching fog horn leg horn talk to egg head on Saturday morning cartoons.

 

[levers4life]

For what is worth, I've had amazing luck with hammer hunter 180 gr mono's in 30 cal. On elk. Over the years I've migrated away from the good old partition. This is mostly due to me moving from a thick forest (225 yard max shot distance, most under 100 yards) to very open country. I still run the partition in my 30-06 but I don't hunt with it much at all any more. I had a learning period about 10 years ago with my 6.5 SAUM trying many different bullets. For me, with my experiences, the ELD-X and the hammer hunters were the only bullets i found similar wound signatures to what i was used to with the partition. Now days I hunt smaller game like deer and antelope with the 6.5 SAUM and 143 ELD-X and elk and black bear with the 180 hammer hunter, and moose with the 300gr burger .338 (but I hate that bullet, it throws lead all over the meat. I need to find a new bullet for the 338). I do not have experience with the 1:3 class twist rate of the 8.6 BO, but i do like the idea of it. I will probably never build one since where I live now is such open country though.

I've had very good luck with the Barnes TTSX in .338

 

[memtb]

I need to find a new bullet for the 338)

If you're somewhat satisfied with monos in other calibers……you might consider a mono in your .338.

My wife has used Barnes 225 TTSX's for many years (back into the late '90's) with great success on everything from antelope, elk, bear, and moose. They simply work! memtb

 

[dhbikerczar]

If you're somewhat satisfied with monos in other calibers……you might consider a mono in your .338.

My wife has used Barnes 225 TTSX's for many years (back into the late '90's) with great success on everything from antelope, elk, bear, and moose. They simply work! memtb

This would be a whole new thread. i mean I'm sure there's already one, but i haven't delve into it yet.

 

[memtb]

This would be a whole new thread. i mean I'm sure there's already one, but i haven't delve into it yet.

Yep, "drawn like a moth to a flame" the .338's being mentioned……snared me! memtb

 

[257Tony]

This is strictly my opinion and it's completely based on my experiences. Also I am not a great elk hunter. I've taken some but I'm not one of those guys that takes one or more every year.
My uncle and grandfather are the types that have taken one each every year for 30-ish years.
I have helped my grandfather clean and butcher 3 elk with 270 bullets in them. 2 had completely healed over and one looked several days old. I'm not a fan of 270 for elk. I have also taken elk with a 6.5 SAUM. It got the job done, but the one time was enough to show to me that the 6.5 SAUM (or 6.5 PRC) just doesn't have enough mass or expansion to make up for any slight error. Sure, a million elk have been killed with 6.5 CM, but I suspect there's a lot of elk running around with 6.5mm pieces of lead in them too. Even this last week at the local range i was talking to a guy that swears he had a perfect 500 yard shot with his 6.5 PRC on an elk but missed. He didn't see where he missed. When I said "maybe you hit it and just didn't put it down". He was 100%convinced it should fall in it's tracks. I've seen a perfect lung shot elk (6.5mm) travel a mile before falling down. I've put down some elk with the 30-06. I would take a 30-06 or anything more powerful in .308" or bigger for elk. I've never had an elk go more than 10 yards with a .308" bullet and a lung shot.

I've seen well over 100 Bulls killed with everything from .243/6mms up to big .338s. If they don't go down quick, its the shooter. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME


Here's a big bull at 660, with a 6.5...140 VLD




And a big bull at 400 with a 25-06...115VLD

 

[dhbikerczar]

No argument. I prefer the 30 cal to make up for any minor error. And it's strictly my opinion. The OP was asking about 270 wsm and imo, I prefer a bit larger.

 

[memtb]

I've seen well over 100 Bulls killed with everything from .243/6mms up to big .338s. If they don't go down quick, its the shooter. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME


Here's a big bull at 660, with a 6.5...140 VLD




And a big bull at 400 with a 25-06...115VLD







View attachment 612925

If I were a paying client……I want a cartridge with a bullet, that will full length that bull……at that distance, from any angle!

Hell…..that's what I want as a self-guided hunter! I don't have enough opportunities to pass on less than perfect shot presentation! That's just me! memtb