Need some Bullet Advice for Elk

[Charles A]

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let's get the bullet argument going again.as Ric said,the MK works well at long range, but i've seen it fail miserably 2 different times.

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Ok if you want. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Though you'll have to add a few zeros to that 2 in order for it to be fair. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Does anybody really think that two-hundred and twenty grains of lead and copper shot into any non-dangerous herbivore wont kill it? I mean, you do relize, that they were killed for centuries by little round balls inside cotten... Dont you? This place is starting to sound like accurate reloading. Where did all the expierenced LR hunters go?

dakor, use whichever shoots best all the way to your maximum range and go hunting.

 

[Buffalobob]

Dave's expereince is the same as mine. Match bullets at ranges under 50 yds are not reliable.

Up close (under 50 yds) I would rather have a muzzle loader with the round ball than a centerfire rifle with a match bullet. With the little round ball I know I made it myself and that it will not blow up on the hide. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[alremkin]

If i expected to be shooting @500yds or more I'd use the Sierra. I haven't used that caliber, but the 250 Sierra has worked well for me in my 338 Win Mag. One limitation I put on the big Sierra, is that I won't take a shoulder shot with it. Since you're going to an area you're not familar with, I'd suggest using the 200 gr Accubond. Although I've never used that bullet, it seems to have worked exceptionally well for many here and should perform better at close range than the Sierra.

 

[Derek M.]

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Does anybody really think that two-hundred and twenty grains of lead and copper shot into any non-dangerous herbivore wont kill it?

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In a perfect circumstance, yes. But that statement alone is like a foundation built on sand. Here's a similar argument: Are we to believe that a 1 ounce shotgun slug will not put any deer down if shot within, say 125 yards? You'd think with that much lead, a big IOWA buck would go down 100% of the time. I lived and hunted there for 5 seasons. 4/5 years I killed a buck (wih my bow) that had a shotgun slug embedded in the shoulder, neck, rump. A friend of mine shot a nice buck with his 44 Rem mag pistol at 11 steps. He found 2 shotgun lead slugs in it. It had 2 abcessess from old infections.

In one sense, I am comparing shotgun slugs to MK bullets, short range to long range, but the concept is the same. Do they kill based on weight? ( which you brought up).

MK for long range, yes. However, there are always the closer shots than expected. I still live in the midwest and only a shotgun is permitted for deer unless you use a ML. I wouldn't dream of hunting a deer with a shotgun.

I have personally had 100% success with Mk on deer, even as close as 35 yards. But the argument that I read isn't really whether or not the MK will kill, but instead, how fast will it anchor the animal and what is the track record for any given distance.

Starting to sound like AR? Why? Advice was requested regarding bullets and elk and members are responding....nothing wrong with posting opinions based on experience. Obviously this holds true for us shooters that do indeed use MK for game.

Of the three bullets, TSX, AB, and MK, which do you believe has the highest probability of "failure" at any given distance? Failure, meaning, not anchoring the game within a few yards from where hit, since we've already established that all 3 will kill.

 

[Matt27]

Anchoring an animial has nothing to do with the bullet.

It depends on the what state the animal is in and WHERE you hit them

Just like Archery hunting. You cant say that one broadhead or mechanical broadhead will anchor the animal all the time.But if shot in the right spot stick them like a hog in a hog roast . Shot Placemant.

 

[dakor]

Wow I didn't see this comming. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Well I will add a few things in here. I do not think you can compare a 270 matchking to a 30 cal matchking as the 30cal has a lot more weight and has a thicker jacket and so on. Now with that said I was asked which bullet would fail out of the Barnes TSX, the Accubond, and the SMK at any given distance. I really have not been impressed with the TSX's wound channel. I have shot several deer with different calibers and all the results were the same. A small little round hole and I mean small. I shot a deer at 50 yards through the ribs last year with a 300 RUM and a 200gr TSX it looked like I drilled a hole through him and not much energy was transfered into the animal as he ran about 75 yards before going down. I also shot one with my 375 H&H with a 300 TSX and it did about the same. I would not feel comfortable shooting that bullet at long range as I believe it is to hard and would not expand well. By heart I am a Nosler guy I have shot almost all my game with Nosler bullets of some kind or another. I hear the same thing about there Ballistic Tip comming apart. I have seen it come apart inside an animal but I have never seen and animal not die from that bullet and most of the time it is bang flop stone dead. Has anyone on here had good success with the 220 SMK even on close shots? I am leaning twords the 200 Accubond right now just because it is a Nosler and after thinking about all the game I have shot with there bullets. I would still like to hear if anyone is using the 220 SMK.

 

[lerch]

I don't know if he is capable of building them right now but you could try a heavy jacketed 190gr WildCat bullet. He sent me some a while back and they are a great looking bullet.

Good Luck
Steve

 

[dakor]

Lerch Richard is waiting on Jackets right now so his hands are kinda tied. Otherwise I would be using the bullet you mentioned. Lerch how did that bullet shoot for you and what cal did you shoot it in?

 

[Derek M.]

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Anchoring an animial has nothing to do with the bullet.

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I respectfully disagree. If a perfectly placed bullet (say, high shoulder) blew up at entrance point vs. one that passed through at the exact same point, then it has everything to do with the bullet.

I'm all for the very best accuracy achievable, but it is not all about accuracy alone. If that were the case, I'd punch deer with my field points out of my bow.

The TSX has perfomed flawlessly for me. Gaping holes, and a dropped animal at impact no matter the distance. But, this holds true for the MK as well.

 

[lerch]

I was going to shoot it in a 300 RUM but I have been so dedicated to this 270 AM that I have never tried them. I have about 20 and I don't know for sure if they are a heavy jacket or not.

They are a very streamlined looking bullet. I hope he gets his jackets going before long because I would like some more of the 190's and BJ wants some in a 240gr.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Derek M.]

lerch, you have an email

 

[lerch]

didn't recieve your mail

steve

 

[Derek M.]

Are you in need of some wildcat bullets for you 270 AM? I bought a bit more than I think I'll need, 169.5. I wasn't clear whether or not you needed only 30 cal bullets or also for 270 AM.

 

[lerch]

I got about 400 or so right now but thank you for the offer.

I can't wait to get to slinging these little bad boys at some 1500yd pdogs.

Thanks
Steve