[BugOnPoint]

I'm going on a long planned elk hunt in Montana in early November. I acquired a Tikka 300 Win Mag thunder stick for this hunt. As is with many things in our sport, ammo is scarce as hen's teeth. I can find plenty of 150 grain loaded ammo but anything heavier is the unobtanium.

I've rounded up brass, powder, primers and some bullets. I have a pile of 180 grain Hornady SSTs, some 200 grain Hornady ELD-X bullets, and a box of 165 grain Sierra Game Kings and a box of 190 grain Barnes LRXs.

So, my question is : What do y'all think is my best bet for a DRT trophy bull (I don't expect to have to take a shot over 300 yards) ?

Thanks

 

[dfleury]

I've never shot an elk but I've done some ballistics gel testing with meat and bone using my 300 win mag. Surprisingly I've had 308 out Penetrate 300 win mag on multiple occasions so the extra power doesn't always mean better. I just tested some 212 eldx in clear gel and they penetrated 25 inches with 60% Weigh retention. The 308 with 150 grain federal trophy copper and the Winchester deer season coppers both went through over 32 inches of gel. Yes the 300 did more damage but damage is irrelevant if you don't make into the vitals. For a broadside shot the 200 grain eldx would probably be the best bullet but on a quartering shot I'd be worried about hitting heavy bone. Hornady bullets are prone to cup and core separation. The Barnes lrx would be the best overall bullet. With a monolithic theres no need to worry about heavy bones. Theres no free lunch though, the extra penetration of a mono bullet generally means a smaller wound channel. Since you can never guarantee how a shot will present itself hunting a wild animal I'd probably use the Barnes so you don't have to worry about shot angle as much.

 

[constructor]

I'm going on a long planned elk hunt in Montana in early November. I acquired a Tikka 300 Win Mag thunder stick for this hunt. As is with many things in our sport, ammo is scarce as hen's teeth. I can find plenty of 150 grain loaded ammo but anything heavier is the unobtanium.

I've rounded up brass, powder, primers and some bullets. I have a pile of 180 grain Hornady SSTs, some 200 grain Hornady ELD-X bullets, and a box of 165 grain Sierra Game Kings and a box of 190 grain Barnes LRXs.

So, my question is : What do y'all think is my best bet for a DRT trophy bull (I don't expect to have to take a shot over 300 yards) ?

Thanks

This is what Hornady say about the ELDX- If this is true I would try them. Elk are still thin skinned so it doesn't take that much to get to the heart as long as you don't go through the thick part of the shoulder to get there. I killed a bunch back in the day when I was strictly a bowhunter. Remember the heart on an elk is very low and in the pocket behind the shoulder. I aim 1/3rd way up from the belly.

DEVASTATING CONVENTIONAL RANGE PERFORMANCE
With high velocity 0-400 yard impact, the bullet continually expands throughout its penetration path. The thick shank of the jacket and high InterLock® ring keep the core and jacket together providing 50-60% weight retention.



BEST EXTENDED RANGE TERMINAL PERFORMANCE AVAILABLE
Upon low-velocity 400+ yard impacts, the Heat Shield® tip drives backward into the bullet to initiate expansion. Exhibiting conventional expansion with a large mushroom and 85-90% retained weight the bullet provides deep penetration and large wound cavities.

 

[Xman]

Looks like you only have two options; 200 ELD-X or 190 LRX. Which one will be accurate in your rifle?

My go-to elk bullet is the 129 LRX for my 270 Win.

In terminal performance testing using the same bullet version, e.g., GMX for 300 WM vs 270 Win, the 270 penetrated deeper than the bullet fired from the 300 WM. Assessment was the greater KE of the 300 WM caused more bullet expansion. With the larger diameter, the 300 WM bullet dumped its greater energy quicker and penetrated less.

One of my elk was shot broadside at 400 yards. By the time my mind said to drop the hammer and bullet time of flight, the elk took one step away resulting in a rear quartering shot. The monolithic 130 GMX penetrated 36" so I'm a believer in a bullet that maintains its mass so it has the energy to penetrate even if the bullet weight before impact is greater.

But, my first recommendation is to install a LimbSaver recoil pad. With a 6-pound rifle (sans scope), you will need it. I have one on my 270. Shot my son's 30-06 four times then stopped and installed one before I developed a flinch. Recoil management is critical as my friend with a 300 WM flinched so bad, he couldn't hit an elk even at 100 yards.

 

[BugOnPoint]

Looks like you only have two options; 200 ELD-X or 190 LRX. Which one will be accurate in your rifle?

My go-to elk bullet is the 129 LRX for my 270 Win.

In terminal performance testing using the same bullet version, e.g., GMX for 300 WM vs 270 Win, the 270 penetrated deeper than the bullet fired from the 300 WM. Assessment was the greater KE of the 300 WM caused more bullet expansion. With the larger diameter, the 300 WM bullet dumped its greater energy quicker and penetrated less.

One of my elk was shot broadside at 400 yards. By the time my mind said to drop the hammer and bullet time of flight, the elk took one step away resulting in a rear quartering shot. The monolithic 130 GMX penetrated 36" so I'm a believer in a bullet that maintains its mass so it has the energy to penetrate even if the bullet weight before impact is greater.

But, my first recommendation is to install a LimbSaver recoil pad. With a 6-pound rifle (sans scope), you will need it. I have one on my 270. Shot my son's 30-06 four times then stopped and installed one before I developed a flinch. Recoil management is critical as my friend with a 300 WM flinched so bad, he couldn't hit an elk even at 100 yards.

I bought a LimbSaver before I bought a scope
The muzzle break helps a bunch. I've put probably 120 rounds through it and it really isn't that bad, not much worse that my '06 with no break.

Once I got the variations in my brass sorted out (details at 11:00) this rifle shoots well with 180s and 200s (and 150s) given the powder I've either had in my stores or been able to find. Unfortunately I can't find H1000 or RL22. H4831 seems to work quite well group wise. I'm shooting 1.5" groups at 200 yards, and that's plenty good for an animal that big.

Off to the range tomorrow with my chronograph to see how much velocity I'm getting. I'll be testing H4831, IMR7828ssc and Tu8000 with the 200 ELD-Xs. I've tried US869 but it doesn't want to group very well. I've yet to try the 190 LRXs.

 

[BugOnPoint]

PS: Thanks everybody for you insights - so many variables - so little time...

 

[BugOnPoint]

To Constructor - HELL YES on DeSantis!!!

 

[jimh406]

You can't guarantee a DRT. Given those choices I'd go with the Barnes LRX 190s.

 

[Landchipper]

By far and away without hesitation my go to has been the 180 SST or (a possibility not in your list) 185 Nosler ballistic tip.
The 180 does penetrate a little bit better but either are the weight and accuracy I have learned to trust. Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[Guts]

Heavier is usually better for elk. The game kings are a very good bullet. 165 grain is perfect for deer, but for elk, I would go with something else.

I don’t have experience with the LRX. Xman Will give you the best advice with the Barnes.

If you had the regular EDL‘s I would say pass on those for hunting. Their terminal performance is not consistent. However the EDL-X is designed to be a hunting bullet. One of my hunting buddies uses these in a 7mmMag. I have seen him take hogs and deer and one oryx. He has taken at least one elk with the round but I was not there so I cannot comment.

I’ve shot several hogs, aoudad, a whitetail and a couple of elk with SSTs. The bull elk at 265 yards was not a bang flop but it was a dead elk running. The bullet did not exit but penetrated to the hide on the opposite side. The vitals literally poured out.

Of your 3 heavier bullet choices, i’d say whatever is the most accurate. If your shots will likely be less than 300 yards there is no need to load for speed. As Dfleury points out, at closer ranges higher speeds do not always translate to deeper penetration.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Joonyer]

I agree with Xman on using a bullet that maintains its mass. You don't necessarily NEED a 190 grain bullet for elk, but with a 300 WM, why not? With 190 grains of copper, you could probably pass through both shoulders. Not that you'd want to aim there, just sayin' there would be no stopping that bullet. I have nothing but good things to say about Barnes as far as accuracy and terminal performance. Speaking of which, I have a range report to put together...

 

[Bluestreakrem1]

I've taken six elk. A heavier bullet is almost always a better choice than a 150 but a 150 will certainly kill them if you get through the boiler room. You may not get a perfect angle shot, so error towards a heavy bullet. Your 300 can handle the 180 or 200 just fine at any distance under 300 yards. I'd go with the 200. You want complete penetration for a great blood trail so you can track him ...............if he doesn't drop DRT. You NEVER want to have to track an elk. It could take all day or more and in bad terrain.......... a real PITA. I shoot a 30-378 Weatherby, using a 200 grain most of the time from (Nosler Partion, Barnes X or Accubond) and have never been sorry I brought that much power. Five of the six dropped on the spot DRT. All shot between 200 and 300 yards broadside thru and thru. The sixth was shot at the last minutes of light, at 652 yards broadside with a Barns X but it didn't exit. I didn't know it had stopped just under the off side hide. I thought that power house rifle would have totally penetrated him even at that distance. I was wrong. He traveled about 150 yards and piled up in a brush at night. I tried to track him in the dark but because it didn't exit, he didn't produce much of a blood trail. I was surprised how little blood he was dropping believing it was a good hit when I shot. I found him the next day when I returned to hunt that area again. Dug the bullet out and found it just under the off side hide. The Barns X expansion looked good and he was wrecked inside. Still can't believe it didn't exit. After that hunting experience I'll never shoot beyond 500 yards again. Too many things can go wrong that you can't control. Even with a monster 30-378 Weatherby there's never a sure thing. Error toward the heavy bullet and bring home a bull instead of a story to tell.

 

[bullet proof welding]

Hi there you all here in the great state of Montana most shots will be 0 to 300yrd and let's be real most people never shoot a animal past a 1000 yard with out having some real training a 300WM with a 180 grain bullet will drop95% of the elks here

 

[Yamaraja]

I am using the CBB 168 grain MKZ for Elk here in Montana. In both the 308 and my 300 WM Bergara.
The 168 does an excellet job an shoots very flat compared to the 180's or 190's
The omni brake on the Bergara makes the 300 WM feel like a 308.
The 30 cal 168 MKZ has taken everything from big bears in AK to moose to elk so far.
Also the GMX cannot compete with a CBB in any caliber.

 

[leatherneck]

In my studies and formulated opinion, mass is not as necessary for monolithic and bonded projectiles compared to traditional cup and core. Since the latter is known to lose mass as it separates, starting with more mass is necessary to retain enough for adequate penetration. Since monolithic or bonded projectiles retain most of their mass, they still manage to get the same, or often more, penetration than cup & core style bullets.

Since they are lighter, that also equates to (usually) more velocity and flatter trajectory. They still have less energy, but often still more than adequate for it's purpose.

 

[Mosinwolf762]

Of your listed choices I'd go with either the 200 gr eldx or the 190 gr Barnes and not look back.

 

[BugOnPoint]

Went with the 200 ELD-X. No regrets. DRT at 150 yards.

 

[Guts]

Congratulations, beautiful bull!

 

[Ratdog68]

Fine bull, congrats. Happy freezer now!

 

[Mdwilson]

Can’t argue with the results. Nice looking bull. Congratulations to you.


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