30 caliber bullet for Elk?

rcd567 · 12-06-2003, 08:02 PM

Which bullet would you folks use on a 200 - 300 yard shot on a Bull Elk? The cartridge is the 300 WSM but give me your ideal bullet. Nosler partition? Winchester Fail Safe? Hornady's SST? I'd prefer only 180 grainers because of the yardage. This is for a hunt for desert Elk. Longer range shots are the norm. I appreciate your input

Thanks.

stubblejumper · 12-06-2003, 10:03 PM

Either the failsafe or partition will do fine and 180 gr is plenty.

Wolf killer · 12-06-2003, 10:09 PM

I prefer the Nosler Partition.

bigbulls · 12-06-2003, 10:42 PM

Provided they both shoot equally well then I'd shoot the failsafe. It will give better penetration than the partition.

If you could find ammo that loaded a barnes bullet in 165 grain then that would be my bullet of choice. It will provide all the penetration needed on any game in this country and also offer a little better trajectory. With the Barnes and failsafes you can go down in weight and still get better performance than heavier lead bullets as they retain a very high percentage if not all of their weight.

That chart that was posted on the reloading page about the best hunting bullet is a good one to look at to see the amount of weight each type of bullet retains and at what velocites.

handloader1 · 12-07-2003, 12:15 AM

180 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Nosler Partition, Win. Fail Safe. Good luck.

noway · 12-08-2003, 09:47 AM

With the 300, 150gr 165gr 180gr bullets loaded to maximum pressures do not have significant differences in trajectory out to 500 yards.
The difference at 500 is only a couple inches, less than that at closer ranges, assuming same bullet type.

The recoil is only two pounds more on the 180 at max than it is on the 150 at max. Assuming same powder bullet rifle.

Really no reason to use anything but the 180 if you are elk hunting.
Try the Barnes triple shock this bullet is not as finicky as previous Barnes bullets.
The Nosler Partition is a solid performer.

James B · 12-12-2003, 08:32 PM

I load the 180 grain Nosler Partition for all game bigger than deer. Thats in a 30-06.

losthwy · 12-12-2003, 08:59 PM

Failsafe- better bullet than the partition or hornady for big game.

plainsman · 12-13-2003, 02:21 AM

Another vote for the Failsafe, loaded them up for elk a couple years ago in my 30.06. I was hunting in major grizzly country and felt more than confident that the slug could handle anything that gave me a reason to sqeeze the trigger.