ORIGINAL: driftrider

I shot a button buck with a 240gr QT, and while it did a very impressive job of scrambling organs, it didn't make it through and there wasn't much left of the bullet in the hide on the opposite side. It was a boiler room shot, hit a rib going in, but no other bones. The deer weighed maybe 75lbs, so I'd call penetration marginally adequate. If it'd been a much bigger deer, who knows. Seeing that, I personally, would NOT use them for Elk. My opinion is that the sub-caliber soft lead (they are pure lead) is too soft and the bullets are designed to be too reactive for elk sized game. I'd use a good jacketed bullet or a semi-hard cast conical like a Hornady GP conical at least. My first choice would be any of the .452cal Barnes ML bullets. They are pretty wicked performers with great expansion and excellent penetration. Very accurate in my Savage too. But not a good plinking bullet as they cost over $1/shot.

Mike