EKM

Looks like you've answered your own question.
If being "limited" and "just getting by" and "walking away" from straight forward kill opportunities (at least straight forward with a competent elk rifle)are your style, then you're in business and represent the "teeny, weeny bikini" group well [trying to just get by without much].

Of course, the rub comes when the "teeny, weeny bikini" hunter takes a shot on an elk (in defiance of his own code of "ever vigilant and careful restraint") that should have been left to a competent elk rifle and now the tracking job is on. [80% of elk hunters in Colorado are unsuccessful, it is naive to think that success rate doesn't make for some "stretch the envelope" shots towards the end of the 1 week season.]

Many of us havebeen using premium bullets for a loooong time starting with Nosler Partitions and have always strove to come to the elk hunting game putting our best foot forward.

Yeah, .... that.

KodiakArcher

What about us "Big Caliber Crew" who draw the line at 30 cal., even with premium bullets?

James B

IMO the new premium bullets have made the 6.5x55, 260, 270 and 280 as well as probably the 25-06 legitimate cartridges for elk and other large deer family critters. Many who really know will argue that they already were but with the Triple Shock and other premium bullets, they are even more suitable. I use Premium Bullets when I think they offer a real advantage over standard offerings. For deer I use the Nosler Ballistic Tip and Sierra Pro-Hunters more than anything else. For Elk and Moose I use the Nosler Partition and sometimes the X bullet or Triple Shock.

These days only Grizzly and other big bears would deter me from using the 270 Winchester. For them, I will break out a 45-70.Probably with Corbon or Garret cartridges or their equivalent.

tacogrande

All guns are good with good shot placement.
More power is always better though.
I have a problem with some high end bullets though in my new 7mm ultra mag. It is just too fast. 160 grains at 3480fps, 150 3600+, 140 3700+(good coyote prarie dog round, will throw coyotes up into the air).
My 160s for elk were some barnes Tsx and I ripped all four petals off the bullet within 2-3 inches of flesh on anything within 250 yards, accubonds shred like a varmint bullet within 250 yards. Partitions work good though.
maybe you can have too much gun, but it sure seems cool.

eagle chickie

Anyone whom doesn't see a difference in the quality bullets made of late an the original 1950s fodder doesn't understand the bonding process. Not knowing why the jacket seperated from the lead after it hit a rib on a deer size animal, content to think ,"it killed the deer/elk so it must be good". A theroy that runs quickly a muck when the shooter tries to use that same caliber/ammo combo on tougher game.
FTR there was a time the .270 was considered the top of the chain for elk and all the gun scribes such as O'connor,Barness,etc. wrote glowing reports on it. To me if Ineedto use bullets to make my 270 an '06 I'd rather just buy an '06 to begin with.

James B

OR, buy both like I did.

rather_be_huntin

Dirt2, goodthread it made me laugh.....and think about this a bit as well.I'll admit that the new premium bullets give me pause as to which cartridges would be adequate for elk nowadays. While the biggest reason I'm not a .270 fan is I feel the bullet is too light at a max of 150 grs I will concede that it is POSSIBLE that withthe newpremium bullets the 150 grainers may hold up better on thick skin and bone compared to the olderpremium bullets. I have to admit without seeing how they perform in the field I can't say for sure, although my opinion probably wouldn't change. If nothing else but just to be consistent.

James B

The 160 grain 270 Nosler Partition will flat out take any elk on the planet. Great sectional density and penetrating ability. Of course on todays elk my 405 Winchester is probably way to light as well.

younggun308

We had a thread about it a long time ago, maybe you should post a thread in the Big Game section, you'd get lots of interesting responses.

eldeguello

You may be right about the .375 H&H, but I'd like to know where your information comes from, as I have never seen an exhaustive compilation of statistics on what calibers have beenmost used in Africa since firearms were first used to kill rhino, Cape Buffalo, elephant, hippo, lion and leopard. A great many such beasts have been slain with large bore, rouind-ball firing muzzleloaders, as well as cartridge arms. I suspect you'd be surprised to know how much big/dangerous game whas been killed with the lowly .303 British!