New to Elk hunting have a question about these two ammunition choices.

[USMC88-93]

I have a 22 inch Winchester Model 88 in .308


These two ammunition choices shot the best in my rifle which would be the best choice for Elk or is it a case of both being essentially the same for the purpose. Others have suggested moving up to 165gr but I would have to sight in the rifle again.

Federal 308 Winchester 150 Grain Soft Point

The Power-Shok bullet is built with an exclusive hot core process that eliminates the lead oxide layer that can cause core slippage. In addition the unique jacket profile and fluted tip ensures reliable expansion over a wide velocity range. An excellent all around choice for medium to large game.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Mfg Item Num: 308A
Caliber :308 Winchester
Bullet Type :Soft Point
Bullet Weight :150 GR
Muzzle Energy :2650 ft lbs
Muzzle Velocity :2820 fps

or

Federal 308 Winchester 150 Grain Barnes Triple Shock X-Bullet

Option for medium to large game. Vital-Shok is available in the world's finest big game bullets, from the unrivaled Speer Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Nosler's latest offerings to Sierra and Barnes. Match that with world class brass, select powders and legendary primers and you get unmatched premium performance.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Mfg Item Num: P308V
Caliber :308 Winchester
Bullet Type :Barnes Triple Shock X-Bullet
Bullet Weight :150 GR
Muzzle Energy :2650 ft lbs
Muzzle Velocity :2820 fps

[car-15]

I would say for elk, go with the Triple Shock X-Bullet.

[theGinsue]

Of these options, I agree with car-15, BUT... I had to pump my first elk two years ago with several rounds before he'd drop when I was shooting with just 150 grain rounds. (All hits were "kill" shots in the primary vital's)

I strongly recommend 180 grain bullets. While the 150's give more range, you'll appreciate the 180 grain bullets instead of having to track the elk. I used 180 last year and dropped him right away.

[michael_aos]

I'm no expert, but...

My ex-father-in-law killed lots and lots of elk with his 270 Winchester and I believe 130gr non-premium bullets.

The difference in between between 150gr and 180gr is less than the weight of a 22LR.

The 180gr load often has LESS energy at the muzzle than the 150gr loading.

With that said, I'd probably look at the Black Hills Gold with the 180gr Nosler AccuBond or 168gr Barnes TS-X.

I don't think the elk is going to notice the weight of the bullet so much as the construction of the bullet.

[cowboykjohnson]

if your in open country heavier is better, ive had to use 3 shoots before on a bull with a 300 win mag shooting 180 gr accubonds(the best bullet known to man... in my opinion) and 2 were to the heart, the final one i put in the spine when he tried to run again, but that was at 300+ yards. Its really about shot placement though, i know my dad put down a cow with a 25-06 in 1 shot.

[nontactical]

First off, you didnt specify whether you had a cow or bull tag. A bull elk is a big, tough animal, and knowing what you were chasing would change my opinion more than a little.

While I am not one of these "can't kill an animal w/o the latest .999 Remchester Hypermag" types, I will say from long experience that a 308 with factory ammo is toward the bottom of the scale of what I would call adequate bull elk rifles. I think they are fine cow rifles, and often hunt cows with a 308 myself. I would shoot a bull with 308 if thats all I had, but it would damn well be a good 180g bullet, a near max. load, and under 200 yards. But thats just me.

I have seen bull elk hit solidly in the boiler room with 30-06's and 7mm mags run a LONG way before dying. One comes to mind where I was spotting for a guy, I watched a Federal Premium 7mm Rem Mag hit right where it was supposed to, and the animal was actually lost after a two day search.

That being said, I have made clean kills on cows with 44mag revolvers, so they are not invincible. All I am saying is that elk are harder than a lot of animals to kill (especially bulls) and first time elk hunters tend to underestimate the difference in size and "toughness" factor between them and deer.

Also, you mentioned that you would have to re-zero the rifle if you switched bullet weights. 1. You will have to fine tune your zero when you arrive at what 150g bullet you will be using anyway. I have one rifle with a POI difference of over 8" with two different loads of the same weight! 2. Thats a small price to pay for the extra knockdown power.

Someone mentioned the increased range (he actually meant decreased trajectory) of a 150g... to this I say that you have no business shooting at elk beyond the MPBR of a 180g when shooting a 308 anyway.

I guess the upshot of this little rant is any modern 180g hunting bullet would be better than any of the 150s in my humble but experienced opinion (other than the Remington Core-Unlocked, but I have a personal vendetta against that bullet). Given your choices I would give the barnes the nod, but by a very small margin. If you are going only after cows, and you are dead set on 150g, Id say that you are not doing anything unethical, but again it would not be my first choice.

P.S. Cool gun.

[pierce33]

I agree that any 150 gr .308 bullet is somewhat light for elk hunting in most peoples eyes. I shoot a .308 aswell and i always used a 180 gr nosler partition. Just over the past few years ive begun shooting the 168 gr. just for the ballistics. My believe is shot placement is the key to successful humane hunting.
If you dont feel comfortable with the range and know you can make a good clean shot....dont take the shot period. I grew up hunting deer with a .22! Any grain bullet of any caliber can humanily kill an animal.....Shot placemant plain and simple. But of your two choices id go with the barnes.

[Carbon_Unit]

Yes, pierce33, shot placement it key.

I've killed two elk with my trusty .270win with 150gr Winchester bullets. Both one shot. One at 200yrds. The other closer.

Another huge factor is the state of the animal:
-If you vital shoot a bull while he's sitting in his bed he will die.
-If you vital shoot a bull after he's been chased and has adrenaline pumping, you may be tracking for a long way. I've seen elk shot through vitals, and just keep marching uphill for half-mile or more, but they knew they were being chased.

Hunting Fundamentals:
-Stalking skills to get close enough for humane kill shot.
-Shooting skills(practice) to be able to deliver humane kill shot.
-Check your shots! It may look like you didn't hit the elk, but you could have. Go check for blood, and commence tracking!
-Choice of caliber/cartridge is secondary.

I have harsh words for the "hunter" who pounds lead into the tree-line and doesn't see anything drop so he just climbs back into the truck and drives off.

IMHO


Carbon_Unit

[GunTroll]

Placement is always more important than bullet weight and construction. .308 is plenty fine for elk. Your limitation wit this cartridge is the energy at distant targets(animals). I would think you could pick either for anything under 300yrds. And if that gun is your baby with the iron sights, you probably won't/shouldn't shoot out to that distance anyways. Which one grouped better would be my deciding factor.

The Barnes ttsx is ok for a bullet, but I shot a MO whitetail last year with a 120gr ttsx in my 280AI at a distance of 60yrds with a muzzle velocity of 3100fps and the exit hole was just as small as the entrance. obviously I didn't get to retrieve the bullet to see expansion. Lungs were jelly though. Did the job. I'd go with the accubond over the ttsx any day. Some bullets are just getting to fancy. What bullet has killed more animals than any other......lame ass boring core-lokt. I wouldn't shoot em but someone does and a lot of tags get filled with em.

Have fun!

[wolffo]

you really need to look at the velocity/energy each specific load delivers to compare them

checkout the various ammo websites to check their numbers

some "experts" will give specific ft/lbs of energy requirements for the weight of an aminal

I think though that we should all want to put them down with authority for a number of reasons