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

[USMC88-93]

Holy thread resurrection Batman.

[sniper7]

I hunt muzzleloader. 385 grains. last year i blew through both lungs and he still managed to go about 20 yards before finally giving in.

What most people don't understand is Elk are just extremely tough animals. they will fight till the last breath. They are the UFC fighter of the game animals in CO.
They won't simply accept death like a deer. they fight it to the very end.

As to your bullets, I would go with the 180 grain. I have had family members take elk with 105 grain bullets out of a .243. It is about shot placement, and the kind of penetration the bullet gives

[SA Friday]

I would go with the Barnes bullets out of the two.

Why does everyone expect a "one shot kill" on an animal as large as a full grown elk? It's unrealistic and bad thought process. EXPECT to have to shoot multiple rounds regardless of the caliber.

[GunTroll]

I would go with the Barnes bullets out of the two.

Why does everyone expect a "one shot kill" on an animal as large as a full grown elk? It's unrealistic and bad thought process. EXPECT to have to shoot multiple rounds regardless of the caliber.

WHAT??? Think again. INTEND to shoot it where it counts on the animal and EXPECT it to die clean. Its not a war out there. Multiple shots should not be needed or wanted. I don't like wasting meat. Shoot it and track it if it runs. If it runs far then your shot placement sucked! And EXPECT to get your ass to the range and practice more before wounding game.

[VDW]

I realize this is an old thread, but I wanted to add my .02.

I had no idea so many other people had discovered what I have...namely the excellence of the Nosler Accubond bullet. I have killed 4 or 5 elk with them. They were all knocked down with 1 shot. One of my kills was even shot low, and barely grabbed the bottom of the belly at 185 yds. The cow made it about 15 yds and was dead when I made it up the hill. The Accubond had expanded and tore up the vitals with very little actual contact. I shoot the 200gr. bullet out of my .30-06 loaded to the max with Winchester 760.

I have only had experience with 2 other bullets. I started shooting Winchester Fail Safes, but they performed terribly. I shot one cow at 20 yards through the lungs, and it took off running. You could see the blood spraying out of the lungs. I shot it again in the front shoulder, and the bullet did not penetrate the bone (which is what the Fail Safe was supposedly designed for). The bullet hadn't expanded at all and was lodged in the shoulder without much damage. I switched the next year to the Accubond and Barnes Triple X.

I shot my cow that next year with the Accubond at 75 yards, 1 shot. The lungs and heart were obliterated. My buddy I was with wounded his (he was shooting factory loads of some sort), and couldn't hit it at 30 yards after we tracked it down, and ran out of ammo (It was his first hunt, and no, he can't shoot worth a crap ). I put it down for him by shooting it in the spine with the Triple X. Because I shot the spine, it was hard to tell how it really performs. The cow was dead instantly, and the spine was obliterated, but there wasn't a whole lot of expansion. I didn't stop shooting the Barnes Triple X because of the performance, I just really liked the Accubond's terminal performance, as well as it's in-flight performance due to it's high ballistic co-efficient.

Since then, I've shot several cows and one bull, and the Accubond has always had excellent terminal performance.

It doesn't sound like you handload, but I think Winchester was producing a factory load using the Accubonds for the .30-06 a couple of years ago when I looked. I'm sure they do one for the .308 as well.

[VDW]

Oh yeah, I think it goes without saying, but...shot placement can not be stressed enough. That being said, some bullets (in my experience the Fail Safe) do not perform well even with good shot placement.

[blackford76]

Following blood trails suck, .458 Lott, 300gr monolithic solid. Meat in the freezer.

[Mtn.man]

golly gee wally I and my cousin must be lucky. he uses a 308 and has killed alot of elk in 30+ years here. he got a 380+ score with it in Utah a couple years ago.
I use a Sako 06 with 165 grain, core lokt, and have to date killed 5 cows, and 3 bulls not one had to be tracked.
and i have killed 1 bull and 1 cow with a 35 Whelen 258 grain bullet, it really put em down, but it's not for the timid shooter. Ouch..

[RRD3]

I just use a Barrett .416 and pick up the hamburger. J/K

.308 and .300 WSM have worked well for me in the past. 180's is what I prefer to use.

[Mtn.man]

sounds like Craig Boddington,, he uses a Howitzer to hunt whitetails....