300 Savage Bullet for Elk?

suprcoolr

suprcoolr

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
Alberta
I was just invited to an Elk hunt in a couple of weeks. I had planned on only hunting whitetails this year so my rifle is sighted in with 150gr factory loads.

Question: Should I get my arse out to the range and sight the rifle in with 180gr Federals or should I stick with the 150gr Super X I have practiced with?

Background info: My 300 Savage is the only rifle I own. I am confident in shooting game out to 200 yards and I understand the "limitations" of this cartridge on large species of big game. I will only take broadside lung/heart shots. The only 180gr factory load that I can find is Federal blue box (I do not reload and I do not know how well my rifle will shoot these loads). My schedule from now until opening day is very tight with little opportunity to get back to the range.

Please don't reply with a 'you should get a bigger gun' comment :rolleyes:. I do plan on that next year. I will also be very proud to add an Elk to the list of game this rifle has taken including WT,Mule, Moose, and Black Bear.
 
My wifes uncle has used his .300 savage for a very long time and he uses federal 180gr blue box factorys. He always gets his elk in the fall and never has trouble. He hunts in thick bush and knows his gun and its limitations. Keep your shots close and put the bullet in the right spot and you will be fine.
 
150gr barnes TTSX ? Nothing wrong with the 300sav, but I'd be loading the best bullet I could find. Hunts are expensive, bullets are cheap.
 
Well - As a reloader of 300 savage, you can see that the cartridge takes a hit when going from 150 gr to 180 gr. I think this is due to the short neck, and the larger 180 gr bullet sticking down into the case and consuming powder space.
I dont see any compelling reason to go with the 180 grainers.
 
suprcoolr said:
Please don't reply with a 'you should get a bigger gun' comment :rolleyes:. I do plan on that next year. I will also be very proud to add an Elk to the list of game this rifle has taken including WT,Mule, Moose, and Black Bear.
Click to expand...

Why get a "bigger gun"? You know your rifle and have taken lots of game with it. The .300 Savage has accounted for untold number of Elk in the past 91 years.

Just keep shooting your 150's. At 200 yards it has about the same energy as a .30-30 at 75 yards. It is enough for the broadside heart/lung shot.
 
with your self dicipline, you will have no trouble killing an elk if you are comfortable taking the shot. The only issue I have seen with 150's used on elk ( all from 308 win, close enough!) is that if you hit the heavy shoulder joint where the scapula meets the humerus the bullet may not penetrate to the lungs. That's the Only concern I would have. The <200 yd broadside rib shots that you said you would limit yourself to, will be deadly with that bullet. good luck!
 
Amphibious said:
150gr barnes TTSX ? Nothing wrong with the 300sav, but I'd be loading the best bullet I could find. Hunts are expensive, bullets are cheap.
Click to expand...

Guess you didn't read his post before replying, but who cares right, your opinion is more important than the topic at hand!
 
Rocket Surgery said:
Guess you didn't read his post before replying, but who cares right, your opinion is more important than the topic at hand!
Click to expand...


first - take a deep breath, count to ten, get off your high horse and go suck a syphilitic #### (edited to not offend the children).

second - he gave two choices, i offered a 3rd. lots of mail order ammo sources that could have him ammo by overnight courier if need be. he's got a couple weeks, maybe a local CGN member would read this thread and offer to press some ammo for him. keep an open mind.

third - impressive list of junk you've spent money on in your sig line. no wonder you're angry. :)
 
Last edited:
Wow you guys!

There is nooooo need to be so critical aaaand defensive!

Just share your thoughts,experiences and let the Gunnut who posted the thread to deside what information to use.

Calm down above all, shooting/hunting is the most enjoyable thing I do for a hobby/passion!
Lets enjoy it.

Continue with the thread you gunnuts.
 
Haven't read the whole thread in detail but my 2 cents. I'm currently hunting elk with a model 7 in 308. It has a 18.5" bbl. I get 300 savage speeds out of it (2675 with a 150 accubond) and I'm of the mind that it's the indian rather than the arrow. I am, however, going to rebarrel this rifle to 20" but stay with the 308. I'd stay with the 18.5 if I could get the accuracy I desired out of it. But since I'm upgrading anyways, I may as well go 20".
 
The .300 savage is a good round for big game, I would not use any kind of fancy bullet that would only limit expansion at those velocities. I'd go with whatever standard cup and core 180 grain bullet that your rifle likes....good luck on your hunt.
 
Let me see if I'm understanding.

-You may or may not have time to sight in another ammunition so this whole question may be moot.

-You don't reload

-You only have access to Federal Blue Box ammo so you're not really looking for any other suggestions since, you know, you can't buy them.


What was the point of this thread again? Go hunting, have fun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom