.303 Factory ELK Hunting Help!
- Thread starter hemidart
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I would choose 180 gr bullets. Winchester Power Points work OK, but I see Federal offers a load with a 180 gr Sierra that might be a bit better. How far you can shoot depends a great deal on your rifle. A good rifle will reach out to 300 yards, but a poor one will try your patience at 100 and unfortunately, when it comes to Lee Enfields, the poor ones seem to be easier to find.
Since Nosler does not make a Partition or a Accubond in the .311/,312 diameter, I have been using that Sierra 180 FB in mine, and have had good success with it. It will pass through a deer every time, so I would suspect it would work OK on Elk. I would limit shots to 250 yards, since velocities are not likely to be spectacular with that stubby tube. Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- British Canuckistan
I don't know what his bullet was, but my friend dropped a moose at 350 yards with his .303. he said he took the shot because he was feeling so rested. it paid off. 
he's found his Lee Enfield to become an exceptional hunting firearm since the stock was cut back some, to fit him better and added a scope to it.
he's found his Lee Enfield to become an exceptional hunting firearm since the stock was cut back some, to fit him better and added a scope to it. - Location
- Vancouver Island BC
180 grain winchester power points will be perfect. Maximum range depends on how well you shoot, not the rifle or ammunition. Take a paper pie plate and shoot it, then move back 50 yards and shoot again keep doing it until you miss. Thats your maximum range.
If you want to know more about your ballistics go to the JBM Online ballistic calculator and find out.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I suggest you try a few for accuracy. The 303 has traditionally shot bullets heavier than 170 grains. The lighter ones now available may not shoot accurately in your rifle.
Me, I'd take just about any standard bullet in 174 grain, or 180, if it shot decently. Heavier, if I could find it. The old 215 grain slugs were wonderful. Can't find them now of course.
Hornady builds some good ammo for the .303 using their interlock bullets. I tried some years back in my friends rifle, but they were the light magnum loads, and I don't think they make those still.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
I have cronyed some Federal and Winchester 180gers out of a 22" bbl. I don't have notes but I know they were pretty slow, we're talking almost 30-30 type velocity. May want to stick to 150yards as a maximum, no shame in that at all.
I have shot one deer with the 180g Sierra, the same bullet used in the Federal factory loading. I actually hit the deer in the spine at about 75 yards and the bullet busted right on through. For comparison I have seen a deer spine stop 150g ers from 30-06's and 130gers from 270's at that same range.
I have shot one deer with the 180g Sierra, the same bullet used in the Federal factory loading. I actually hit the deer in the spine at about 75 yards and the bullet busted right on through. For comparison I have seen a deer spine stop 150g ers from 30-06's and 130gers from 270's at that same range.
Lots of guys in the good old days did just that! I've shot 3 elk and 2 moose with 180 grain bullets. All were one shot kills. Farthest shot was 100 yds.
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I will NEVER shoot another animal with Sierra bullets out of my .303 again. Shot a mulie this year three times with 180 grain Sierra handloads - the deer died (I hit him good all three times), but almost zero bullet expansion that I could tell. I wasn't at all happy during the post mortem.
Prior to that little adventure in handloading, The Wife(tm) and I both have been shooting everything (deer, elk, bear, grouse, etc) with Winchester 180 grain PowerPoint's. Everything we've ever shot with those died in short order, and the only bullet we ever recovered (center-punched two ribs and a shoulder on an elk and hung up in the hide on the far side) was a mushroom approx twice the original diameter, and about 160 grains of retained weight.
I give two thumbs WAY up for the Winchester PowerPoint's in the 303 British. I'd expect any elk close enough for you to hit him in the vitals would be dead in short order if shot with that load.
Prior to that little adventure in handloading, The Wife(tm) and I both have been shooting everything (deer, elk, bear, grouse, etc) with Winchester 180 grain PowerPoint's. Everything we've ever shot with those died in short order, and the only bullet we ever recovered (center-punched two ribs and a shoulder on an elk and hung up in the hide on the far side) was a mushroom approx twice the original diameter, and about 160 grains of retained weight.
I give two thumbs WAY up for the Winchester PowerPoint's in the 303 British. I'd expect any elk close enough for you to hit him in the vitals would be dead in short order if shot with that load.
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Try "Old Chicago" here in London. Some elk-sized, ahem cougars...
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Woodleigh makes a good 215 gr .303 bullet, but the cost might be prohibitive to some.
