Me too , MV was 2530 fps here. 300 yard shot(s)
Deer as well Todd? Did you hit heavy bone?
Hornady A-Max for elk?
- Thread starter stevedigs04
- Start date
Deer as well Todd? Did you hit heavy bone?
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Not a European thing, this is basically what the Nosler Partition does and it's one of the best all around bullets that's stood the test of time.
Europeans tend be less hung up on ballistics as their shots are shorter and they have a tendency to shoot heavy-ish bullets in non magnum cartridges for this reason.
As many posters here have already indicated - I would go for a premium hunting round in a suitable weight, designed specifically for your task.
Getting a shot at a nice elk is something many hunters strive to do successfully all their careers (some are still waiting) and to have it blown because of a bad choice in ammo (probably one of the least expensive items in your hunt) would be a shame.
I'm a bit of an accuracy nut myself but I would take a slightly less accurate premium hunting round over a match designed round any day. Accubonds work for me.
When I purchased my Tikka T3 6.5mm rifle my primary interest was getting the most accurate hunting round available because I knew that one day I would use it for hunting even though up to then I put far more rounds down range as a target shooter.
The difference of a 1/4 MOA or even 1/2 MOA is no big deal on a game animal with 10 inch target zone but having the wrong bullet not designed for this application could be huge.
Getting a shot at a nice elk is something many hunters strive to do successfully all their careers (some are still waiting) and to have it blown because of a bad choice in ammo (probably one of the least expensive items in your hunt) would be a shame.
I'm a bit of an accuracy nut myself but I would take a slightly less accurate premium hunting round over a match designed round any day. Accubonds work for me.
When I purchased my Tikka T3 6.5mm rifle my primary interest was getting the most accurate hunting round available because I knew that one day I would use it for hunting even though up to then I put far more rounds down range as a target shooter.
The difference of a 1/4 MOA or even 1/2 MOA is no big deal on a game animal with 10 inch target zone but having the wrong bullet not designed for this application could be huge.
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elk. One went through the scapula but didn't penetrate the rib cage beyond. Couple behind the shoulder through heart/lungs did better, but still didn't reach the hide on the far side
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I’ve used the Amax on a lot of critters.
One bull elk was about 100-ish yards away feeding through the aspens and he gave me an 8” window to shoot through. 162 Amax through the neck about 8” down from his skull. 1” exit after crunching his spine. Likely around 2700fps impact velocity. No complaints with performance.
Last year a 75 Amax penetrated a shoulder knuckle, ribs, and was caught under the hide at the diaphragm on a big muley buck and 300 yards. No complaints.
Had a 168 tsx from a 300 Ultra at around 100-ish yards on a much bigger elk fail to open. First shot was 30 yards, square through the shoulder, elk spun and ran down hill into a draw. 2nd poke was trying (completely believing it would happen) to drive one through the spine and out the sternum. Got about 14” of penetration into the backstrap with a big wad of hair in front of it. No bone encountered. Just soft backstrap. No expansion whatsoever. And minimal penetration. Same rifle and bullet the next year I shot a 6pt at about 100 yards quartered in that crushed probably 2 feet of neck vertebrae and broke the offside hip bone.
Had a Nosler Partition from a 264 Mag hit a good whitetail buck I was shooting on the run at about 200 yards downhill hit the shoulder blade and turn and travel down the leg. Found that bullet in the ankle under the hide. Completely expanded, but didn’t go through the scapula.
ALL bullets have the ability to do strange stuff every now and again. Shoot enough different bullets into enough animals and you will see some odd stuff.
Pick one that has the attributes that you want, and hedge your bets with bullet construction a little. Once you get comfortable with what YOU can do and get some experience, then branch out a bit if you feel like it.
One bull elk was about 100-ish yards away feeding through the aspens and he gave me an 8” window to shoot through. 162 Amax through the neck about 8” down from his skull. 1” exit after crunching his spine. Likely around 2700fps impact velocity. No complaints with performance.
Last year a 75 Amax penetrated a shoulder knuckle, ribs, and was caught under the hide at the diaphragm on a big muley buck and 300 yards. No complaints.
Had a 168 tsx from a 300 Ultra at around 100-ish yards on a much bigger elk fail to open. First shot was 30 yards, square through the shoulder, elk spun and ran down hill into a draw. 2nd poke was trying (completely believing it would happen) to drive one through the spine and out the sternum. Got about 14” of penetration into the backstrap with a big wad of hair in front of it. No bone encountered. Just soft backstrap. No expansion whatsoever. And minimal penetration. Same rifle and bullet the next year I shot a 6pt at about 100 yards quartered in that crushed probably 2 feet of neck vertebrae and broke the offside hip bone.
Had a Nosler Partition from a 264 Mag hit a good whitetail buck I was shooting on the run at about 200 yards downhill hit the shoulder blade and turn and travel down the leg. Found that bullet in the ankle under the hide. Completely expanded, but didn’t go through the scapula.
ALL bullets have the ability to do strange stuff every now and again. Shoot enough different bullets into enough animals and you will see some odd stuff.
Pick one that has the attributes that you want, and hedge your bets with bullet construction a little. Once you get comfortable with what YOU can do and get some experience, then branch out a bit if you feel like it.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
So how did this one die?
Did they get away?
No but under different circumstances it could of been a tough recovery. Luckily the bull was in the open and I was able to get two follow up shots into it before it made it out of sight
Even the SST is junk for big game. Watched a big bull Moose soak up x3 of them from a 7.62x54r. had my partner not jumped in, and hit him with a 300wm using prvi 180gr, he would've walked off.
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freddygotarf
CGN Regular
Did it get away?
No it was a spectacular kill. It went up on hind legs and toppled over backwards. Not impressed with how bullet looked when found.
That was the first hit. He took another quartering more away that was a bit farther back. Then when he went over i to a draw I trailed him up and shot him again at the base of the ear at about 250 yards.... base of the ear doesn’t require much bullet construction to be effective.....
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Yeah, I'd say this dead horse is well and truly beaten.
OP, I'd look at some of the higher end ammunition like Federal Premium and others. You'll get better bullets that your rifle may like. Personally I'd take a 165gr premium or even a heavier non-premium before I went with a target bullet.
OP, I'd look at some of the higher end ammunition like Federal Premium and others. You'll get better bullets that your rifle may like. Personally I'd take a 165gr premium or even a heavier non-premium before I went with a target bullet.
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Benelli R1 .300 win mag i think has a 1/11 twist
so some of the newer high BC bullets might not do so well
you posted that you tried a 180g .... What bullet was that ??? was it a new high BC bullet ?
and what is the longest range you will take a shot ?
so some of the newer high BC bullets might not do so well
you posted that you tried a 180g .... What bullet was that ??? was it a new high BC bullet ?
and what is the longest range you will take a shot ?
