Winter Cow Elk .270 Win - Projectile Choice

Based mainly on advice from Nathan Foster over at ballisticstudies.com

The 150 gr. SST can have a tendency to detonate (like a Berger) at high speeds. Softening them between the tip and the cannelure makes them mushroom and/or peel back and then hold together rather than detonate, and also aids expansion at longer distances (low speeds). Makes it a far more of a "do all" bullet. I took Nathan's word for this initially, but these bullets haven't let me down since. Having said that, they never really "let me down" before. The annealing is easy to do so I just do it. The process certainly doesn't make them perform any worse, I can say that.

Makes sense. Thanks
 
I think the lighter weights of accubonds are intended to be varmint bullets from the nosler literature.

Actually the 110 Accubond was originally intended for the 6.8 SPC, but Nosler now provides data for that projectile in their .270 Win load data. I guess that's why it works at long distance but not so hot at 40 yards. You could be right regarding varmints, as long as you don't want the hide/pelt (but again, that bear at 342 had extremely low hide damage).
 
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Thanks again to everyone for the input. I have a game plan now.

If my mom has success in the coming weeks, I'll try to remember to post the story. I know the stories slow down this time of year...
 
Actually the 110 Accubond was originally intended for the 6.8 SPC, but Nosler now provides data for that projectile in their .270 Win load data. I guess that's why it works at long distance but not so hot at 40 yards. You could be right regarding varmints, as long as you don't want the hide/pelt (but again, that bear at 342 had extremely low hide damage).

I'm just running my mouth it seems, I swear I saw something on their site about accubonds jackets being different depending on their weight class but now I can't find it.

Actually you'd probably be surprised how little difference it will make for the offhand groups. When two variables of great difference like are combined like they don't add together, the small one tends to get lost in the big one.

I'll take your word for it, you've probably put more rounds downrange in the last year than I have in my life. In fact it was a post from you that encouraged me to basically relegate my shooting to offhand only with the exception of some field rested practice at longer ranges and load development.
 
The shot will be limited by choice and ability of the shooter (not me) to 200 yards or less.

I reload and I have the following .277" projectiles to choose from.

- 110 TSX
- 130 Speer SPBT
- 140 Berger VLD
- 150 SST (annealed)
- 150 Grand Slam


I don't plan on buying more projectiles. Which would you choose? My gut says Grand Slam, but cow elk are considerably smaller than bulls and they can get pretty lanky in the winter months - this is the only reason I am second-guessing myself. Maybe the quicker expanding SST, or super-fast moving TSX would be better... I don't want the GS to just poke a hole.

aww Wheres the Woodleighss?? :)

ummm, out of Your choices, a Grand Slam , but the 110 TTSX will do it..
 
Went to the range with mom yesterday, and she shot the 150 Grand Slams fine. Really great, in fact. Nice 1.5" groups at 100. Of course the groups opened up at 200 off the sticks, but still well within "elk boiler room accuracy". She didn't complain about the recoil at all.

Heading out a week from today!
 
Happy to report that my mother was successful on Saturday, and the Grand Slam worked spectacularly !

We tried 2 weeks ago and we were not successful, but we learned a lot about the area and we made some new contacts. My mother was too sick a week ago to try again, but this past weekend we gave it one last shot and it all worked out perfectly.

We got a call from a landowner on Saturday about 11am. We had to move quickly because we had a 4.5 hour drive to get there. We arrived at the property just before sunset and got the lay of the land. Planted ourselves behind a huge snow bank and waited. Within 10 minutes, the elk herd (about 40 of them) started coming toward us. The lead bull stopped about 100 yards short of where we were, and then made a decision to head off to the right toward a pile of hay bales. In the binos I confirmed that the second animal was a cow. A big cow. She stopped and looked in our direction. I said "Mom, she's gong to turn and follow that bull - when she does, let her have it." The cow turned and took two steps. Whump! - my mother surprised the heck out of me how quickly she shot. The entire herd bolted, of course, and the cow ran about 60 yards and then piled up. My mom's elk was down! We walked out slowly to check things out and my mom cut her tag. Then we took a little swig out of our flasks and had a hug, and headed to the farmhouse to let the land owner know.

Some photos:

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We consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to hunt on some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.

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The land owner was nice enough to help us with the recovery, which made things so much simpler at -22 Celcius!

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The Grand Slam broke through the bone near the elbow, ripped through the rib cage and did some damage to the heart and lungs, before punching through the far-side rib cage and coming to rest under the hide near the arm-pit. Textbook expansion and penetration from this projectile!

Some may not really call this a "hunt", and I understand the sentiment. It isn't a typical hunt for us, that is for sure. However, 2 weeks ago we hiked many kilometers on hundreds of acres, in terrible, windy weather - so we do feel sort of like we earned it. My mother is 73, after all. :)
 
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Great end to a spectacular hunt. Glad it turned out great. What a fine time with your mom. She sure can put one in the boiler room with that shot. Enjoy the eats. Elky.
 
Great end to a spectacular hunt. Glad it turned out great. What a fine time with your mom. She sure can put one in the boiler room with that shot. Enjoy the eats. Elky.

I am super proud of her and impressed. She never ceases to amaze me.

We had some of the tenderloin, wrapped in bacon ("filet mignon" style), grilled over charcoal, on Sunday. It was SO TENDER and DELICIOUS!
 
I would use either of the 150gr, keep your shot at a reasonable distance( 200yrds max) put the bullet in the wheel house..meat in the freezer!
**edit** glad you had a successful hunt!
 
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