Rocky Mt Elk Ammunition Question

[snuffy1945]

I was fortunate to draw a Rky. Mt. elk tag for this fall. Being a one gun hunter, can I use standard 130 grain ammo for my old .270 or do I need to buy some of those new bullets I read about?  I've always used plain old Remington factory shells.  Thank you.

 

[GYPSUMREAPER]

I always ran the federal 150 grain core lokt, that is until I started reloading my own ammo. Now I shoot the 140gr hornady sst bullets.  I have shot elk with the 150gr at 250 yards they hit pretty hard and shot placement is always key.  Just make sure you shoot and have ur comfortable distance set for urself. I would shoot to 500 with mine that's kind of my max.  Elk have been shot with everything from .243 to .338 and bigger placement is all key. I don't ever follow the through the shoulders shot as all the bone.  When I shoot with my rifle I try and place my bullets just like I would an arrow with my bow and go for the least meat loss as possible.


If you get meat from the store then dont criticize me for having the courage to go out and kill my own meat

 

[Cliff]

Rocky I am not near as experienced as the other members only been once butwas fortunate to kill on with a .270. 140 grain. 85 yards so wasn't shooting 500. I just bought some Barnes ttsx 130 grain to see how my gun likes it. Inl tried superformance but never got it to shoot consistently. Now that I have rambled my opinion is find something you like to shoot and are confident in and never look back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cowboystl1]

personally on elk i like the heavier loads that the caliber you use will handle the best. factory loads im a hornady fan all the way. try and get a heavy bullet as you can and that your weapon will shoot well.

 

[Arrows4Elk]

IMO, I would go for the heaviest load with minimal expansion/high weight retention you can find.

With a .270 maximum penetration and shot placement would be my focus. Many good loads out there, so shoot what your gun likes...I'd prob use a 150g Nosler Partition, 140g Trophy Bonded Tip, or somethign similar. For longer shots you should probably step up the caliber.

 

[jamesctaylor17@gmail.com]

Shot placement is always key first and foremost. If you can't be accurate then don't take the shot. Once you get over that then I'd lean towards a heavier bullet personally. Sometimes you just need a little extra something behind the bullet.


I guided a mule deer hunter one time that was shooting 120 grain bullets and although he made an absolute perfect shot right in the vitals on the first shot....the deer didn't go down. Some 5+ shots later the deer was finally dead and we had a whole lot of ruined meat from all the excess shots.


Not saying that's always going to be the case. You may make a great shot and pile an elk up, but they're tough animals and you never know what's going to happen. I would much rather shoot a deer or elk with a bullet someone might see as "overkill" than risk having to put extra shots down range and waste more meat. Not to mention the ethical portion of a clean quick kill as opposed to their death being dragged out longer than necessary.


Just my 2 cents! Take what you will.