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Hunting & Fishing Favorite caliber bullet combo for hunting

Schw15

Longrange
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Minuteman
  • Jul 21, 2019
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    Colorado
    Just curious what everybody's favorite caliber and bullet they use for hunting deer Antelope and Elk
     
    If I were to choose just one for all it is my 300 Norma 230 berger OTM. I have used this combo on multiple deer/elk/antelope in the last 3 seasons from close up and personal to long range.
     
    Bought a Ruger M-77 MKII in .270 Winchester in 1988 for $412 plus tax. I tried a few commercial loads and they all shot decent groups except the early version of Winchester silvertip ammo.
    Happened to come by some very low priced Sellier & Bellot 150gr round nose soft tip a couple years later. At 100 yards the rifle put 5 rounds into a .30cal sized hole.
    I bought 2 cases from sportsman’s guide on the cheap and they’ve been my hunting loads ever since. Just keeping them stored in ammo cans.
     
    530 on a 397 lb bear. Also,
    430 on a 200+ lb bear.
    50 on a small buck
    196 on a nice buck
    310 on a small 5x5 elk.

    I think the prc is minimal for elk, but can do the job
     
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    Ive been using 300 win mag 200 eldx and 212eldx looking for something new and different to try
     
    35 Whelen, 200gr Partitions will do the trick for most, 250gr works for bear and moose. Only limitation is range when compared to bigger magnums.
     
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    Don't hunt deer or elk but:

    338 is my and will be favorite used since mid 70s, 250gr partition at 2980 never failed from 80 to 425.

    But due to age and recoil, I am boring 308 165 to 180 now.
     
    I’ve been running 300 WM with 178 ELDX. I plan to try Berger’s this spring when the snow melts
     
    What 338 were you using ?
    A 250 at nearly 3k is some serious energy.



    338 is my and will be favorite used since mid 70s, 250gr partition at 2980 never failed from 80 to 425.

    But due to age and recoil, I am boring 308 165 to 180 now.
     
    What 338 were you using ?
    A 250 at nearly 3k is some serious energy.



    338 is my and will be favorite used since mid 70s, 250gr partition at 2980 never failed from 80 to 425.

    But due to age and recoil, I am boring 308 165 to 180 now.


    270 win. For over 150 and 35 Rem below. Really love the 35 Rem
     
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    6.8spc/120gr SST for deer. Closest was 15yds. Longest was 150-200yds. It’s light and it’s 16” barrel is handy getting in and out of dense woods to change to anything else for where I hunt.

    black bear in OK is archery and black powder Only.

    haven’t been elk hunting. Yet.

    6.5cm did turn an opossum inside out at 187yds at the feeder. Haven’t had the opportunity to shoot it anything else besides paper and steel.
     
    338-06 for elk. Barnes 210 ttsx. I've shot plenty with smaller bullets and had them die quickly, and plenty more with smaller bullets and had them run on me. Placement the same-ish with all. I used to use a 35 Whelen AI, but I am now spoiled hunting with a can, and don't have a 350. Pretty much anything kills deer. Even a mid sized rock.
     
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    I figured the improved one would be way faster. But thats pretty nice. Whats the free bore? And barrel life
    Oh you can run it up to 2890+ but the main reason for the improved isn’t the speed it’s the reduced pressure. I actually used to shoot them even slower, i shot them at 2730 earlier this year and it was the tightest, flattest shooting barrel I’ve ever had. A lot of folks try and tune for the high node and it may shoot but it’s very temperamental, especially with temp and elevation changes. Barrel life is great, I pull my match barrels at 2,000 rounds but I have 2 that I club matches with that have 3000+ and they are still shooting lights out.
     
    Oh you can run it up to 2890+ but the main reason for the improved isn’t the speed it’s the reduced pressure. I actually used to shoot them even slower, i shot them at 2730 earlier this year and it was the tightest, flattest shooting barrel I’ve ever had. A lot of folks try and tune for the high node and it may shoot but it’s very temperamental, especially with temp and elevation changes. Barrel life is great, I pull my match barrels at 2,000 rounds but I have 2 that I club matches with that have 3000+ and they are still shooting lights out.
    That a pretty good round with good barrel life
     
    180gr accubond in 300wsm.
    225 gr accubond in 338 win mag.
    165 gr accubond in 308 for deer.

    Both the 338 and 300 are used for elk mostly.

    I have had really good results with the accubond bullets on deer and elk.
     
    Antelope and deer size game 6.5 creedmoor with Barnes 127 lrx
     
    300 weatherby mag 180gr accubonds for elk
    For deer I like a 308 with a 150 gameking. That being said I’ve taken more deer with a 223 55gr ballistic tip over anything else.
     
    First choice 338 win mag with a 230 ELDX or 225 Accubond about 2850 (my recent choice)
    second choice 7RM with 160 accubonds at 2950 or so. (Most of my hunting)
    third choice 6.5x284/6.5PRC/6.5 Addiction/264wm, with elk on the list, I’d probably use a 140 accubond or a 130 swift s2 as an all around hunting bullet. I‘ve used 6.5s (Creedmoor, x47) for deer for my son and use a eldm, but I wouldn’t use that for elk.
     
    I would (and currently building) a short action round like a 7 SAUM, 7SS or 7 Sherman Max in an XM length action. I believe the Sherman Max will push the new 195gr Bergers at 3000fps.
     
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    Have shot a 270 with federal fusion 150 gr bullets the last few years. Before that was a 30.06 with core-lokts. This year i am planning on trying out my new tikka 6.5 with a load yet to be determined, but hoping to use the Hornady 143g eldx.
     
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    Have shot a 270 with federal fusion 150 gr bullets the last few years. Before that was a 30.06 with core-lokts. This year i am planning on trying out my new tikka 6.5 with a load yet to be determined, but hoping to use the Hornady 143g eldx.
    I loaded up some of those and put two deer down hard with them worked great then loaded up those 127lrx Barnes and loved them also dropped bull elk dead in his tracks at 300yds. Think you’ll be happy with the Hornady but don’t overlook those barnes
     
    Absolute favorite is 7x57 and the 139 GMX. I have several others calibers/loads that I can run suppressed and whatnot, but my Winny 70 in 7x57 is old school stalk and hunt. 2000 fps to 400Y , 1025 ft/lbs to 500.
     
    270- 130gr Ballistic tip and 300 win 180gr Accubond. This covers all my big game hunting.