120gr barns for elk

mywifeishotterthentiffany · Aug 18, 2010

I just bought a Sako A7(270wsm) and topped off with a Nikon Monarch BDC and I am very excited for this years hunting season!! The salesmen at the sportingoods store said he would help my work up a load for the gun. we decided on 120gr ttsxbullet from Barnes for both Antelope and Deer and I only want 1 load that I will always use. I would like to know if you think the 120gr would be sufficent for the cow elk tag I drew? What would be the longest shot you would take with this set up?

"Let's keep things in perspective.I mean for Peet's sake there are kids in Africa that don't even hunt....hello" Jimmy Big Time

NMHUNTER · Aug 18, 2010

i dont think you would have a problem taking an elk. we have killed 2 bulls and a cow with a 100 gr core lokt in 243. the farthest was about 350, and all with one shot

one_dryboot · Aug 19, 2010

Shot placement is the key!

<Stu Padaso Hunting Gear Pro Staff

<Dixie Nourmous Field Staff

chipc · Aug 19, 2010

Nothing wrong with a 270 WSM for Elk. The 120 grn wouldn't be my first choice of bullets. The 140 grain TSX would have a better ballistic coefficient, a bit more energy downrange, and more mass which is helpful if bone is encountered. It would be great for deer and antelope too. However, as mentioned above, shot placement is always the key ! GOOD LUCK. Chip

BGbasbhat · Aug 19, 2010

Ditto...I'd rather have a few more grains; but if you're good with it, you'll be alright.

"...I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six..."

mywifeishotterthentiffany · Aug 19, 2010

Thanks guys!! If It was a bull and not a cow I would just switch to my 300 win mag.

"Let's keep things in perspective.I mean for Peet's sake there are kids in Africa that don't even hunt....hello" Jimmy Big Time

BLU · Aug 19, 2010

Heck ya that will be a shooter. My son and father both shoot 270 and have killed both cows and bulls with there guns. I still like the 300 wby for elk, but with the good shot placement, these are great. My dad shoots a 270 win 130 grn corlockt handload and my son is the 270 wby 150 grn nozler. I'm not a huge fan of all copper but that looks like the trend the enviro's are sending us to save the condors(funny how they see them out in the wild but hunters seldom see them). Let us know how it shoots in your gun and then the pix of your trophys.

llamapacker · Aug 19, 2010

If you have the 300, why not use it for the cow? No doubt the 120 grain pill can get the job done, but it is far from ideal. It sounds like you have a near perfect elk rifle, and you are comfortable with it as well. I say use the 300. Big cows can be just as tough as an average bull, and you allow more diverse shot selection with the 30 cal. No doubt the light .270 bullet can get the job done, but don't try any Texas heart shots or even severe quartering angles. Broadside shots behind the shoulder are best with that load.

Bill

sheephunter · Aug 19, 2010

I have shot a couple of bulls and a mule deer buck or two with 130 gr. Triple Shocks, not the tipped ones. Great bullet. Killed a 340 bull last year quartering toward me at 250 or so no problem.

mywifeishotterthentiffany · Aug 19, 2010

I ended up ordering the 130 gr. I will keep evryone posted on how it shoot and kills.

"Let's keep things in perspective.I mean for Peet's sake there are kids in Africa that don't even hunt....hello" Jimmy Big Time

Coloradoboy · Aug 20, 2010

Personally I would load up to 130 or 140 grains. i shot 140 grain nosler accubonds out of my .270 and have killed a pile of elk and deer with it. But after saying that ive killed 2 cows now, one being my first when i was 12 with a 25-06 with 110 nosler accubonds. But as listed above its all about SHOT PLACEMENT

mevertsen · Aug 20, 2010

I think that even a 130 grain bullet is a little light for elk. Even cow elk are tough, and I think the biggest bullet you can shoot consistently is the wisest choice. If I had a 270 WSM and a 300 WM laying around, I would be choosing the 300 with 180 or 200 grain bullets.

Last year I shot a cow whose quarters alone weight over 180 lbs, and she ran better than 200 yards with a 385 grain chunk of lead in her chest.

Don't underestimate the power of an elk on adrenaline.

Later,

Marcial