El Gringo
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I know this has been covered and debated before, but thought I would share my experience from my Colorado Elk hunt last week. I was able to take a mature Cow on the 3rd day of the hunt. This was my first Colorado Muzzy hunt, and had no experience with Full-bore bullets (Only used Sabots on my hunts in New Mexico in the past). My research had suggested that these bullets should be perfectly adequate, and they shot very well out of my CVA Accura.... So.... Off we go Elk hunting......
I shot the Cow, broadside from 105 yards right on the back edge of the shoulder, mid-way up the body. She gave it up within just a few seconds, and was done. I was shooting 100 Grains of BH 209. I recovered the bullet on the opposite side, under the hide, flat as a pancake. I'd say what was left of the bullet was 1/2 dollar size.
My assessment of this, is that the PB 338 is "Adequate" for Elk, although I'm not sure I would feel comfortable taking a quartering shot on a much larger Bull, or really even a cow. I imagine this bullet would be devastating for deer, and I would consider using it again, if I had a cow tag. Personally, next time I have a Colorado muzzy Elk tag, I think I'm going to work up a load with Thor or something similar, that I can be confident shooting through a shoulder, if the need arises.
Cheers, and good luck with everyone's hunts this fall!
Gringo
I shot the Cow, broadside from 105 yards right on the back edge of the shoulder, mid-way up the body. She gave it up within just a few seconds, and was done. I was shooting 100 Grains of BH 209. I recovered the bullet on the opposite side, under the hide, flat as a pancake. I'd say what was left of the bullet was 1/2 dollar size.
My assessment of this, is that the PB 338 is "Adequate" for Elk, although I'm not sure I would feel comfortable taking a quartering shot on a much larger Bull, or really even a cow. I imagine this bullet would be devastating for deer, and I would consider using it again, if I had a cow tag. Personally, next time I have a Colorado muzzy Elk tag, I think I'm going to work up a load with Thor or something similar, that I can be confident shooting through a shoulder, if the need arises.
Cheers, and good luck with everyone's hunts this fall!
Gringo