Best bullet for a shoulder shot on Elk

[Rio56]

Yes I know the perfect shot thru the lungs .. have seen that , but still gotta ask the question ....
What's your pick ... what's worked for you ... what grain and type ? does it matter ? 338 win mag 225 grain or the 7-08 with a 140 grainer .. SO the elk of a lifetime walks out at say 350 yards .. Are you comfortable shooting your rifle ? and with what ? at any angle ?

[Slicktricker]

Grew up watching dad put 175 power point out of 7mm rem through the shoulders of 2 dozen elk and few moose,my only rifle shot elk had no issues at 327 with 7mm rem and 150 grand slam. I always aim for shoulders on elk except archery huntinf

[skidderman]

A good quality bullet. TSX, Nosler partition or accubond. Lots of choices out there. Lost an elk once with a winchester silvertip. I figure it blew up on the shoulder. Yes cheaper bullets work but to lose an elk because of a bullet hurts. I shoot either 30-06 or 300 wsm. Always use 180 or 200 grain. Still have some winchester failsafe bullets. Awesome.

[Salavee]

If that range was reduced to 300 yd I would be using a 250 gr Nosler partition out of my .35 Whelen ai . At 350 yds, I have to pass.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by Rio56

Yes I know the perfect shot thru the lungs .. have seen that , but still gotta ask the question ....
What's your pick ... what's worked for you ... what grain and type ? does it matter ? 338 win mag 225 grain or the 7-08 with a 140 grainer .. SO the elk of a lifetime walks out at say 350 yards .. Are you comfortable shooting your rifle ? and with what ? at any angle ?

First, I don't do long range.
Second, I don't hunt Elk.
Third, I don't shoot shoulders.
Fourth, I don't shoot at any angle, that's just dumb.
Fifth, learn to hit what you aim at first, then worry about which bullet is best, because by then you'll know.

[duceman]

Originally Posted by KegRiver

First, I don't do long range.
Second, I don't hunt Elk.
Third, I don't shoot shoulders.
Fourth, I don't shoot at any angle, that's just dumb.
Fifth, learn to hit what you aim at first, then worry about which bullet is best, because by then you'll know.

the hunting god has spoken.

smarten up and pay attention.

you are doing everything wrong.

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by duceman

the hunting god has spoken.

smarten up and pay attention.

you are doing everything wrong.

[elkhunter11]

I choose my bullet based on the worst possible shot presentation that I would shoot under, rather than the best possible shot, as quite often, the perfect shot opportunity just doesn't present itself. I find that the Barnes monometal bullets, the TTSX/TSX have worked well in every situation that I have encountered.

[Beeman3]

When did 350 yds become long range? For elk or any game at 350 yds plus I would go with a 215 Berger out of a 300 Win Mag. But if your shots will likely all be under 300 yds then as suggested maybe go with a bonded or all copper bullet.

[Alberta Bigbore]

Originally Posted by KegRiver

First, I don't do long range.
Second, I don't hunt Elk.
Third, I don't shoot shoulders.
Fourth, I don't shoot at any angle, that's just dumb.
Fifth, learn to hit what you aim at first, then worry about which bullet is best, because by then you'll know.

I don't know keg..... many times I purposely angled a shot on moose to put it down in a hurry due to it standing near water.

Quartering away shot enough to hit lungs/clip heart and in line with opposite leg . A well constructed bullet like GMX no issues.

Also have shot moose low in hump and they drop on the spot. Again when risk of water retrieval. Lol

There is nothing wrong with long range as long as it's practiced in off season. I practice enough for 400 yard shots with confidence.

Looking very much forward to hunting with my new 338win mag this year and going to practice hard with the CDS dial on the leupold VXR firedot. My 270 win is plenty... but that 338wm man alive! Love it.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

I don't know keg..... many times I purposely angled a shot on moose to put it down in a hurry due to it standing near water.

Quartering away shot enough to hit lungs/clip heart and in line with opposite leg . A well constructed bullet like GMX no issues.

Also have shot moose low in hump and they drop on the spot. Again when risk of water retrieval. Lol

There is nothing wrong with long range as long as it's practiced in off season. I practice enough for 400 yard shots with confidence.

Looking very much forward to hunting with my new 338win mag this year and going to practice hard with the CDS dial on the leupold VXR firedot. My 270 win is plenty... but that 338wm man alive! Love it.

There are angled shots that work and some that don't.

I know people who CAN make long range shots and shots from strange angles, and I have no doubt that you can.

I don't recommend such shots, because there are people who can't make them but think they can or that they should be able to.

Same reason I'm against big bore rifles. I know people who love them and are good with them, I know others who seem to think they are a necessity but that can't handle the recoil.

Really I have nothing against any of the things I listed, what I am against is the idea that such things are the way it ought to be, or has to be.

And I'm against the idea that any shot is worth trying, to put a trophy on the wall.

A trophy is more about skill and hard work then size of horn.

A good shot is more about knowing ones own abilities and what works then about hail Mary shots with the latest and greatest.

I've tracked too many wounded animals shot by people who couldn't handle the weapon in hand.
I've seen too many flinch when they pulled the trigger.

We have no issue with a woman hunting with a .243. Why?

Why would we recommend such a cartridge for a woman but not for a man?
If it works for her why not for men?

That is what I am against. I am against testosterone deciding what we should shoot and how we should shoot.

I'm against beginners thinking that they will be ridiculed if they shoot what is comfortable for them or that they have to make long range shots from odd angles in order to be accepted into the fraternity of "real hunters".

I'm against the idea that a large set of antlers warrant sacrificing ethical hunting and compliance with the law.

You and I are about the same size and weight. From talking to you and seeing they way you handle yourself, I have no doubt you can handle that .338 with ease.
I can not, they make me flinch and I don't mind admitting it.

That's what gets me going, it's that no one seems to want to admit that they can't make those long range shots or Texas heart shots. Or that they shoot an old rifle or a smaller cartridge.

Frankly, you are not the average hunter. There are a good many out there that are still learning or simply don't have the ability or don't have the body mass or tolerance to pain.

I want them to know that I for one am more impressed with common sense and honesty then with the size or price of the rifle they carry.

[Norwest Alta]

338 210 ttsx. Don't seem to matter.

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by KegRiver

We have no issue with a woman hunting with a .243. Why?

Why would we recommend such a cartridge for a woman but not for a man?
If it works for her why not for men?

That is what I am against. I am against testosterone deciding what we should shoot and how we should shoot.
.

Because women are better shots

[sns2]

Lots of good ones out there, but give me a 7 Rem Mag with a 160gr Partition and I'll be BBQing you an elk steak in short order. Don't care that much about angling toward or away. If I'm 350 yards away, I have lots of time to set up my bog pod and squeeze off a good one. No extra testosterone required.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by mgvande

Because women are better shots

ROFL

It sure seems so at times. And maybe they are.

[brewster29]

Stick with Partitions, bonded bullets or mono metals. I have seen many poor results with conventional bullets on tough shots, the worst being Winchester power point 200's from a 338 Win Mag (about 6" of penetration on elk shoulder).
In my area we often need to drop elk where they stand or risk tough tracking or recovery. I have used the "TV shot" a few times - high shoulder/spine junction and it worked very well.

[gitrdun]

Back in the day, my elk kills have been granted by Speer Grandslam bullets out of my 7mmREM. Then I figured that I needed a bigger gun (no idea why), so I switched to a .338RM, got a couple of bulls with .225 gr bullets. It all went well, no problem. One day, I purchased a Marlin Lever in .444 Marlin. I went with this caliber to be a bit different, every one and their uncle owned a 45-70. Long story shortened, on a windy day, my bud and I loaded up the horses and took them out for a hike. This gun was new to me and I wanted to get some blood on it. A 90 yard shot (relatively short). The bull went down after being struck with a 265 gr. flat point bullet travelling at a mere 2100 fps out of the muzzle. Likely, one of my most memorable hunts as I was not expecting to connect with a nice 5x5 bull.

[JD848]

IF you hunt where it's wide open then you can choose more your shot more carefully,but I hunt near water, swamps and lots of underbrush so like it or not most of my shots are drop on the spot higher up shots,you have to practice ,be very confident in yourself plus your rifle and just pick your killing piont,i would use a 300 wsm or 7mm re mag with 180 or 160 accubond or partition,75 percent are all higher shots for me,so the only thing that would make me stop would be the wind,350 and a heavy wind is time to get closer ,for me it's just another nice animal and wish never to hurt one so I know my limitations very well .
Longer angled shots are part of hunting so sometimes that's the shot you have and you put it down.If there is one ounce of thought that things could go wrong back off,your not ready at all to do this,a good memory is better than any nightmare.Plus 350 yards to most guys is a long way out,to others it's just another shot,but they got that way from experience and all have at least one nightmare and this is why they better themselves never to experience this again.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by JD848

IF you hunt where it's wide open then you can choose more your shot more carefully,but I hunt near water, swamps and lots of underbrush so like it or not most of my shots are drop on the spot higher up shots,you have to practice ,be very confident in yourself plus your rifle and just pick your killing piont,i would use a 300 wsm or 7mm re mag with 180 or 160 accubond or partition,75 percent are all higher shots for me,so the only thing that would make me stop would be the wind,350 and a heavy wind is time to get closer ,for me it's just another nice animal and wish never to hurt one so I know my limitations very well .
Longer angled shots are part of hunting so sometimes that's the shot you have and you put it down.If there is one ounce of thought that things could go wrong back off,your not ready at all to do this,a good memory is better than any nightmare.Plus 350 yards to most guys is a long way out,to others it's just another shot,but they got that way from experience and all have at least one nightmare and this is why they better themselves never to experience this again.

Good post.

I wish I was better at expressing my thoughts the way you do.

But we each have our strengths and weaknesses. One of my weaknesses is communication.

People on the other side of this keyboard may think I rattle off these posts in seconds. Actually a typical post takes me half an hour or more, of proof reading, corrections, and deleting before I am comfortable hitting the post button. And I still fail to make my point clearly enough in most cases.

[FellSwoop]

Well I've never shoulder shot an elk but have done this to a moose a few years back with a 7 mmRM at perhaps 180 yards maybe closer. Moose yelping and wheezing until I got there to finish it made me feel bad. 140 gr nosler partition passed through one shoulder and broke leg on opposite side. Even when I practiced allot a 350 yard shot would be far for me. I believe that the furthest kill I have done is between 300 and 325 yards, a mule buck. As for bullet choice, if specific looking to break bones, then a monometal is probably best even though I have limited experience with them and can't describe performance in various situations.

[hilt134]

Well i guess its up to what bullet you can make that 350 yard shot with. Personally i would get closer if i can. Long distance hunting is a close to what i consider unethical but some people dont mind it so what ever. Theres no guess work here spend your time at the range take a pick of bullets and come up with a way of testing this scenario. Then pick the best.

[shooter12]

At 350 yds many rifle /bullet/combo will get the job done.
I personally prefer 300s magnums for elk and moose with 200 gr bullets.
Nosler would be very good but in mine guns could not shoot them well enough past 400ish yds.
Hot Core from Speer in my point of view is very overlooked bullet. Works both on double lung shoots and also will brake a shoulder as well as Sierra GK .
I took one bull and one cow with Speer in a shoulder and they dropped on the spot but had to finish bull in the neck still .
Those 3 bullets out of my limited experience 8 elk and 4 moose will break only one shoulder not two but will anchor them on the spot if hit there. Through the lungs they might run a bit but not far.
Killed also one bull with 270 wsm with 160 gr partition , that one went through both shoulders at 70 yds, he ran only 30 yds.
Also killed cow elk with 140 gr Barnes TSX at 250 yds , bullet penetrated both shoulders too, dropped on the spot.
With Barnes tsx which I tried in 300 WSM ,270 wsm , 243 win 30-06 if shoulder was not hit, only through the lungs they sometimes might run for quite a bit .I have seen 150 yds , with a pretty good shot .
With the shoulder shot everything from smallish WT up to big bull usually will drop on a spot .
Never killed anything with TSX past 300 yds so can not comment how they perform at longer ranges, I guess though the performance will be getting worse with the distance.

[Rio56]

Originally Posted by KegRiver

First, I don't do long range.
Second, I don't hunt Elk.
Third, I don't shoot shoulders.
Fourth, I don't shoot at any angle, that's just dumb.
Fifth, learn to hit what you aim at first, then worry about which bullet is best, because by then you'll know.

fair enough if you don't know or aren't comfortable .. that's why I asked the questions in that scenario .. others can give there experiences and thoughts too ...what you see as dumb is your choice , keep it ....

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by Rio56

fair enough if you don't know or aren't comfortable .. that's why I asked the questions in that scenario .. others can give there experiences and thoughts too ...what you see as dumb is your choice , keep it ....

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by Rio56

fair enough if you don't know or aren't comfortable .. that's why I asked the questions in that scenario .. others can give there experiences and thoughts too ...what you see as dumb is your choice , keep it ....

It's a ligitamate question, but it would have been nice to see what options shooters of other cartridges prefered.

As for the dumb comment, I suspect you meant something other then what you said. You did say "any" but I'm sure you know that there are angles that do not make sense, which is where my comment came from.

I know, I could have conveyed that better, my bad.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Rio56

Yes I know the perfect shot thru the lungs .. have seen that , but still gotta ask the question ....
What's your pick ... what's worked for you ... what grain and type ? does it matter ? 338 win mag 225 grain or the 7-08 with a 140 grainer .. SO the elk of a lifetime walks out at say 350 yards .. Are you comfortable shooting your rifle ? and with what ? at any angle ?

I passed on the largest mule deer of my life because I couldn't make the shot- the irons covered too much of its body .
Didn't bother me in the least
As far as elk and shoulders go , I have seen three go down cleanly with 180 grain power points out of an '06.
I don't shoot Winchester power points however , a friend shot them
Cat

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Rio56

Yes I know the perfect shot thru the lungs .. have seen that , but still gotta ask the question ....
What's your pick ... what's worked for you ... what grain and type ? does it matter ? 338 win mag 225 grain or the 7-08 with a 140 grainer .. SO the elk of a lifetime walks out at say 350 yards .. Are you comfortable shooting your rifle ? and with what ? at any angle ?

Every one has an opinion .. here's mine.

I don't like tracking and I don't like packing any more than I have to so I don't worry too much about making exit holes or leaving blood trails. I use a medium bore ,heavy for caliber bullet at moderate velocity using a well constructed bullet in the Nosler Partition category or a heavy cup&core, as a bit of fragmentation is always a bonus. Shot placement for me is midway up and a few inches forward of the foreleg vertical line. It seems to get the job done every time. That area contains what I call the "junction". A bullet placed in that area usually affects three vitals .. front lung cavity,, a main artery, the spinal column(CNS) and one or two totally disabled shoulders. It is a high bullet resistance area as well which makes it a great place to send a higher velocity mono bullet as well, if one so chooses. Identifying precisely where the shoulder joint (not the Scapula) actually is in various animal stances and positions is a must in this instance.
I have asked three hunters recently where to locate the shoulder joint on a Moose or Elk standing broad side. All three were wrong ,so for some at least, a brief study of animal anatomy may be advisable. As I see it lung shots alone, although easier shots, will kill an animal but where and when it dies is sometimes up to the animal. Just not my idea of a good time.

[wolf308]

750 Gr Amax.... lol. Ottadoit

My much more exp hunting bud next to me here at work says nosler accubonds

[270person]

Wait for him to run past then take the Texas Bullseye. High vis target even if the gutting can get a tad messy.

[gitrdun]

The latest elk that I've lost had nothing to do with caliber choices. My horse was being a temperamental "B". So they were gone.