I just found a great load in my 338-06 61 gr. H4350 and was wondering if anyone has used this bullet for elk. I have heard they are not tough enough. What your opinion.

Rob, if you are talking 338-06 speeds, I think they would do fine. I have shot some in mine w/ mediocre accuracy so tested some in my .338mag. At impact speeds above 2700fps, they seem a bit soft to me, expansion is impressive but penetration suffers. For elk, I want the penetration & still have a hard time finding anything better than the 210grNP in the 338-06 for an all round hunting load. BTW, 61grH4350 is what I use under the 210grNP.

Fred,
I have worked with the 210 Nos and H4350 60 gr is best in my rifle. I haven't chrono'd either yet. I have also worked with the 210 TSX but they don't shoot in my Rifle. The 225 SST makes a clover leaf at 100.The Nosler won't do that but may be close enough at 1 1/4" for elk hunting. Thanks

I'm no elk expert by any means but, I've seen guys pile them up with 270s and 280s with ease. I wouldn't hesitate one bit shooting one with a .338 225 grner at the speeds you are talking.

Good Luck

Reloader

I'm not exactly sure what that 225 SST was designed for.......but there's a wealth of regular 225 grainers in 338 to shoot and I'd be using one of them on elk.

It's very possible the SST in that caliber is just fine for elk.....but I'd be looking to the bonded bullets myself.

I live and work in elk country. I also guided for an outfitter for about 15 years, so I have seen a lot of elk killed with everything from a .25-06 to a .416 Rigby. I have personally killed elk with a 7mm Rem. with 160 and 175 gr. partitions and a .338 Win. with 225 and 250 gr. partitions and 225 gr. Barnes TSX bullets. Most went completely through but I have recovered a few, including a 250 gr. partition from the .338 that penetrated about 3 feet.

Elk die fairly easily with a well-placed shot and a good bullet. They can also go for miles with a poorly placed shot or a bullet that fails. It can take a lot of penetration to get to the vitals if the elk is not broadside, and that is often how you find them, especially in cover. With a deer bullet like the SST you might have to pass on a shot that is not broadside. Considereing what you would spend to travel to a state in the West to hunt elk, the cost of a premium bullet is insignificant. I recommend using the largest rifle you can shoot accurately and using a bullet that will stay together and penetrate. I don't think for elk with your .338 you will find anything more effective than a Nosler partition.

Enjoy your elk hunting - they are my favorite North American game animal.

Dale, Thanks I have taken a couple of Elk with my 7 RM but not with the 338 so yours and others advise seems to fit my way of thinking. I just thought I'd see if anyone had used the SST. My next two bullets are going to be the Northfork 200 gr. and the Swift 225 after I chrono the Nosler 210 load. Thanks to all for the input.
Rob

I would not disregard the standard 225 grain interlocks for Elk in a .338,06. They are known as a prety tough bullet.
That 210 grain partition is a classic and I have never herd of one getting any complaints.
One reason I have both a .338 Win mag and a .35 whelen is that I think I can use most any quality bullet and expect good results on any thing smaller than A moose that wont bite back.
I avoid anything smaller than a 210 though.
Alot of people knock them but I have seen 4 or 5 Elk that have gone down to Balistic tip noslers in the bigger calibers.
A frend i load for uses them all the time in 180 grain 300 win and says they kill like lightning, I think 4 bulls one shot each.
...tj3006

Rob:

I haven't been able to get the SST'S to shoot worth a hoot in any of the rifles in which I have tested them. As to a polymer tipped bullet, the only experience I can relate is a 225 grain Ballistic Tip shot out of a 35 Whelen, at about 2700Fps. The elk dropped, and the recovered bullet weighed 206 grains. I would expect the same performance in cal 338./

Jerry

I have used the 225 Interloc in my 338-06 on a 1000# moose. End to end and didn't recover,worked great. But when we tested the 225SST with wet phone books with a 338WM,it didn't even hold together at 200m.Unlike the 308 165gr at 50m.