I mistakenly posted this to African hunting. Question is whether the 7x57 Mauser can drive the 160 grain Fail Safe bullet hard enough to open properly on elk? I like the caliber and the bullet but won't use it if it only wounds elk. Thanks for all pertinent info.

the answer to your question is yes, most definately yes.

sorry...double post.

the screen locked up, and when I refreshed it, my post was not there. Now there are 2...

For elk with the 7x57, sure, the FailSafe would work. But there are better choices out there, including the time-tested Partition, which will destroy more tissue (transfer more hydrostatic shock) than the FS at 7x57 velocities. And yet the Partition will penetrate more than sufficiently and easily put elk steaks in your freezer.

The 160 grain Accubond would work equally well.

To be honest, even the heavier (160 grain range) cup-and-core bulets will do the trick on an elk in a 7x57 as long as you stay off the massive shoulder bones. The moderate velocity, coupled with the high sectional density of the projectiles, will afford plenty of penetration to put even the largest elk on the ground.

I have used the 160 partition at 2780 fps for years in the 7x57 for elk, kudu, gemsbuck, etc. I would prefer it over the Failsafe, but that may just be my opinion. These I know will flatten elk, kudu, and similar game.

I am not a Fail Safe fan as I have seen them fail and read many times where they failed, true or not I don't know...

I do know that if you like a monolithic bullet then the GS Customs monolithic HV is a wonderful bullet in the 160 gr. in a 7x57 as is the 160 adn 175 gr. Noslers and Woodleighs...all good bullets in that caliber.

I am not a Fail Safe fan. The first 3 deer I shot with a 30 caliber 180 gr Fail Safe involved long tracking jobs. Two were found and the exit hole was smaller the entrance hole.
I would use a Partition 160 or 175 gr.

quote:

The first 3 deer I shot with a 30 caliber 180 gr Fail Safe involved long tracking jobs. Two were found and the exit hole was smaller the entrance hole.

this stands to reason. deer are very thin-skinned and light-boned. there's no reason at all to use a 180-grain failsafe on a deer.

I don't know the FS bullet but shot a considerable amount of game with the Nosler Partition in different calibers. I think it has a very wide "window of velocity" to work properly and always generates an exit would.

Not cheap, there are more precise bullets available (for target shooting) but I would state that it is so far still the best hunting bullet available for general purpose.

Grey I recieved the failsafes, thank you very much.
I have not had the chance to send the GS's yet but will be going into town by tomorrow and will for sure send them along.
Thanks again and I hope that you stick one through a big bull.

give the hornady 175 round nosers a try. they shoot great out of my ruger no. 1.