I will be hunting Elk this year where the average shot is around 300 yards. Many are much further. I will be shooting a 300 Win Mag. I usually shoot 180 gr Sierra BTSP's out of it, because my gun shoots them well. Therefore, this is the bullet I am leaning to. Given these circumstances with the range, what bullet and weight would yall shoot and why?

Due to problems I've had with Sierra's on game, I don't use them anymore except for target practice. If it were me, I'd load up some 180 grain Nosler Partitions and go hunting. I've found these to be superbly accurate in at least 4- 300 Mags I've had experience with and they work great on Elk. Other bullets to try would be the Hornady 180 Interlocks, Hornady SST 180, or 165 Nosler partitions or Xbullets.
Good luck on your hunt- Sheister

I recommend that you follow Sheister's advice:

Load 180 gr. Nosler Partitions and go hunting. I've used these bullets on a fair number of elk via a couple of .300 Winchester Magnum rifles, and in every case, the elk went down in short order- some right on the spot. My current .300 Winchester prefers 180 gr. Nosler Protected Points (these were designed specifically for the .300 Win. Mag., by the way), so make sure you compare the accuracy of this bullet alongside the regular spire point Partition before you settle on your exact load.

AD

The 180 grs the right weight. Then pick any one of the premium bullets. That shoot well in your rifle and when you hit the elk in the right spot you well kill it.

Corey,

First, please do yourself and the elk a favor and don't use the Sierra bullets for hunting. They are great on paper, but they come apart on game.

Following along with Allen's recommendations, I would suggest that you consider using the 200 grain Nosler Partition, instead of the 180 grain. The 200 grain bullet has a higher ballistic coefficient than the 180 grain Partition, especially the Protected Point, and will fly flatter beyond 250 yards.

I have had exception results with that bullet in a 300 Winchester when you use the following components:

- Winchester or Norma brand brass - not Remington or Federal
- Federal 215 or 215M primers
- 200 grain Nosler Partition bullet
- IMR-7828 powder: start at 73.0 grains and move up in 0.5 grain increments until you find a safe, accurate load for your rifle.

Good Hunting !

I'll join the chior and recomend the Noslers, but don't rule out the Swift Scirocco (sp?). This is also a great long shot bullet because of the boattail design, high BC, and bonded core. Good luck.

Corey -- I use the 180 gr. Nosler Partition in my .300 Win because it gives me the best accuracy. Every rifle is different. If I were you I would try the Nosler, either Partition or Partition Gold, then the Barnes X or XLC, or Swift A-Frame, and just see what your rifle likes best. When crunch time comes the extra cost of the premium bullets is worth every penny. I have seen some sad hunters in camp who saved money on bullets and regretted it, after the deed you can't change the outcome. Good Shooting.

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I'm with Pumba, the 200 gr. Nosler Partition has worked for me for years...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

i am with atkinson, use a nosler partition and save the sierras for coyotes. they just dont hold together,especially on elk.

I'll cast another vote for the 200gr Nosler partition. Used this bullet on safari several times and on most specie of NA game, never fails. In fact, I have quit the 180s except for deer or antelope only hunts. The 200s fly just as flat and hit harder.

Haven't ever taken an elk with the 180 grn Nosler partition, but have downed plenty of caribou and moose with it to feel confident in it for elk-sized game.

For a good factory loaded round, I've taken a couple bull elk with the Winchester Supreme Ammo loaded with their 180 grn. power-point plus(moly-coated soft-point). The performance was excellent and downed my Tule elk bull at 270 yards with no problems. I've also used the same round on Kudu, gemsbok, and eland at long ranges(200-300+ yards) and continue to be impressed with its performance.

Good luck,
Don Martin.

Cory - Answer - 200 gr Nosler with 70.5gr of H4831 @ 2900fps and a 300 yard zero.

This load and zero will yield:

4 inches high @ 100 yards
4.7 inches high @ 200 yards
11.2 inches low @ 400 yards

You will have plenty of retained energy to obtain maximum performance from the partition out to 500 + yards. In short, you will knock things over quite well with a flat shooting bullet.

Z

Lead, it's not just for breakfast anymore.

Corey,

300 yards is a heck of a long way for elk regardless of bullet & regardless of calibre. You would need support at 2 point to be sure of a shot like that. That means prone or using sand bags or stuff like that.

Can't you stalk closer? Big risk of wounded game getting away. No one wants that.

Regards,
JohnT

My $.02...

I really prefer the 200gr'ers in my 300 Winnie. Theoretically they should fly a little flatter at distances over 250yds, and the difference in energy is readily apparent at both ends of the rifle! Try shooting a 5gal jug of water at 300 yds with both bullet weights if you don't believe me. I have never quite figured out why people prefer the 180gr bullets in this cartridge.

I have killed two bull elk (one at 35 yards and another at 250 yards) with the 200gr Sierra's (SPBT). Bullet performance was excellent. Last year, however, I switched to the 200 gr Nosler Part. Not because I was unhappy with the Sierra's, I just thought I'd give 'em a try (and theoretically their performance should be superior). Unfortunately I did not get a chance to field test them. Accuracy at the range was on par with the Sierra's though.

FWIW, Canuck.

I also use the 180 grain Nosler. It has worked so well on everything that I tried it on, I see no need for the 200 grain bullet.

200gr VS 180gr ballistics for 30 cal.....

200gr Nosler
BC - .481
300yd Zero
Muzzle Velocity - 2900 fps
300yd Velocity - 2334 fps
300yd Energy - 2419 ft-lbs
400yd Drop - 11.2 inches
10MPH Wind Drift @ 300yd - 6.3 inches

180gr Nosler
BC - .474
300yd Zero
Muzzle Velocity - 3100 fps
300yd Velocity - 2500 fps
300yd Energy - 2498 ft-lbs
400yd Drop - 9.7 inches
10MPH Wind Drift @ 300yd - 5.8 inches

Bottom line - shoot the bullet that is most accurate in your gun.

Z

Lead, it does a body good.