Gang, I'm hoping to draw a SW CO. Cow tag this year and want to start working up a load. I just ran the numbers for the 180 grain SST and if I can get MOA with 2850ft/sec. MV, I should have ~2446 ft-lbs of energy at 400yds....not that I am intending to shoot at that distance. Would like to hear some suggestions from some experienced Elk hunters. I hope that DNR has that latest CWd outbreak contained.

DJ
"The tree of Liberty is nourished by the blood of tyrants."

Apparantly from you post I assume that you are shooting a 300 Whatchamacallit...I would choose the 200 gr. Nosler with a dose of RL-22 or 4831....the 220 Nosler is also a fine elk load at amost 2800 in my 300 H&H..

Cows are normally a piece of cake and you should be able to pick your shot, so as not to bruise a lot of meat.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I second the 200 gr. partition. It's the only bullet I have ever used for elk and it has not failed me. For a cow elk you probably could get away using the SST, but to my thinking the Partition gives the "any angle" shot option on elk which helps me rest easy in the tent during cold elk hunting nights.

Your velocity looks like a good .30-06 load.
The 180 bullets are very good here. You might consider a North Fork, Nosler and Trophy Bonded as they will do the job every time.
The key is practice. Be confident in your gun and yourself. Find a range where you can shoot at varying known ranges to test your abilities (standing, not from a bench). This will tell you what your maximum shooting range should be.
If you want to skip reloading, try the Federal High Energy 180 gr TB Bear Claw. It is probably the best factory load for an 06. I use my 06 as a backup and due to the performance of this load, I don't reload for the 06 anymore.

I find that a good premium bullet from 165 to 180 gr will work fine.In conventional bullets heavier bullets do penetrate more but with premiums this is not necessarily the case.The 165 gr barnes x or 165 gr failsafe for example will out penetrate the 200 gr partition even though they are much lighter.As an added advantage they shoot flatter and recoil less.

All the elk I've taken with the .300 Winchester have gone right down, and all of them have been taken with 180 gr. bullets.

I've had superb luck with 180 gr. Nosler Partition, Winchester Fail-Safe, and Trophy Bonded bullets. I've had a couple of other brands come apart, even though they've still killed well enough under the specific circumstances under which they've been used. I've always gotten plenty of penetration from premium 180's, and I simply don't see the need for 200's.

AD

If you're shooting a 30/06 I would use a good premium 180gr bullet such as the Nosler partition. If a 300mag then the 200gr, which I have found to be superior to the 180gr in all aspects.

I'm a big fan of the 180gr fail-safe and the 180gr Barnes XLC. I used to use the 200gr partition, but really like the performance of the 180gr barnes and fail-safes when fired from a 300 mag. Since I don't use the 30-06 for elk my load for it is a 165gr hornady. For elk, I'd probably load a 180gr fail safe.

JMeier

Dave: Isn't it amazing how we forum members love to pontificate, but will completely ignore your legitimate question?

My opinion: Yes, if the Hornady SST's live up to their billing (meaning that they are at least as good in terminal performance as most conventional lead core-cupronickel jacketed bullets), then you'll do just fine on cow elk with the load you describe.

not trying to be contrary to the previous post but I consider a rapid expansion bullet such as the sst a poor choice for Elk.
most of the responses here have refered you to a contolled expansion design(partiton,failsafe,barnes x etc.) and for good reason. Cows are still Elk! a big mature cow will react the same as a bull when shot.I have seen some big cows! my fist wife for example(just kidding)
the sst is designed for thin skinned animals,they may "blow up" on an Elk and not penetrating as much as you would like.I have seen wounded Elk go for miles (usually downhill!)I would not risk it. you will be glad you chose the controlled expansion bullets, if for no other reason than the
"good night's sleep" refered to in an earlier post. the sst and nosler B.T.,and the C.T. silvertip all seem to be a very accurate but are intended for deer sized or thin skinned game. I'm wondering if the previous post(pontificating texan!) is based on experience shooting whitetails and he is assuming Elk are not any tougher. nothing could be farther from the truth. last I heard they wre a little shy on Elk in texas but the B.S. meter was running wide open!