I hear a lot about how elk are hard to kill and how a premium bullet is needed to kill them. I would like to get your thoughts on non-premium ammo for elk. My 30-06 shoots 180 grain Remington Express core-lokts (the cheap ammo from walmart) and it shoots them very well. They even group well with my bad off-hand shooting (a shot I hope not to have to make). Has anyone used the cheap Remington Express core-lokts on elk? How did they work? Should I go with the premium ammo or use what shoots best? Thanks for the input.



Sevens

I have used them on elk and Alaska moose and bou.Broadside
lung shots you'll be fine.But if you can shoot a premium
like nosler or North Fork,etc... I would use them.

I too have used the cheap remington core-lokts ammo and it will work fine. That is the only ammo my wife uses in her 308 and she has killed several elk and lots of deer with them without any problems.

I have a friend that uses his 06 w/ 180gr Coreloks for everything from deer to moose & has never complained. I wouldn't try a racking shot w/o a premium bullet but you should be fine.

I'd be willing to bet that those coreloks will "retain" just as much weight as a partition or more! People think that partitions are the best thing since sliced bread, so if we go by the "retained weight" theroy you should be just fine. "Premium" bullets can't make up for poor marksmenship! Stick one in the slats and its all over! I've yet to run into an elk that was bullet prof... Even the "crappy" Seirras that I shoot have managed to kill 15 bulls... in the last 16 years!

My old man used to shoot nothing but corloks at elk out of his '06. They were by far his favorite. He killed probably 25-30 elk with em that I know about, but I would assume it was more

If they shoot well I'd stick with em, it sounds like your're confidant with them... thats the bigggest part of the battle. IMO

They've only been killing moose and elk with them for more than a half century. I don't know if thats a long enough test period to draw a conclusion or not.

I'll bet core-loks have killed more animals in North America than any other bullet made. Maybe as many as ALL the currently made bullets combined.

I'm of the opinion that the "standard" bullets at standard velocities work very well. I too think I'd shoot for the heart/lung and avoid raking shots, or trying to break the shoulder.
I think many elk are wounded and left to die a slow death by people who use to tough of a bullet at low velocities. This is basically like shooting a solid. The bullet used should be matched to both game and the rifle it's to come out of!

I've had good success with"terrible" Sierras, trouble with Speer Hot-Cores, and the Hornady's are a bit better than the Sierras I think. I have yet to buy Remington or Winchester reloading components but have used factory ammunition a few times. Never has the bullet failed to do it's job when it hit it's mark!
If you like the way your gun shoots core-loks then use them.

I've never used a premium bullet on elk don't see any need for one. I reload and as such have a pretty good selection of bullets to use. My first choice and only for both my 30-338 and 300wby is the core-lokt bullet. I see no reason for you not to use they first off they shoot good in your rifle seems like you hit what you shoot at and your comfortable with that combination. Well good luck and keep us post as to how you do on your elk hunt.

It sounds like I'll be just fine with the core-lokts. They are cheap, but effective in my rifle. I will keep you updated on how the hunt goes, but it's not until November. We'll be spending a few days after elk and then a few days after deer on a ranch that my friend says is just crawling with deer, so hopefully I'll bring something home. If I'm successful, it will be my first elk and deer (but not my last). Thank you for the help.

Sevens

I would like to know, If I do get and elk, deer, or both how do I get them home from Montana? Do I take them on the plane or have a taxidermist ship them to me?

I think core lokts are a good bullet in the 30-06. My buddy killed a cow this last winter with a frontal shot in the chest. Well sort of, he missed the chest and the bullet actually hit the shoulder. Totally fragmented all the bone in the shoulder area and penetrated 18 inches. I helped him quarter it and was suprised at the performance. Perfect mushroom. He weighed it and it was 80 something percent weight retention. That is good performace especially considering the bullet destroyed so much bone. And before the hunt i was ragging on him to get some partitions loaded up. Guess i will shut up from now on