How do the 200 grain Shock Wave and SST rate for Elk?

They are very explosive on deer, there's no way I'd use one on an elk. Elk are tough critters IME. I've smacked two bulls that just stood there like nothing happened. They're heck on soft bullets as well. Good bullets are extremely cheap when elk are on the menu.

I wouldn't even shoot an elk with a 250grn SW. You may want to look at the 300grn bonded SW or better yet the Barnes TMZs.

Good Luck

Reloader

Meant to say 250. My Encore really likes likes them. I'll give the Barnes 250 a try.
Thanks.

IMO any Barnes of any weight is better than a Shock Wave

After waiting 14 years to draw a Utah Limited Entry area bull elk permit, I was able to kill a 6x6 bull that scored 352". I shot it with a Hornady 300 gr. bonded Shock Wave. The bull was hit through the front shoulder at about 110 yds. I shoot a .50 cal. T/C Omega with 2 777 pellets. The bull ran about 40 yds. downhill before dying. That 300 gr. bonded bullet still weighed 260 gr. The front portion had been wiped off by the shoulder joint, but it still retained 87% of it's weight. That's dang good in my book, especially on an elk of that size. I've tried Barnes' sabots in my gun, but they're about impossible to load. I'm really happy with the Hornadys and was lucky enough to be able to buy a bunch when Wal Mart put them on an end of season closeout a couple of years ago. I bought the 30 bullet packs for $5.00 each and got 8 packs of them. Shoulda bought more.

Congrats Manti that's awesome! Got any photos of that big bull? It sounds like that bonded bullet is working great for you. I cannot argue with results like that.

However, there are a couple of reasons why I prefer Barnes; They open with very sharp cutting edges and almost always exit. They never separate like a cup and core bullet can because their a monolithic solid, and they're usable in lead free zones like Cali has now...(even if that is bad science)

Here are the only bullets that have not exited in the first 19 animals I've used them on. Animals up to 800 lbs and shots out to 164 yds....including a 7X7 bull and some Africa animals, too. These came back with 100% weight retention.



I don't currently shoot any T/C rifles but I hear they have tight bores. When you run out of your current Shockwaves you might consider trying the Spitfire T-EZ line which they say load easier in tight barrels.

I have killed a bunch of bull elk and 2 moose with 250 shockwaves, with fantastic results. I think 40 yards is the farthest an elk has gone, and about 15 on both moose. I have killed elk out to 140 yards and moose to 165.

Make sure you get the shockwaves with the black sabot sleeves...not yellow.

Sabots are illegal in Colorado.

quote:

Originally posted by Colorado Bob:
Sabots are illegal in Colorado.

Same with Oregon, Idaho and probably others, but just during Muzz. only seasons. Hunt with the centerfire guys and use what you want.

I used a 250gr barnes Xpander MZ on a large cow moose this fall. I had used them on several whitetails in the past and found them to be very effective. Kinda like flying shot glasses.

I shot a large cow moose at 70 yards quartering towards me at the point of the shoulder and exited out the ribs on the far side. The moose shuffled about 20 feet before pilling up. I imagine it would be equally effective on elk.

Greatbasin,
I've killed 2 cow elk with Barnes 225 gr. X bullets in a 35 Whelen. Also a 4x4 mule deer with a 130 gr. X in a .270. If I could get the blasted things loaded in my Omega, I'd love to shoot them for their terminal performance. I'd like to try some 150 gr. X bullets in my 7x57; right now I'm shooting 160 gr. Sierras.

Manti.hunter, it's very hard to get the yellow sabots down the pipe in my Omega, but the blue EZ sabots load just fine.

Good Luck,

Reloader

I hunted in The Gila during Muzzleloader season and used the 250 grain shockwave. Shot was from 231 yards and mushroomed perfectly, found it in the far side pelt, Elk only went 20 yards before it went down.

Looked at some Knight bullets last night. They looked good. Any opinions?

Sabots are illegal in Idaho too.

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
Sabots are illegal in Idaho too.

Only during muzzleloader only seasons.

I kill with 'em every year

Interesting information, greatbasin. I wonder how ID justifies the change that magically it is not a muzzleloader during general season... If I get to hunt elk with a MZ in Idaho like I hope to, I will have to use a conical or a rb...?

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
Interesting information, greatbasin. I wonder how ID justifies the change that magically it is not a muzzleloader during general season... If I get to hunt elk with a MZ in Idaho like I hope to, I will have to use a conical or a rb...?

They don't care what you use on, or in your muzzleloader during a general any weapon season because no matter what it is, it won't be more effective than the centerfire hunters you'd be competeing against in an "Any Weapon" season.

You will only be resticted on bullet choice or weapon choice during a "Muzzleloader Only" season. Make sense?

The last Elk, deer, and bear I killed I did with a scoped inline, 209 primers and saboted bullets...none of those animals were taken during "Muzz Only" seasons

I'm going to Wyoming.

Better regulations and elk, there.

Use a .575 or larger (my choice would be a .615)round ball in a 1 in 66" or slower twist barrel for Elk & stalk within 100yds.

I used to shoot the yellow sabot Barnes but I had to run a mop with bore butter on it down the barrel before I could load another one. Then I tried the 250 grains EZ (blue sabot). I can load a second shot easy and my groups improved. Only difference besides the sabot is the EZ has a flat base instead of the boattail that the TMZ has.

I shoot a lyman GP 54 cal. with 110 gr goex 2f and a patched round ball it shoots clear through an elk. I can't ask for any more, if you do your part the round ball will do it's. There are quite a few deer and several elk, 1 bear, 4 coyotes that aren't around anymore thanks to that old gun. I also hunt turkeys with my trade gun 20. ga. 62 cal smoothbore.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper704:
I shoot a lyman GP 54 cal. with 110 gr goex 2f and a patched round ball it shoots clear through an elk. I can't ask for any more, if you do your part the round ball will do it's. There are quite a few deer and several elk, 1 bear, 4 coyotes that aren't around anymore thanks to that old gun. I also hunt turkeys with my trade gun 20. ga. 62 cal smoothbore.

Try the LEE REAL bullets I shoot them in my Lyman GP in 54.
5 shots in one hole at 25yrds with 100grs Pyro RS

I save the 3f black for my TC 50cal Flint Lock it loves Round Balls and 100grs 3f with 4f to prime the lock.

I have 13 BPs for Utah elk and if i deside to put in for a ML permit, I would use one of these two bulles as i have both in large quantaty:

#1-Barnes .458 Original 300 grain spitzer

#2-Hornady's .458 325 grain FTX.

These both shoot at or below MOA out to 200yrds. If I put in and get drawn for a Utah ML hunt I will shoot both out to 300yrds and use which ever is consistantly most accurate.

I haven helped de-boned six bull elk now and I am fully awear of just how fomidable the front shoulder bones are to defeat with any bullet and make it to the vitals with enough left over to ensure a quick kill.