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> 7mm wby magnum bullet choice for elk
7mm wby magnum bullet choice for elk
@ 05:44 pm (GMT) |
duckrostrNathan,I contacted you recently about getting a chroonographed 3600fps from my rifle with Barnes 140 ttsx and no excessive pressure signs. Upon further research in the forums I see you might be revising your opinion on Barnes. I have recently started modern rifle hunting after years of muzzleloading and have had excellent accuracy results in my 270 win with them, and have begun load development in the 7mm wby magnum and plan on using the 7mm for elk. we can only shoot spike bulls here in WA state, so no large bulls. I don't want to waste time and money on load development doomed to failure in the field. would you suggest aborting testing with Barnes? Can you advise best other option? shots can be expected from 100-400 yds. I haven't killed an elk or deer with a modern rifle for 15 years and always used factory rem cor-lokts back then, but have taken up handloading as a hobby since. thanks for your efforts, Randy |
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@ 03:28 pm (GMT) |
faulknerRe: 7mm wby magnum bullet choice for elkRandy, Nathan is the pro but this is my experience with them. I stopped using the Barnes tsx/ttsx a couple years ago. The last straw for me was a good shot quartering into "just" on a good bull Elk at 430 yards with a 7mm SAUM - 140gr tsx 3150MV. The bull stayed on his feet and made for cover, I got a second shot at him as he headed for the alder, bullet struck both back legs by the knee hobbling him some. A 10-15 minute hike across the slide and we found him standing bleeding from the mouth/nose dead on his feet, he was dispatched at 10 yards. I believe that if the second shot hadn't taken the bulls legs from him he would have died in the next drainage long after dark, and I wouldn't have found him. I stopped using them cause I owe the animal a quicker end.Now your shooting the same bullet a lot faster but the delayed effects I encounters as close as 80 yards with hot 100 tsx loads out of a 25-06 on Mule deer. Maybe I have just had bad luck but I am done with them. Hope this helps you make up your mind. Happy hunting, Aj PS, the recovered bullet look just like there adds!?! |
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@ 05:22 pm (GMT) |
duckrostrRe: 7mm wby magnum bullet choice for elkthanks AJ,so what bullet have you gone to for your 7mm for elk then? I have no interest in the animal suffering a slow death while I try and follow a blood trail. unhappy to learn of the Barnes failing to do the job as I have gotten really excellent accuracy from them in my 270 win, and the 140 was showing real promise for my wby. Have heard good and bad, but I am happy you shared your experience. thanks, Randy |
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@ 09:46 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 7mm wby magnum bullet choice for elkHi duckrostr, The 140 grain TSX does its best work at high impact velocities. It will prove effective at your muzzle velocities as a general hunting bullet at ordinary hunting ranges. Shot placement can be key, shots that strike behind the shoulder as velocities approach 2600fps can result in slow kills while shots that strike the shoulder bones tend to render faster kills. Your rifle will keep the TSX above 2600fps out to 400 yards.However, if you would like to get off to a great start, I do recommend you try the 160 grain Partition. To many, this projectile seems old hat these days, without the sleek design of the newer Accubond etc, yet the performance of the traditional Partition is unique and is outstanding when matched appropriately to game weights. A while ago I set up a hunter with this bullet to be used on African plains game in a 7mm rem mag. The client was determined to use the 7mm RM while the PH was understandably concerned, the PH was doubly worried that the client might use a Barnes bullet (his past experience- lots of tracking). I advised the client that if he wanted to use the 7mm RM, to use the 160 or 175 grain Partition, it is my most common recommendation for large bodied medium game, when using a 7mm Magnum. The client (based in the U.K) worked up a load with the 160 grain bullet and off he went. The result, everything went down, either on the spot or within a few paces. Body weights ranged from extremely light through to Blue Wildebeest and Greater Kudu. The main advantages of the Partition are in its ability to impart maximum trauma through both rapid expansion and a degree of weight loss on impact- while the solid shank / rear core allow for deep penetration. The Partition holds this level of performance down to impact velocities of around 1800fps. It is probably fortuitous that you are not hunting large bulls. On very large animals, I would prefer to see the 175gr Partition utilized for its mix of deep penetration and slightly reduced MV (less strain on the projectile upon impact). But I suspect that the 1:10 twist rate (which was typical of mid 1980's rifles) will be too slow to stabilize the 175 grain bullet. Though- it does pay to test things as your rifle may do very well. But without getting into the realms of heavy experimentation, the 160 grain Partition will get you up and going immediately, it will prove its merit, it is reliable and you will develop great faith in its performance. If you are able to achieve desirable accuracy, you will find that this bullet renders immensely broad, fast killing wounds. Performance can be spectacular / dramatic. Start 4 grains below your current load, then work up in half grain increments initially, up to 2 grains below your current load. Good luck and don't forget to take your camera and send me some autopsy photo's which will put you into the draw to win one of the monthly bedding kit prize draws. |
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@ 03:16 pm (GMT) |
faulknerRe: 7mm wby magnum bullet choice for elkRandy, Well to be honest Nathan beat me to the punch - 160 Partition at 2900, if I had more case capacity I would be trying the 175. The rifle is used as my light mountain/back pack gun (Rem model Seven). Nathan has turned me onto the 162 Amax which I think will work great on Goat and Sheep, but I hike with a magazine full of the Partitions for a close shot, an easy Elk or a unwanted Bear encounter. I shot a couple Mule deer with 160 Accubonds and they were good but over the last 20 years I have shot 50% of game with various Partitions and have had very good results! The Amax if your interested in stretching things out there, is amazing. We spent most of March in New Zealand and took a 300wsm with 178gr Amax and 300win mag with 208 Amax, and WOW! From 700 yards plus on little goats to 60 yards on a Red deer! The heavy 30 cal to 7mm might be apples to oranges but I am some impressed. And Nathan thanks again for the Hospitality and all the Help!!Hope this helps Randy, hows your spring going there, ours is wet and there is still lots of snow in the high country- south east B.C. Aj |
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