I was told to use tc shockwave sabot with 80 grains out of the vortex for my wife is this a good combo for elk
I know the answer is just play around with different loads and projectiles but unless anyone has a live elk chained to a tree I don't think that will work so well I have it dialed in to about a 4 in group at 100 yrs and will dial in more when she is able to perfect it herself since its her rifle just wanted to get it close
So I guess my question is will this be enough to humanly put an elk down and not injure it with good shot placement
BJ... and I want to say that this are just my thoughts and not anything you can take to the bank... You indicate a TC Shockwave 'sabot' - I would ask more importantly what bullet are you planning on using, actually bullet and weight of the bullet? Personally I would not use a SW for elk, and in fact I would not use a pointy bullet at all unless shooting extended ranges.
80 grains could work if you limit the range of the shot and the placement of the shot is correct. It is not a powder load that I would choose to use on an elk @ 100 or 100+ yards.
A four inch group @ a 100 yards with open sights is really not all that bad for a lot of folks - I think all of us would prefer it to be tighter but 4" will work -if- when comes time to make that shot at 100 she can get the rifle rest or support she needs to maintain the 4" - if not passing the shot up might be the best approach.
I really think 80 grains @ 100 yds. is really not going to provide the energy that you might need to humanely or even insure a quick harvest. Without know the weight of the bullet it is really hard to estimate the energy.
While the energy factor does concern me, the bigger factor that concerns me is the 'shock' the bullet might cause the animal. I personally think it is really important to create a 'shock' to the animals system that can over-ride the animals 'flight response'. It is amazing how far a 'dead' animal especially an elk can go when it is 'dead' but the animal has not got the message yet.
I always use this little writing that I researched and worked up several years ago to explain what I am looking for in a bullet...
The Hunting bullet should be the most lethal big game hunting bullet available. The bullet design should allow the bullet to penetrate 2 to 3, through bone or tissue, before it starts to expand the petals. After the bullet starts to expand or shed it petals it should adversely affect all the surrounding internal organs. The combination between the expansion of the bullet and/or release of the petals and the creation of hydrostatic shock produces a massive wound cavity within the vital area (internal organs) that can be 13 to 15 long. I believe that in most case the bullet should pass through the body providing a secondary exit hole for blood and debris. This massive wound cavity results in the animal dropping fast since most go into shock after such a tremendous blow. Those animals that dont go down immediately will soon succumb to blood pressure loss and/or organ failure producing a quick ethical kill. Using a bullet matching this description will normally result in an animal that goes down fast so you can enjoy the results of your hunt without having to track the wounded animal after the shot. And again I am not trying to create doubt, but just writing what one person in a big world thinks...
mike
