165grn 300wsm for elk?

[SkookumHntr]

Ive always shot 180grn but wanting to set my gun up for more long range and think 165grn would shoot better. Any thoughts on 165grn 300wsm for elk? little worried its too light

[JKEEN33]

165 accubonds is what I load and use. No issues for me.

[luvtohnt]

I use a Barnes TSX 165 gr. in my .300 WM. Not sure what the velocity of the WSM, but if they are comparable go for it. I love the way mine shoots with those bullets.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,138736.msg1843074.html#msg1843074

I posted some stats from my bear I killed here. I never found a bullet in the elk so I could not compare.

Brandon

[bobcat]

I'm not sure the 165 will shoot much flatter than the 180, probably nearly the same. But it will certainly work. It's not so much the weight of the bullet that matters, it's more how the bullet is made. A 165 grain bonded bullet is going to be more reliable than a standard 180 grain bullet.

You might notice most long range shooters actually use the heavier bullets because they have the higher ballistic coefficients. But if long range to you is in the neighborhood of 400 yards or so, you're just splitting hairs. The most important factor is how accurate a particular bullet shoots in your rifle. The weight is mostly irrelevant. (in my opinion)

[hoyt2002]

Ask 400out. He has nocked down 4 elk with that combo. It works just fine from what ive seen.

[Come Get Some]

It would work fine. Most if not all magnum calibers perform better with heavier bullets. I shoot the 190 GR Nosler VLD in my .300 WM at 3150 FPS. Heavier bullts carry more KE better down range. In a perfect world you can kill an elk with a .22 magnum. They are large tough animals, you can never be guaranteed the shot you make will be perfect. A heavier bullet will work great in all conditions and great as well in a not so perfect condition. If the 180 Gr bullets fly good why change. The small amount of speed you MAY gain is not worth the gamble in my opinion. Heavier longer bullets have a better BC and will generally group better. My 190 Gr bullet shoots 1 hole at 200 yds with 3 shots and very accurate at 1000.

[MarkyMark]

+1 on the 165gr Barnes TTSX.

[mtndew]

I shoot 165 Accubonds from my 300WSM. They work splendid!

[Eli346]

I've shot my last 7 elk with a 168 gr Berger VLD in a 300WSM and it's been a great bullet. Even before I started using the Bergers the Winchester Failsafes and XP3's I used were 165 gr and they worked great. Like it was stated, it's not so much the bullet as it is the placement. I'm like you in the respect that I want a little bit more speed out of mine and the smaller bullets give me about 150 more fps if I remember right.

[CAMPMEAT]

How things have changed. I remember when the popular bullet was the Nosler partition........God am I gettin' old.....

[RB]

How things have changed. I remember when the popular bullet was the Nosler partition........God am I gettin' old.....

The NP is my favorite bullet!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I shoot 165 Accubonds from my 300WSM. They work splendid!

Nice bull 

[Easy-E]

30 caliber 165's do a dandy job on elk.

[Bob33]

In the olden days, elk would weigh a bullet first to decide if it was heavy enough to kill them.

Since that practice ended, a good 165 will work just as well as a comparable 180 grain.

[hardrichard]

I've killed sheep and moose both in wa. and bear all with my 300wsm I like 180's but the 165 are great as well and I agree with ya campmeat I most be getting up there at 47  cause I still love the Fed. Nosler partition

[Fisherdave10]

Ive always shot 180grn but wanting to set my gun up for more long range and think 165grn would shoot better. Any thoughts on 165grn 300wsm for elk? little worried its too light

A bonded 165gr is just fine for elk, but you did say you wanted to be more set up for long range shooting.  For long range shooting, a heavier (longer and more streamlined) bullet with a high ballistic coefficient is generally preferred.  It's going to retain more velocity downrange and as a consequence will be less affected by wind as well.  With this in mind, I'd look at a high BC 180gr (or heavier) bonded bullet.

[Biggerhammer]

I'll take the increased speed of a quality 165gr (Accubond ) bullet over a 180gr any day in the .300 WSM and .300 Win Mag.

[lostbackpacker]

I shoot 165 Accubonds from my 300WSM. They work splendid!

that's a good looking bull

[Come Get Some]

I'll take the increased speed of a quality 165gr (Accubond ) bullet over a 180gr any day in the .300 WSM and .300 Win Mag.

  The 190 Gr Nosler in my .300 WM out performs the 165 easily. Flatter and faster down range. Also more Kenetic energy. BC is way better. I will take the improved accurace of a well placed HEAVIER bullet any day.

[Biggerhammer]

I'll take the increased speed of a quality 165gr (Accubond ) bullet over a 180gr any day in the .300 WSM and .300 Win Mag.

  The 190 Gr Nosler in my .300 WM out performs the 165 easily. Flatter and faster down range. Also more Kenetic energy. BC is way better. I will take the improved accurace of a well placed HEAVIER bullet any day.

Benchmark has my barrel blank finished and should be chambering up my next .300 Win Mag anytime. Throated for the 210 & 230gr Bergers. I'll take the heavies any day for the long stuff. Having to choose between the 165 and the 180gr for hunting. I'll kill it all with a 165.

I do like  " Heavier ".

[Bofire]

  If all you consider is bullet weight, for HUNTING, there is no reason to shoot the 165 over the 180 or vica-versa. you will not see any difference on game.
Carl

[Biggerhammer]

At the average ranges most game is taken, the animal is just as dead with a 150gr as it would be with a 230gr. At extended ranges then it would matter.

[bobcat]

If all you consider is bullet weight, for HUNTING, there is no reason to shoot the 165 over the 180 or vica-versa. you will not see any difference on game.
Carl

That is true. I always say the only real difference is the lighter bullet will produce less recoil, if that matters. The most important factor is accuracy. If the 180 is already known to shoot tight groups in a particular rifle, then there is no reason to change.


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[mountainman]

Have had good success with the 190 smk in my 300 wsm's. deadly on bears at extended ranges!