150 Grain Bullet Enough for Elk?

[Bean Counter]

Hey guys,

I am huntin' mullies in Arizona at the end of October.  Open country with loooong shots. I have private land access on the Westside for the general elk hunt in early Nov.  Hoping for my first Roosevelt bull.  I usually use Federal Power Shok soft points out of my .30-06 in 150 grain. I prefer the flatter trajectory of the 150 over the 180. I don't find 165 grain in stores anymore.

I would like to stay with the 150 grain both because its my main current supply but also because of what I'm used to. However, if ya'll don't think that would be very nice to the elk in the risk of injuring one and not putting him down quick I may go to the 180 grain.

I tried searching but didn't come up with much. Let me know if there's some key words I forgot 

[addicted]

just fine. whack em and stack em.

there are many more bullet cartridge combos out there that do arguably less damage than a 150grn out of a 3006 out there killing elk every year.

i still see guys out hunting elk with 30-30's. (not that theres anything wrong with a 3030, or is there  ) is see this thread breaking 3 pages easy. lol

[rasbo]

yep nail him...

[colockumelk]

Yep put it in the lungs and they'll go down. My old neighbor is 75 and has killed almost 30 elk with his 270. Too many people try to replace poor shooting with big bullets. It doesn't matter what kind how big or small a bullet is, an a$$ shot is an a$$ shot and a lung hit is a lung hit.

Don't believe the hype that bigger is better. Its not the guns that wound elk its the Guy behind the gun that made the poor shot who wounded the elk.

Your bullet will do great

[DOUBLELUNG]

My Winchester M70 only shoots certain bullets very well.  All of them are 150 grain.  They kill elk just fine.  I've only recovered one of four 150gr .30-06 bullets shot into elk @ 300-350 yards. 

Killed my moose (6 y.o. bull)  just fine too - 2 shots through the lungs broadside, one on each side - he had a .60ish cal mushroom under the hide on the opposite side from each. 

Killed my mountain goat with 150gr .30-06 - still believe they are pound for pound the toughest animal on 4 legs. 

[400out]

Easy money just place it right and pay dirt 

[Curly]

My opinion is that if you want to use 150's then you shouldn't be using those soft point bullets.  I'm not saying they won't kill elk just fine with the right bullet placement, but you could get 150 gr loads with better bullets............Barnes TSX for example.  With a TSX, you don't have to wait for that perfect broadside shot like you should with that soft point bullet.    

Here is a good deal on some ammo with quality bullets that will do the job:  Hornady Interbond

[addicted]

My opinion is that if you want to use 150's then you shouldn't be using those soft point bullets.  I'm not saying they won't kill elk just fine with the right bullet placement, but you could get 150 gr loads with better bullets............Barnes TSX for example.  With a TSX, you don't have to wait for that perfect broadside shot like you should with that soft point bullet.   

you dont think a soft point would go through a shoulder?

[Curly]

Maybe not.  I wouldn't want to risk that shot myself.

[addicted]

curly is right, dont want to risk it. buy a 300 RUM.

out to 300 i would definately think so. I'm not sure what he specifically meant by "loooong shots"

[Curly]

curly is right, dont want to risk it. buy a 300 RUM.

out to 300 i would definately think so. I'm not sure what he specifically meant by "loooong shots"

 

I think the loooong shots he was talking about was for mule deer in AZ.  (I wouldn't want to use those Federal cartridges with the 150 gr soft point bullets on mule deer either.)  For that type of bullet, I would prefer heavier grain to help with penetration when it loses half of its weight.  If going to 150gr bullets, I think a better constructed bullet (solid copper or at least bonded) would be the best idea........(or just take perfect broadside shots behind the shoulder).

[yajsab]

My 308 with Barnes 150 did fine.

[boneaddict]

120 nozler did fine.....125 broadhead does fine......I know an indian poacher and yes he is and is proud of it LOL that uses only a 22-250 and he does quite fine.  It must be 55 (57 maybe)sierra or something like that.

[Bean Counter]

LOL long if you're not a particularly good shot or trained sniper. 300 yards or so.  OK don't laugh at me Well I DID put one down in New Mexico last year at 325 yards. Just took me three shots 

I may look into the Hornaday's or Barnes next year, but I have an inventory of Federal's for this year.  The main thing I'm feeling is that I don't want to use one bullet one week and then change horses midstream of my hunting season.

[C-Money]

The only bull I have killed was with my 30-06 and a 150 Hornaday interlock. One shot tight behind the shoulder with the elk moving at a trot pace and he was tipping over real fast. he did not go but a few steps more. A lot of it was probably momentum! Don't be afraid if the 150 from your '06, its deadly!