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!

[sako223]

I prefer 180's. Elk are tough and depending on the shot presented I like to have all the energy available.  Sometimes finding the bullet is a good thing meaning the animal absorbed all the energy.
With tennis shoe taggers around, I like to knock them down. Same reason to prevent them from going in a hole.

[300magman]

180 SCIROCCO out of 300RUM = DEAD ELK................

[C-Money]

I found my 150gr bullet stuck just under/in the hide on my spike. I hunted elk with my 270 win with 140 accubonds last year and did not see a legal spike. Hope to get to try the 140 out this year on a elk!

[woodswalker]

dunno I killed deer for years with a 150 Nosler Solid Base, then 2 decades of everything I shot falling to a 165 Nosler Solid Base...now working up a new load that shoots as well as those did...still not found it, but Nosler BT, Accubonds and Barnes TTSX are the closest so far.  Hornady is also close.  I started with the old load and new bullet and am working from there.

to the OP...should work fine as you know your ammo and shot trajectory.  Stick with what you know.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I use 130 grain with my .270 shortage. I've killed deer elk & bear with it all one shot.  One hitter quitters!!

[SCRUBS]

The only bull I have killed was with my 30-06 and a 150 Hornaday interbond. 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!

My dad swore by that combo! He had the exact same results with all the animals he shot with them, meat in the freezer.

[adam.WI]

I found my 150gr bullet stuck just under/in the hide on my spike. I hunted elk with my 270 win with 140 accubonds last year and did not see a legal spike. Hope to get to try the 140 out this year on a elk!

Did you go talk to that elk after season with a white flag. A shot that only goes in to the hide shouldn't do a hole lot of killing, just wondering the rest of the story.

[woodswalker]

I found my 150gr bullet stuck just under/in the hide on my spike. I hunted elk with my 270 win with 140 accubonds last year and did not see a legal spike. Hope to get to try the 140 out this year on a elk!

Did you go talk to that elk after season with a white flag. A shot that only goes in to the hide shouldn't do a hole lot of killing, just wondering the rest of the story.

think he means the OFF side...after passing thought the boiler room

[C-Money]

Thanks Woodswalker, yes it went threw the elk and did not quite make it out threw the hide. I did not think it was that hard to figure out.

[carpsniperg2]

hell yes a 150 is fine for elk! with a well placed, solid bullet. 100 grains is enough there has been a lot of elk killed with 150 grain bullets.

[bobcat]

It's not the weight of a bullet that matters. It's how it's made. If it's made to stay together, then it will be a good elk bullet. But a standard 150 grain bullet such as a Remington Core Lokt or a Winchester Power Point, is not the best choice for an elk bullet. If you use inexpensive bullets such as those, you are better off going with a heavier weight. If you use a Barnes or any of the bonded bullets, a 150 grain will do just as well as 180.

[colockumelk]

I recommend the Hornady 150 Interbond.  That bullet is excellant.  It has a weight retention of 92%.  I shot my Mule Deer this year with that bullet at 385 yards and got a complete pass through.  The deer dropped dead in its tracks.  I know a Mule Deer is not as big as an elk but....  If that bullet did that at 385 yds to a Mule Deer it will do the same exact thing to an elk at 150 yds.  Don't let anyone try and tell you that the .30-06 or a 150 grain bullet isn't enough punch,  if they do they're just trying to compensate for something 

[G.R.K]

It's not the weight of a bullet that matters. It's how it's made. If it's made to stay together, then it will be a good elk bullet. But a standard 150 grain bullet such as a Remington Core Lokt or a Winchester Power Point, is not the best choice for an elk bullet. If you use inexpensive bullets such as those, you are better off going with a heavier weight. If you use a Barnes or any of the bonded bullets, a 150 grain will do just as well as 180.

Bullet weight and construction are important but shot placement is the key element. 

[addicted]

I've been trying not to buy barnes. nothing against them as they were dooing the do before all this anti lead crap started. I just think it helps fight the antis if i support the majority of ammo companies by buying bullets with lots and lots of lead. 

[hillbilli]

overall, agree with what several have said- weight being the same, bullet construction is very important. if you were determined to use regular softpoints (corlokt/powerpoint, etc)- then yes i'd say go to 180's... in 150's, with plain federals, my concern would be a quartering to (through the shoulder), or quartering away (through a bit of gut) shot. Will the plain fed sp do it? probably. will you get an exit for a blood trail if he decides to run 150yards before dropping? probably not. if you are determined to stick to 150's- just get a few of the bonded bullets, (a-frame, accubond, etc doesn't have to be barnes copper) and make sure they hit the same as your basic deer bullet before season. The other comparisons about what the bullet does at 350yd doesnt tell me much about whether the bullet will come apart on an elk shoulder at 50yds (in all fairness it probably wont come apart, but probably will penetrate a lot less than it will at 300 yards) Someone mentioned 150gr out of a .270, but remember that is not an apples to apples comparison- 150's out of a .270 will penetrate more than 150's out of the 30-06. (that whole length to weight ratio thing) Theres a lot of mention of the .300 mags, but look at bullet drop at 300 yds and see how much difference there really is.. what really matters for our discussion here is that with the .300, the bullets are the same size- but being pushed 400fps or so faster- increasing the odds of bullet failure at close quarters, unless you are using a controlled expansion (or bonded) bullet. 

[gadwall]

Nothing wrong with the 150 for bullet choice.  There are a lot of good comments here and one to remember is how similar the 270 and 30-06 are when you get right down to it; and how many dead elk and moose there are that have been killed cleanly with the 150 out of the 270.  The other important thing is shot placement because elk have such a reputation for soaking up lead.  I'm not quite sure why you haven't been able to get factory loaded 165's for your '06.  Good luck and let us know how you do.

Gadwall

[bobcat]

But as hillbilli just said, the 150 in .270 is not comparable to a 150 in 30 caliber. It is closer to the 180 30 caliber bullet in sectional density.

[monster10]

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 

In past years I use a 270wsm works great all my shots were good and they never went more than 50/70 yards. 150grain nosler partition. Good luck If you reload your own the winchester fail safe 150 kick some a$$.

[adam.WI]

Thanks Woodswalker, yes it went threw the elk and did not quite make it out threw the hide. I did not think it was that hard to figure out.

My mistake, I didn't mean to offend you. I thought you meant it just broke the hide, not passed though and stayed in the hide. Makes a lot more sense now

[coachcw]

the barnes x works well on heavy game . in a 150 grain I'd lean towards the fedral premium in 150 x , it will get the job done .

[G.R.K]

  SHOT PLACEMENT.

[Bean Counter]

Thanks folks. I like what HillBilli said. I think I'll pick up a box of 150 Hornadays. That way I can use my Federals on deer but if the Hornaday's group the same then I can switch over to them a week. later. Who says you can't change horses midstream? 

[C-Money]

I hate to say it, but I dont think they will group the same. If so, great! I would pick one and stick with it.

[Ccamp1978]

If your hunting west side for elk you are prob not gonna shoot over 100 yards anyway. I hunted with a 30-.06 with the same bullets for a few years and they did just fine. Here is another way to think about it, try to make the first shot count and if not....pop til they drop

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

A couple people have mentioned it, the grain and calober is over rated its shot placement folks!! I dont care what size bullet you shoot hit it in the pump station or the lungs with a good shot it will go down!!  The caliber and grain size is more important with droppage at certain yardages.