Bullet Selection

[TwoSixFourWins]

I like the coyote kill.....bang flop. Elk died within a few seconds and the bullet exited. I am impressed.

[GoldTip]

I've used accubonds on deer, elk and Moose from several different caliber of guns and have been nothing but happy with them.

[Bob33]

The fact is that differences in bullet effectiveness on game tend to be quite small.  I’m speculating completely, but would guess that if you took a very large sample of animals killed with various bullets and rated their performance, with 100% being “perfect” performance, the best bullets would score in the high 90s while the worst bullets would score in the upper 80s or low 90s.

It’s easy to assess bullets when they perform “well” and kill an animal.  It could be argued that every retrieved bullet worked perfectly, because it killed the animal.

It is very difficult to assess bullet performance when an animal does not die: did the bullet fail, or did you miss a vital area?  Bullet failures are not easily evaluated, so the data tends to be less reliable.

Using small sample sizes to assess bullet performance is another problem.  "I shot the animal with 'a' bullet and he died right there, but when I shot another animal with 'b' bullet he ran 50 yards.  I'll never use those horrible 'b' bullets again".  That type of thinking violates statistical validity.  If you google any bullet ever made, you will find lots and lots of "bullet failure" stories, and lots and lots of "this is the most wonderful bullet ever made" stories.

[TwoSixFourWins]

Such is the sad case of the Nosler Ballistic Tip. I love them...world seems to hate them. 

[coachcw]

Haven't seen the nosler ballistic tips work to well at hi velocitys in the magnams. once they slow down to 2400 - 2700 fps they work well.

[TwoSixFourWins]

I load them in a 308 which is slower than the magnums obviously. They can be quite effective in mags though. Let a buddy use my 7mmWSM on deer with 140 gr BTs. Amazing internal damage. But I do agree that punching them through bone at magnum velocities is a bad idea. On deer though the BTs are magic. At least for me.

[whitetailslyr]

I have used both the gamekings and accubonds in my 7mm rem mag. Both great bullets. Id take the accubonds, better bc.

[coachcw]

I have used both the gamekings and accubonds in my 7mm rem mag. Both great bullets. Id take the accubonds, better bc.

[SI Eagle]

I like the Sierra Gamekings, very accurate, not as sexy, less expensive, and every bit of a killer as the rest.

[W_Ellison2011]

my issue with smaller bullets is that my brothers mother in law was shooting a 308 chambered with 160 grain rounds... she had to put 5 bullets into her bull elk a few years back to get through the back edge of the shoulder. I've never had that issue with my 30-06 with a 180 grain it just plows right through. its same size bullet other then the bit of extra weight and more powder pushing the round down range.

[bobcat]

It's really not so much the weight of the bullet that determines penetration ability. It's more in the construction of the bullet, and the velocity when it hits the target.

[W_Ellison2011]

200 yards with a 308 with a 168 grain barns in a hand load which is shooting 3k fps from the muzzle... pretty sure it still packs a lot of punch at that range. I personally feel more comfortable with a bigger bullet because its kinetic energy at 200-300 yards is going to be better. thats true and that does also have a huge factor in penetration. I'm not saying go out and buy a 300 ultra mag or something. Just saying its what I'm comfortable with. I will also say this again.. 264 is a good gun for deer but I just think its a hair small for elk. with that small of a gun your shot placement needs to be perfect so even a small margain can cause a issue.

[Curly]

.264 is not too small for elk...........especially with the really good bullets available today.

[TwoSixFourWins]

I never once thought 264 was too small for elk as I took it moose hunting I know it will do the job if I do mine. I used 140grain soft point to drill a hole in a 9/16" thick piece of mild plate at 125 yards. I'm sure an elk would be no problem. I like to have others input and experiences though and usually a larger group will give me more ideas than I can think up on my own. You have all been great in the ideas you have offered. Keep them coming

[TwoSixFourWins]

Just did the math and the 264 with a 140 grain bullet at 3200fps has about the same muzzle energy as a 30-06 with a 165gr @ 3000fps. On top of this the 264 carries energy longer meaning it hits harder at longer ranges than a bullet 25 grains heavier in the '06. Bullets i used in my math were both hornady A-Max.