7RM for elk

[Bobby B.]

Is the 7RM good on elk past 200 yds? Do I need a 338WM?

Bobby B.

[harv3589]

Its plenty and no you don't need a 338WM...

Originally Posted by Bobby B.

Is the 7RM good on elk past 200 yds? Do I need a 338WM?

Bobby B.

Anything less than a 375 RUM is completely unethical. Elk are studs and you need a studly gun to kill them.

Shrubs

[whitetailhntr]

I've got a 338 wm i will sell ya!

[Dick284]

Nope wont work Bobby, it's way too big.



I think roofing must be winding down.

[sbtennex]

Don't be believing the experts' opinions on this one - I'm thinking Craig Boddington for some reason who'll tell you a .30 magnum loaded to the teeth of any kind with at least a 180 gr bullet is minimum. Horse hockey. A well loaded 7mm RM with a 160 or even a hot 175 packs up to 2200 ft/lbs @ 400 yards and with a well constructed bullet is plenty. I'll bet 90+% of us won't use the 175, but if all I hunted were big bulls, elk or moose, I would. But I'm a tender-eater shooter, unless of course there's a 380 pt bull standing beside the little 3-pointer I want. Like most I shoot 160 Accubonds or similar. Partition's awesome too.

[Rusty P. Bucket]

In my scholarly opinion the big 7 is good past 200 yards.

However, because of his advancing years and growing foolishness, Bobby isn't much good past 75 yards these days.

[Bobby B.]

Okay Rusty, have it your way. You better take cover if you see a white truck within 75 yds. Make that 60 yds as you have a well developed case of perpetual stagger.

Bobby B.

[Okotokian]

Close the thread. The 7mm is just fine for anything in this country short of Grizz (and could probably do that too). As long as you don't mind the big bang

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by Bobby B.

Is the 7RM good on elk past 200 yds? Do I need a 338WM?

Bobby B.

No.... you need a .243 with 58 gr v-max.

[Pathfinder76]

I shot this bull further out than 200yds with a 150 gr Partition launched from a .280 Remington. He went about three feet.

[Pathfinder76]

My hunting partner killed this one at well over twice the requisite 200yds with the 280 and the 140 gr TSX

[Pathfinder76]

My brother killed this one with the same load and caliber as mine at over 200yds

[59whiskers]

7mmRM is a great long range cartridge. Make sure you use Nosler Partition bullets, cheaper bullets don't hold up to well on close shots and you dont need your bullets fragmenting to nothing before they can penatrate deep into the vitals. A 338 is a great elk cartridge and is more than enough gun but not economical to shoot. I have had great success killing bull elk, moose, bear with my old 3006 as close as 20 yds and out to almost 400 yds. It is the cheapest of these three cartridges to shoot and more versatile.

[buckfever]

im guessing u havent seen best of the west on wild tv

[raised by wolves]

I "prefer" my 35 Whelen on elk and moose, but I have dropped one of each with a 6MM. There are a helluva lot of big animals that are folded with 270Win, 270 Wby, 280 Rem, 7Rem Mag, 7-08, 30-30, 308, 30-06, etc. A howitzer is not required.

I would guess that either the 7MM Rem Mag or the 300 Weatherby is probably the most common cartridge used for elk here in Alberta.

[Solothurn]

The 1 and only elk I ever shot was with a 7Rem Mag and was at 720 yards according to my rangefinder. I use 160 gr partitions, and would not hesitate to shoot another 1 at that distance.

[Homesteader]

ATR, I'm curious, did the bullet pass right thru at that range? I'm guessing penetration is not the issue, but expansion is, due to impact velocity. At any rate, that is an impressive distance to take any animal at, never mind an elk. I always figured with the partitions that I prefer to shoot, that you wanted to try and stay somewhere north of 1600fps. Any thoughts?

Thanks,Homesteader

[Solothurn]

Originally Posted by Homesteader

ATR, I'm curious, did the bullet pass right thru at that range? I'm guessing penetration is not the issue, but expansion is, due to impact velocity. At any rate, that is an impressive distance to take any animal at, never mind an elk. I always figured with the partitions that I prefer to shoot, that you wanted to try and stay somewhere north of 1600fps. Any thoughts?

Thanks,Homesteader

I agree every bullet has a point where its expansion potential is compromised, and with Partitions I feel your 1600 fps is quite close, according to Exbal I was just over it at about 1640 fps.
I found the bullet just under the hide on the off side passing through the ribs on both sides, but just barely on the off side. Expansion was very good, bullet weight retension was also high.
I switched over to SMKs out of a 300 win mag for long shots 4 years ago, feeling more thunder is better, having found the accuracy of the Partitions tends to diminsh with distance, which is to expected, they are after all a hunting bullet. As a rule I run a Partition in the chamber, but a couple SMKs in the mag incase of a long shot, with distance I have time to cycle out the Partition and get the SMK into action. Luckily I have a load that will allow me shoot both, the load is worked up on the SMKs, and they give me 1/3 moa groups, when switching to the Partitions the groups open up to 1.0 moa, which for out to 500 yards I feel is plenty accurate enough.
Last year and this year I will be using my 338LAI with 300 gr SMKs, the deer and African critters I killed last year with it at obscene ranges makes humping around a 18 lb rifle worth it to me.

[Homesteader]

Thanks for the response, ATR.