This all relates to my new .270, but it might help you. I purchased a new Browning A Bolt Medallion, took it to the range and broke the barrel in (not needed depending on who you talk to). I have been shooting every few days for the past couple weeks & the only ammo that is shooting sub moa is the Barnes TTSX in 130 grain. I tried 150 gr Bergers (HSM), 140 gr Accubonds (Nosler custom), 150 grain Partitions (Federal), 130 gr Core-Lokt (Remington) and finally the Barnes Vortex 130 gr TTSX. I luckily had most of that ammo here at the house & only had to buy 2 boxes. I would highly recommend doing the same. Try different things and see what your gun likes. I'm not a huge fan of the TTSX bullet, but knowing that when I pull the trigger that the bullet is going to hit exactly where I want is very important to me. Good luck!

 

175gr Remingtons would be where I started with factory ammo.

 

Federal premium 160 grain accubond


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This, or Nosler Trophy Grade 160 Accubond.





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Take a look at the Precision Hunter line from Hornady with the ELDx bullet, or what Slmudbogger said with the 160gr Nosler Accubond loads

 

Winchester Super-X 150 GR. Power-Point (S.P.) works real good on elk whether they are near or far. Whatever you do, don't use Remington Core-Lokt or you will regret it. It blows up on the hide and you won't get ANY penetration, just fragments and tremendous blood shot...

 

I will never use Remington core lots as well. I know they have killed many animals. I don't have any personal experience with them on elk, but I did stay a night at holiday inn.
Seriously, I shot a pig with a 180 gr. out of 06 into a pigs head from about 5 yards as She walked out out of some brush, broad side. The bullet never exited.
Since then, I went to a well constructed bullet. I'd have to agree with buying couple different premiums and go with what shoots well.
My 270 and 06 shoot the TTSX sub moa as well.
I know some guys are against solid copper ammo, so I'd also look at the federal premium 175 bear claw. I like the looks of em.

 

Another vote for the 160 Accubond.

 

And another, if your gun likes them as mentioned above

 

IMO, practice trumps rifle/bullet accuracy. Buy the cheaper 175gr Remington Core-Lokts and go practice, practice, practice.

All I ever shot in my .280 & 7mm Mag were Rem Core-Lokts, never an issue with penetration... I killed quite a few animals with each.
I handloaded 150gr Core-Lokts for the .280
and 175gr Core-lokts for the 7mmMag.

For a new hunter there is no reason to get complicated. Good rifles tend to shoot just about any load into an inch at 100yds.
I'd start with readily available.. 175gr Rem Core-lokts and see how the rifle likes them.

That said, there are certainly better bullets out there... but you'll pay for them to.
Hunt'nFish

 

The Federal Power-Shok and Fusion are generally very accurate and do about as well as any other "cup and core" bullet. The fusions aren't really cup and core ...molecularly bonded...but perform similarly. You can typically get 06 ammo for about 15 bucks and 7mag about 20.

 

PP's don't penetrate worth a hoot based on my limited experience.

 

Fwiw, I have first hand witnessed catastrophic failure from the 175gr CL from the 7 mag on 2 elk, 1 bear and, 2 deer. Not a chance I'd use them on game. That said, when the CL gets down to 30-30, 35 Remington type velocities the perform admirably. IMO, the best bullet for a cheaper price is the Federal Fusion.

 

My opinion as well. CL too fragile for tough game like elk. It will kill them, but suffer a lot of meat loss. Killed two bulls with it. Never recovered anything but fragments.

I've killed seven bulls with a 7 MAG using 150 grn. Winchester PP. Good penetration at 200 yds. or 30. Never had a problem...

 

It seems that federal has discontinued loading accubonds in factory ammo. Cannot find it on their website for any caliber.


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That's because Nosler took them back

 

Well.... I do like the Federal Fusions too.
They are bonded.

 

I appreciate all the input. I'll be ammo shopping thus weekend.

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150gr CL have worked well for me over the last 30 years. I don't have anything to compare to though. I think I bought 5 boxes a long time ago and have about 3.5 left with 10-15 dead animals.

 

Just curious, was that from a Rem 7 MAG and were those all elk?

 

Nice!
Yea, they sure do drop when you hit bone, trouble starts when you don't.
I had one blacktail that was pretty close, 20 yds. and he took a step just as I squeezed the trigger. When I opened him up, nothing but green soup. That's when I stopped using CL and started reloading.
Now I shoot Nosler partition, Accubond or Hornady SP...

 

That's real funny. One bullet placed in the wrong spot makes all bullets of that brand junk. I have a suggestion: Look in mirror, say to the reflection. Shoot Straight next time. Bad mouthing a product because you failed is not logical.

 

160 or 175 grain, Nosler Partition, Nosler Accubond, Swift A-Frame, are three of the best.

 

160gr nosler accubond.

 

160gr is the sweet spot for the 7mmRemMag by ballistics, I preferred Partitions when I hunted my 7mm. Heavy is good so the 170/175 offerings won't hurt. Your ballistics start rapidly resembling a .30-06, though.



As far as CL rounds? I started a thread about bullet failure because of them once. Dead is dead, for sure. But I've seen them twice do bad things and make a mess. I won't use them again, your experiences are your own.

Edit: Also had a "Thin skin" Ballistic Tip explosion issue with, I think, 140gr 7mmRemMag at fairly close range. I expect that is a problem of the past.

 

"Thin skin Ballistic Tips, thing of the past." Yes, they have a hunting version. Dunno what their impact velocity threshold is. Sure it could be found somewhere.

 

They were the Ballistic Silvertips. Three grades, Varmint, Thin Skin (deer and light-framed game), and a heavier walled offering I forgot the name of which I probably should have been using. Critter in question was a mature Muley.

Was kinda a long time ago, I'm sure they've improved was my point.

 

Just find a bullet that shoots well, for elk, I would avoid soft bullets. My 7Mag loves federal fusion, I will use them for deer this year, but have a box of 160gr partitions I hope I can get to shoot well.

Being new to it, I think there is a lot to be said about a well constructed bullet...I would get something loaded with partitions...If your rifle likes them, that's a heck of a place to start.

If I cannot get partitions shooting well, accubonds will be my next choice...then probably mono bullets...long term goal is to minimize the mess, I hate trimming away good meat that was messed up from a soft bullet.

 

EVERY animal I have shot with 150 grain 7mm core lokt have gone down on the 1st shot - I do not know the exact number off hand but it is more than 10. I have tried many of the new bullets but non preform as well for me than the core lokt. It is the oldest bonded bullet and in my experience has never been equaled. My priority is killing the animal as quickly and humanely as possible - core lokt has ALWAYS done that for me. As far as trimming damaged meat is concerned, that is MUCH more an issue of shot placement that bullet design

 

160gr sierra BT sitting in front of 65.4gr of win supreme 780 moving out of my barrel at 2940fps does the trick for me

 

OP doesn't reload, so he's looking for factory options.



P

 

I use Nosler Trophy Grade with 160 grain Accubonds in my Savage 110.

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Happy with the 150 CL again this year, but the exit is a little bigger than my liking

Haha, actually a lion got to it before we did. Entry was 1/2" hole through a rib and 1" hole through the opposite rib. They work.