Inexpensive factory .270 ammo for elk

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Why would you imagine that an animal that's 500 - 700 lbs isn't much thicker than an animal that's 100 - 250 lbs? Even run of the mill elk are much larger in every dimension than whitetail. I'd kill a whitetail with pretty much anything legal, but it's worth using good, deep penetrating bullets for elk, even if the Wally World doesn't have them on the rack.

I know if I was handloading this rifle for myself, I'd run 150 Accubonds or Partitions, or 130 TTSX's through it. But I expect him to do what 90% of elk hunters do, and that's just go down to wal-mart and grab a box of Core-lokts (which I'm guessing have probably accounted for more dead elk than everything else combined) or maybe Federal Fusions, or Winchester power points, etc. That's what I was asking.

I would imagine that even a "lowly" Core-lokt 150 or Fusion 150, with the excellent SD a .277 bullet offers, should be just fine for him if he keeps the shots inside of 350 or so.
 
UM...., the OP hasn't said how far out he's wanting to reach-out-and-and-touch the elk....
Because in some cases I think that's what you're buying when you go with some of the more expensive, factory ammunition...consistency and better performing bullets. Not always, but something to ponder...

At 100 yards just about anything is going to work. The fact that the cheaper stuff has lesser quality controls so velocity varies from round to round, and the bullets are less expensive, and might not have the best BC or might not be that well made..., won't matter at impact.... I have a very elderly neighbor who has always used a .30-30 and has taken white tail and mule deer, and doesn't care much what brand he uses, just that it's 150 grain, and the stuff he uses I think he bought in the 1960's...but he'll tell you his rifle is a 100-yard rifle. He's using open sights so it really doesn't matter, to him...but in this case ???
At 200 yards your 2" group with the cheap stuff is now at least 4", and maybe more if the quality control on the powder is lackluster....
At 300 yards that 2" group is now 6" BUT I'd bet more than that, and now deceleration vs. what the bullet will do at impact is coming into play. IF your shot is that one odd round that launches a "flier" are you going to place it close enough to where you put the reticle so that the bullet is going to do the job ??
Beyond 300 yards and approaching 400 how much is the bullet slowed, even if the group is still considered reasonable ??? ..., and is it going to help you and deform OR is it a 50/50 proposition, because the powder load is consistent so the group isn't bad, but the MV started out 200 or 300 fps less than the more expensive stuff ??

LD
 
I'm sure somebody'll be along shortly to tell us how bullets and powders have improved since 1970.
And it's a good thing bullets and powders have improved since 1970 - because elk have gotten bigger, tougher and smarter since the dawn of the internet.:D
I'm just joking of course. I too have, for no real reason, become a lot more particular about the ammo I use for big game hunting than I was when I killed my first deer (in 1963) and my first elk (in 1967). Back then, I used factory Remington CoreLokts in my 308 Winchester - 150gr for deer, and 180gr for elk. I never lost an animal to either.
 
Regarding post#31, this potential for different degrees of accuracy is why I mentioned testing the various flavors wallyworld offers on the 4"/8" steel plates from 100yds out to 200 or 300 yards. It's not about groups, but rather percentages of hits on plates smaller than the size of the average deer or elk vital area (aka kill zone).

Even without the differences in ammo manufacturing, Jack O'Connor did make the comment that with five identical barrels shooting the same ammo, you'll get five different velocities.

So it goes right back to putting in the trigger time to get to know your rifle.
 
IMHO, the words "inexpensive" and "elk" should never be used in the same paragraph. It's a privilege to even get to hunt elk, they deserve better than just whatever you find at Walmart.


He handloaded. I'm sure somebody'll be along shortly to tell us how bullets and powders have improved since 1970. ;)
Bullets are A LOT better now than in the 1970's. The fact that many still get by on cheap bullets is irrelevant. No, critters are no tougher now than they used to be. It just means you have fewer mishaps that you forget ever happened. Smaller cartridges are more effective on larger game. Larger cartridges are more consistent.
 
IMHO, the words "inexpensive" and "elk" should never be used in the same paragraph. It's a privilege to even get to hunt elk, they deserve better than just whatever you find at Walmart.

I've been reading this thread, pondering whether or not to mention this.
I can't imagine being given a chance to hunt elk and limiting myself to whatever WalMart has on the shelf.
How hard is it to go to Midway USA and order a couple boxes of ammunition that was made for the task at hand. Nothing wrong with WalMart ammo for hunting deer, but elk are 3x the size at least, often more.

You don't have to spend a fortune either. It's not like we're talking about $20 a box at WalMart and $100 a box for premium stuff online.
You can go to Midway, buy a box of Barnes ammo or Federal Premium loaded with bonded bullets or Nosler Partitions for between $30 and $35. It's not that much more expense, and it will be delivered to your door in less than a week. I'm at a loss as to how that's difficult or problematic.
 
IMHO, the words "inexpensive" and "elk" should never be used in the same paragraph. It's a privilege to even get to hunt elk, they deserve better than just whatever you find at Walmart.



Bullets are A LOT better now than in the 1970's. The fact that many still get by on cheap bullets is irrelevant. No, critters are no tougher now than they used to be. It just means you have fewer mishaps that you forget ever happened. Smaller cartridges are more effective on larger game. Larger cartridges are more consistent.

Better tell .308 Norma he did it wrong. LOL

I killed my first deer (in 1963) and my first elk (in 1967). Back then, I used factory Remington CoreLokts in my 308 Winchester - 150gr for deer, and 180gr for elk. I never lost an animal to either.

Some of you guys need to get over yourselves. I'm giving this rifle to my son and he's not going to special order ammo from Midway or spend days on the range like the old man because he has other interests. He's going to do what 90% of everyday people do, and that's go to Wal-Mart or Bass Pro or Academy, buy an affordable box of ammo and go hunt. People have been doing that with their .270's for literally decades and coming home with elk. He will probably buy a 2nd box of 130 grainers for deer, or in case his buddies or girlfriend wants to shoot a few.

Might not be what you or I would do, but I'm a parent and I'm practical. Some of you would probably tell me I raised him wrong because he hasn't committed BC's of all the premium bullets to heart, or I didn't have him hand-loading at the age of three. Or because I'm not handing him a .300 Win Mag. Give me a break already.

I asked a simple question. If you don't want to answer it or don't approve of people hunting elk with (God forbid!) Remington Core-Lokt or Federal Fusion or the like, then just move on already.

After reading some of these comments, I'm inclined to go kill an elk with Core-lokt's out of my 30-30 just to prove a point. SMDH.
 
No reason for feathers to get ruffled. You did ask. Just as you are entitled to ask, we are entitled to answer. You don't have to like or agree with the answers and I don't have to tell you what you want to hear but they're worth whatever you paid for them. Take what you can use and leave the rest. That's how these forums work.

We've all run cup & core bullets like the Core Lokt. Most have had success. A few of us unlucky ones have also had failures, including the Core Lokt. I choose to minimize failures, not trivialize them. I'm not a big believer in premium bullets because I was duped by marketing but because I've seen lesser bullets fail. I also don't understand the emotional investment some folks have in the bullets they use.

All that said, IMHO, the .270 is not the cartridge to go cheap with when it comes to elk or moose. That is a situation that demands a really good bullet. Not just whatever is on the shelf, regardless of someone's interest level. Last I checked it was easier to go to Midway and order a couple boxes of Barnes or Partition ammo than it was to drive to Walmart and you won't need a shower afterwards. I will say that the Fusion is probably a much better choice than the CoreLokt.
 
A few minutes on the Midway website and the ammo gets delivered to your door. Doesn't get easier than that. And he doesn't have to "be into guns" to use quality ammo and equipment. Just trying to understand the Walmart stipulation.
 
A few minutes on the Midway website and the ammo gets delivered to your door. Doesn't get easier than that. And he doesn't have to "be into guns" to use quality ammo and equipment. Just trying to understand the Walmart stipulation.
Yeah, I didn't realize they checked your shooter-commitment card before you bought ammo.


Some of you guys just don't get it.

I appreciate the helpful responses however.
So because not everybody tells you what you want to hear, "we" don't get it??? Sounds like we're all the way back to the OP and we've all just wasted our time. Just buy the Fusions and let us know how they work.
Another one I'm looking at are the 150 grain Federal Fusion.
 
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Yeah, I didn't realize they checked your shooter-commitment card before you bought ammo.



So because not everybody tells you what you want to hear, "we" don't get it??? Sounds like we're all the way back to the OP and we've all just wasted our time. Just buy the Fusions and let us know how they work.
You certainly wasted your time. I can tell you that much.
 
I have multiple 30-06s, some by the same manufacturers and the same length barrel and I have found each likes different bullets or load to be the most accurate.
I think you will need to go to your local store and try 1 box of each manufacturer and bullet weight to find which your gun likes best. Sometimes your when your local lgs has a sale it is cheaper than walmart, I purchased some rem core-loc for 10.00 a box recently and it shoots good enough for me
 
Back during the ammo shortage, I just got back into hunting after surgery I bought a 243 win and couldn't find ammo for it. My local Walmart had 2 boxes of rem premiums with sirocco 90 gr bullets. I would have bought both but they were 50 dollars per box. My choice was spend the $ or sit home.

Sometimes as parents we do more for our kids than we have to even when they are grown and have families of their own. I've given up a lot like 2 cars and countless hours on my back replacing engines or transmissions, even rifles and ammo, but it I'll probably keep doing till I'm no longer able.
My first post was a suggestion to help you and your son meant no offence.
 
Everybody wasted their time, your mind was already made up. Good luck.
Actually, it wasn't.

Several people here read, and respected, the original post and offered feedback based on the actual question.

Stillquiet - no offense taken. I just know my son. I know how busy he is and I know that he won't have the time to research and test different premium loads and won't have the $ to pay for them. He's starting his career and has a very active life. I didn't raise him shooting rifles. We hunted with bows his entire childhood. He still doesn't own a rifle and has never killed even a deer with a rifle (taken deer with bow and muzzleloader, but no rifle), despite being a disabled vet and having plenty of firearms experience. I'm not looking to put another time or financial demand on him. He wanted a hunting rifle and I got him one. I was glad he asked. Now my question (again, knowing my son) is what would be a good choice in affordable, locally available factory ammo, for what he may be using the rifle for.

I realize the members of this forum don't represent the "average joe" when it comes to choosing rifles and ammo. Neither am I. But I also think it's silly to ignore the fact that the vast majority of hunters are getting the job done with affordable factory ammo from their local Wal-mart or Academy or Bass pro or mom and pop gun shop. Another nice thing about finding a popular factory load is that if you forget your ammo and you roll into a small outfitter's store in rural Colorado, they are likely to have a box on the shelf.

Finally, we all understand the value of practicing with your weapon. The more rounds he runs through that .270, the better he will be when the heart is pumping. So affordable, commonly available ammo = more rounds downrange, which is probably in the end, more important than using an expensive premium load that might not find it's mark due to insufficient practice.

If you can't handle those "givens" then just politely move on. That's all I ask.
 
One of the facts f life at THR is that most members are pretty hard core, at least the ones that post a lot. We tend to assume that others are just as hard core.
I ask a lot of detailed questions here, to learn from the "hard core" members, and I'm grateful for the knowledge base. In this case, I was asking for my "non hard-core" son, to address a real world practical scenario. Most folks who replied got that.

Part of the fun in reloading is being able to shoot a lot of premium bullets for less than the price of factory, "budget" ammo. I wouldn't give up that option now that I have it. Maybe someday my son will ask "Hey dad, I was wanting to learn how to reload" in which case, after I stop smiling, I'll be happy to teach him. :D

I just learned an hour ago that he got his first job as a police officer after being discharged by the military as a DV and completing his college degree. He will probably get married within the year. He's got a lot on his plate. I'll be glad just to get the chance to hunt with him this fall in CO.
 
I waited to respond to this thread to see which way it was going. Now that the OP has provided more info regarding his original question, I will share my personal opinion, for what it is worth.
I have never hunted elk, but have been an avid shooter and handload for decades. I am also frugal (extremely). So as a fan of the .270 Win. cartridge, and having discussed the idea of minimum cartridge for elk with lots of shooters over the years, I believe you made an excellent choice. If I were to go after elk with a .270, it would be my .270WSM, and it would be a carefully worked up handload with 150 gr Nosler Partition bullets. But given your parameters, I would buy a box or two of 150 gr Federal Power-Shoks, as well as Federal 150 gr Fusions. I would use whichever is more accurate in your son's rifle. The Fusion bullet might be preferred for elk, but if your son has been successful taking deer with bow and muzzle loader, I am presuming he would be able to get close enough that even the cup and core bullet of the affordable "blue box" ammo would get the job done. I have been very impressed with the velocity and accuracy of the basic Federal ammo in the .270 Win. (as well as .243 Win and .308 Win.) and would always try that first, if I were to use factory ammo on a hunt.
 
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