165 grain ballistic tips are a fine deer bullet at standard velocities. From a 300 magnum they are a fine long range deer bullet but, at closer ranges the increased velocity causes them to open very dramatically. This results in a shallow wound. A friend of mine took a 7mm mag loaded with 140 grain BTs to Colorado on a mule deer, elk combo hunt. He hit a 4x4 mule deer directly in the shoulder at 75 yds with no results, his friend knocked it down with his 300 mag. When they field dressed him the guide showed them the 7mm NBT wound it blew up before it reached the shoulder blade and failed to break through!
How often do you get the chance to shoot a elk? Isnt it worth it to use the right bullet even if you have to spend a few extra bucks and search for a box. 180 grain partitions, bonded core bullets, failsafe, A-frame, bear claw, and my personal favorite X bullets are all great elk bullets. 165 grain ballistic tips are not elk bullets.
Elwood P. Dowd