300 gr. SST or XTP Mag for Elk?

[Firehawk]

I have shot a lot with the SST in 300 grain this year and am very pleased with its accuracy and flat trajectory. I shot all the way through an approximately 10" thick Aspen tree trunk that had fallen over near our deer camp. I never found that bullet. Seems to have plenty of penetration capability. But....... it is a polycarbonate tip bullet. I have this thing with ballistic tip bullets and wonder whether or not this bullet was designed to handle animals as large as an elk.

I know the XTP mags shoot well too. Should I be looking at those instead? Are they tougher than the SST bullets? Anyone out there shoot an elk with an 300 grain SST bullet yet? Please help!

Firehawk

[sabotloader]

Not to throw a curve at you but: I think of myself as a pretty decent Elk hunter.  Two years ago I switched from centerfire rifles to ML's.  I am hunting with either a Remington M700ml or or an Austin & Halleck, both 50 cal both 26" barrels.

The load I have chosen to shoot for elk is a Nosler .458 (45/70) 300 grain Protected Point Partition bullet in a .458 Orange MMP HPH sabot.  I feel good about this bullet because I know the capabilities of a Nosler Partition, I have been reloading them for years.  Another reason the .458 is a rifle bullet not a pistol bullet.  The velocities that I am shooting at over my chrono is only slightly below 45/70 specs with a 100 grains of t7.  The accuracy is outstanding.  I just wished they got there faster, but that is one of the things I give up going to the ML.

For recreational shooting, target shooting, I shoot a Hornady .458 - 300 grain hollow point bullet.

To be truthful with you, the SST is a fine bullet; the plastic (polymere) tip is an asset for those type bullets.  I have used a simular Nosler bullet with the plastic tip in my 270 for deer hunting.  The tip really helps start and control expansion of the bullet of course it does help the BC of that bullet a lot.  And in the same breath I would tell you the XTP-HP Mag is a proven bullet and has performed well for a lot of people.

Good luck and good hunting

[Omega]

Sandi and I have shot 5 moose in the last couple of years with the 250 SST and really love how it performs. I was hunting elk last week when I run into this guy (below) Don't hesitate to use the SST on elk, you do your job and it will do the rest.

[longshotmiller1]

hi firehawk i grew up in clearfield utah and moved to iowa 3 yrs ago. wish i was home hunting elk. last year i shot a nice big 180 pound whitetail doe with the 300 grain xtp mag out of a thompson center woods rifle. i shot her at 60 yrds. i hit her through the front shoulder and she was up hill from me. the slug went through the bone of the shoulder up throught the spine shoulder bones where they meet on the other side. alot of bone and i thought oops what a mess but to my suprise i didnt find any lead or jacket at all. it looked liked perfect performance. i would not hessitate to use the xtp mag on elk. like i said i grew up in utah so ive killed a few in my time. i just wish iowa had them.

[Firehawk]

Thanks guys!

Longshot, I would love to have the chance to take a Whitetail.  I take muleys every fall, nothing huge, but still decent enough.  I have yet to take an elk.  I have hunted them hard but they always seems to stay away from me.  

Thanks for all of the advice.  I will stick with the SST and put the bullet in the boiler room.  It shoots well enough that it really is up to me to do the job.  I will report how everything turns out.

Firehawk

[longshotmiller1]

hey firehawk i miss my muley's too. the whitetails are fun though. i thought when i moved out here id be hunting smaller deer but these iowa whitetails are in the same size range as a utah muledeer. good luck to you and your next hunts. hope you get your first elk sometime soon. i cant waite to get back home and get another one myself.