lancetkenyon

The ol' 06 w. 168 is plenty for elk out to 500+. Practice at 500-600. It will make a 300 seem easier. Chrono the load, get a good drop chart plotted, and get a good ballistic app on your phone. Shot opportunities will be between 50-1200+. More than likely, 300-600+. Limit yourself to what you can hit within 4" of POA every shot. Stick to that limit, no matter how tempting a further shot might be. Also, keep a rule of 1800fps & 1500 ft/lbs as a minimum. I have seen a few elk drop on the spot. Those usually were CNS or shoulder/spine shots. Even a well places shot to the lungs and heart will not drop an elk instantly. But they will kill an elk better that missing a spine in the neck or clipping an ear or jawbone by aiming at the head and missing by 4". Most often, they go 25-100 yards and pile up with a perfect shot to the lungs/heart Get in shape. 22S has some steep, rough country. Get a great pack and boots. You are going to need them. Get good glass and a good tripod.

If you were not looking for real light, there is a phenomenal .280AI for sale here. Barrel is barely broken in, and it is a laser beam.

Bummer. Sounds like a good guy. Thanks to him for his service.

Great stock! I have one on my 7RM.

I have tried 7 or 8 different bino chest harnesses. I use the Marsupial now. I think it is my favorite so far.

CA Ridgeline. Wring the performance out of a .280AI.

I heard there are elk permits left for 35A and 36C too!!! Maybe even a few left for 42 as well.

Site is acting weird. Double post.

If you are getting 2800 with 143s in a 22" barrel, I would say you are about as close as you can get. Stop there. Remember, that H100V is going to get hotter as temps rise too. As for the Nosler soft head issues, I have seen case head swipes and ejector marks in 28 Nosler, .300RUM, .300WM, 7RM, 6.5x.284 Norma, and .264WM. All fairly hot rounds. But still seeing signs before any other brass shows it. I have seen several 28 Nosler cases that were toast after one firing by a guy who was admittedly running them way too hot (a 195 EOL @ 3200+) and not good accuracy results. Once we got it dialed back, and loaded up right, that thing is a .1" rifle, and loves the 195s @ 3095fps. And he has since smoked some great animals with it.

For a late hunt, any of those would be just fine. I would take any and be thrilled to death.

Don't forget ADG & Alpha brass. They are right there with the "blue box". Or even RWS. I am not even a huge fan of Nosler if there is one of the other 3 available. Their brass has very tight standards and good prep work completed, but their heads seem quite soft.

My March 3-24x52 is working great on my lightweight .280AI. I have a 3-20x50 S&B non-US on my 7RM, and just got a S&B 3-20x50 US for my 6.5 SLR I am rebuilding.

Excellent choice in optics. You have my approval rating of 5 stars!

Do you have a photo of the head of the 43.5gr brass? I can't believe you would not have had an ejector mark if the 44.0 was THAT hot. What was the velocity of the 43.5gr load? Maybe that one piece of brass was faulty too? Never know. Did you feel any loose primer pockets when seating primers? Maybe an undersized primer too? I have had several rifles that did just fine over "book max charge weight". But that round seems WAY WAY too hot. Ditch the Hornady brass. Buy Lapua SRP brass. Very consistent, and very tough. They can handle higher pressures much better. But not THAT much pressure. If you are running a 26" barrel, 2850 is possible. You never said what your barrel length is. 100V is a magnum powder. Maybe try H4350? Also, 100V is not an "Extreme" powder, meaning temp sensitivity. Similar to Superformance. What primer were you using? I missed it if you listed that info. Magnum primers add pressure. Per reloading data, you were not way over max load though. Here is straight from Hodgdon's website: Case: Hornady Twist: 1:8" Primer: Federal 210M, Large Rifle Match Barrel Length: 24" Trim Length: 1.910" Email Data Print Data Bullet Weight 143 GR. HDY ELD-X Manufacturer Hodgdon Powder Hybrid 100V Bullet Diam. .264" C.O.L. 2.800" Starting Loads GRS. VEL.(FT/S) PRESS. 36.8 2,433 44,300 PSI Maximum Loads GRS. VEL.(FT/S) PRESS. 43.4 2791 61,500 PSI

My older daughter has the same tag. I have hunted the unit for 30 years. Early hunt, I like the pines. But there are elk across the entire unit year round except the highest peaks in the dead of winter. In October, they will still be all over. PM sent

ADG is making 6.5 SAUM brass, and it is exceptional. https://atlasdg.com/product/65saum/

What cartridge? I wonder why you would think a TTSX would not work past 350 for deer/pronghorn, unless you are shooting something like a .223 or .30-30?

Unicorn tears. Good luck with the hunt.

I go on 9 hunts with others for every 1 that I hold the tag. Perfectly legal, and a blast. Extra pack mules/spotters are a lifesaver.

Don't want/need the extra length/weight. Trying to cut 4#+ off the weight and 6" off the length as it is.

I think you must have gotten the exception to the rule. I have installed 20+ sets of Seekins or Vortex PWR rings with absolutely 0 issues and not a single one has needed lapped or left a mark when torqued to proper specs. In fact, they are the ONLY rings I run on every rifle I own. And I do not own any cheap scopes that I would not worry about.

Neither of those units.