Best and worst cartridges for hunting elk (Cartridge Wars Round 1)

Published on October 21, 2021
Duration: 9:14

This video analyzes various rifle cartridges for elk hunting, introducing Hornady's HITS formula as a superior power metric. It ranks cartridges based on performance at distance and establishes energy and velocity thresholds for effectiveness. Several popular cartridges are critiqued for being underpowered or lacking ballistic performance for large game.

Quick Summary

The Hornady HITS formula provides a more accurate measure of cartridge power for hunting than foot-pounds of energy alone. For elk hunting, a HITS score of 900 is recommended, along with maintaining 1500 ft-lbs of energy and 1900 fps expansion velocity.

Chapters

  1. 00:00The 'One Gun' Objective
  2. 01:16Hornady's HITS Formula Explained
  3. 02:37Power Rankings at Distance
  4. 03:43Critiquing .30-30 Win & 6.5 Creedmoor
  5. 05:07Energy and Velocity Thresholds
  6. 07:45Final Cartridge Categorization

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hornady HITS formula for cartridge power?

The Hornady HITS formula calculates cartridge power using bullet weight, velocity, and diameter: (BulletWeight^2 / 7000) * (Velocity / BulletDiameter^2) * 1/100. It's considered more accurate than just foot-pounds of energy for hunting applications.

What are the recommended energy and velocity thresholds for elk hunting?

For effective elk hunting, cartridges should maintain at least 1500 foot-pounds of energy and a minimum bullet expansion velocity of 1900 feet per second at the target distance.

Which cartridges are considered underpowered for elk hunting?

Cartridges like the .243 Winchester are significantly underpowered. The .30-30 Winchester lacks ballistic coefficient for distance, and the 6.5 Creedmoor is considered marginally underpowered by some for elk.

What are the top-performing cartridges for elk hunting based on power at distance?

According to the analysis using the HITS formula and power rankings at distance, cartridges like the .33 Nosler and .340 Weatherby Magnum are top performers for elk hunting.

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