Cow Elk meat hunt in Texas
Big critter for sure, a protein fed elk. She was as big as most of the adult bulls. I don't know the live weight, guessing 600 - 700. They killed a cow elk there last year that went 975.
I used my Smith & Wesson 629 classic, 44 magum, and through a screw up on my part the only ammo I had along used a Hornady 240 XTP bullet. I was disappointed in the performance of the Hornady XTP bullet, should have stuck with a hard cast bullet. The XTP came apart and didn't penetrate well.
First shot hit the shoulder, broke the shoulder but only tiny fragments went into the chest cavity. Second shot hit the crease of skin behind the shoulder. Same thing, the bullet broke up and did not penetrate. But the cow wasn't going anywhere so I got closer and put one in her neck, broke the spine and she went down like a sack of potatoes.
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/7h3gr.jpg)
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/TAAV9.jpg)
Cow Elk meat hunt in Texas
Looks like a big cow!!! The 240 XTP is an awesome whitetail bullet. Shot quite a few deer with it in the 44. Never recoved one yet. But as you mentioned probably better off with a hard cast. I have never hunted elk but would use a cast if I did.
Cow Elk meat hunt in Texas
I've been using Keith loads on feral hogs for the last couple of years, and intended to use them this time. But I went off and left a box of Keith loads and a box of heavy hard cast bullets at home. I was lucky to have any 44 ammo with me at all.
Left Ammo at home? That's never happened to me...very much!
by Rob Leahy 
, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, December 30, 2012, 11:10 (4292 days ago) @ Warhawk
Nice elk! And handgunned no less! Got the youngsters there too. 300 XTPs come to mind as does the excellent 310 Kieth that I used while in AK...
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Of the Troops & For the Troops
Good show Sir!
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Friday, January 04, 2013, 07:25 (4287 days ago) @ Warhawk
Any elk taken with a pistol is a prize.