I am headed to Colorado for my first Elk hunt in a few weeks...Here is my question.

Do you guys like a 270 over a 308? I am shooting 150 ammo in each.

Also, if you like the 270 can I get away with a 130 grain ballistic tip?

Why would you spend the time and money for a hunt to "want to get away" with a light grain bullet? Take the time to sight in your rifle with a heavier, bonded bullet that will put an elk down. IMO

130 grain Barnes TTSX or Hornady GMX will work fine. In the 308, 168-180 grain Accubonds or Partitions

I used a 130gr Barnes TSX to take both of my elk with a 270 WSM. The same bullet in a .270 Win will do the trick, my hunting partner has harvested a bull and 3 cows with that combo.

I use 140 Nosler Accubonds and have taken Gemsbok, Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope, big boars. It is all about shot placement. If you can shoot. 130 gr. will work just fine. Your range will diminish the lighter gr. bullet you use. 130 gr. is good on Elk out to 400yds, maybe 500 yds with good shot placement. There is not enough kinetic energy to penetrate deep enough into the vitals for a quick recovery. You will wind up chasing and/or losing the animal. Just my humble opinion.

If you put the bullet in it's vitals, the elk isn't going to care which bullet that you kiiled him with.

Using Ballistic Tips on Elk is simply a BAD choice! Elk are big, heavy boned animals. You owe the animal a clean kill!

The 270 is fine, the bt will get the job done but I personally would use a little stouter bullet design. Like partition or accubond.

As far as weight 130 is fine as long as it groups well.

Good luck...

I would choose the .270 with a 140 grain Accubond.

That is my preferred bullet in my .270.

Use a better bullet than a ballistic tip. The hide on a bull is pretty thick, especially around the chest/upper shoulder area. Add to that a thick winter coat, and you get well outside of what a BT was designed for. Don't risk a surface blow up.

Been some good suggestions above: Accubond, TSX, etc. The Accubonds are my favorite and actually have the same BC and Ogive shape as a BT of the same weight in the same caliber. This means point of impact and bullet drop will be close to identical.

As to .308 or .270, use whichever rifle has better glass on it and you are more practiced with. The Elk won't know the difference. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the tips!