By Tim Chase

November 14, 2018

I'd been using a 7mm Mag for years but I decided to step down this year in rifle weight and recoil, especially since all of my shots for deer/elk over the last 15 years have been under 100 yards.

Several of my friends thought the Compact Ruger American in 7mm-08 too small for elk. I saw this bull at 60 yards quartering away and shot it with a round of 150 gr Precision Hunter ammo. The bull traveled approximately 30 yards before dropping. I had hit the bull the middle of the left rib cage and the bullet passed through the right rib cage and right front shoulder. The bullet did not exit the hide but did fully penetrate the shoulder.

While skinning the elk I found the jacked had separated but was only 1/2" away from the core. Even though there was no blood trail, and the jacket did separate, I am quite impressed with this round. After all, the bullet had traveled through nearly 3 feet of elk!!!