I have guided colorado elk hunts on public land for three years now -- this year I had a guy that shot handloaded 165 ballistic tips in his 300 win mag. He talked to me all week about how he wasn't sure if he should have gone with these or the 180's that everyone talked about. Turns out he killed an elk with them before the end of the week -- a perfect shot, right behind the shoulder at a broadside animal. The thing went about 40 yards full sprint before it collapsed. The autopsy revealed half the heart and 2/3's of both lungs liquified. So yes, a well placed 165 at those speeds will kill an elk just fine. If you can put the bullet where it should be you'll be just fine. Also had a guy kill a 6x7 at 456 yards with a 30/06 shooting 180 grain winchester bullets -- one shot. Earlier in the season had a guy put 5 .338 mag rounds before it expired. Put the bullet where you want it and you have a dead elk -- and that bullet is far from the light end of the spectrum as far as killing elk successfully goes. Your handload questions will have to be answered by someone else... good luck!
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