deer/elk combo cartridge for wife

[Hammerforged]

My wife uses a Kimber 84 Classic in .308 Win. She has taken a couple deer and an elk with that rifle. The reason the rifle works so well is because it is so light she can carry it easily. I put a 2.5-8 Vari III on it because that is the lightest scope available in that variable range. In the winter she wears a thick coat anyway so most of the recoil of the heavier elk handloads are absorbed. The 125 grain Ballistic Tip deer loads are the minimum loads in the Nosler number 5 manual, I believe the velocity is around 2600 fps, but far more important than the velocity is her ability to shoot very well with the load both at the range and in the field. She honestly can group 1" at 100 yards. She killed a big mulie buck with this load at 245 yards.

For elk loads in that rifle, I load 165 grain Hornady InnerBonds, with 44 grains of RL 15. About as hot as I can get. The load is accurate enough, about 1.5 inch @100 yards, on a bad day. A more accurate load is the same powder and charge, but with the 165 BTSP Innerlock. This is a .5" load.