Northridge
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm asked often what caliber or cartridge is big enough for elk? this time of year the question comes up even more but there is know "Correct" answer or cartridge aside from using a cartridge with in its practical means. I base my response off 30 years of hunting elk experience taking many elk with as small as .243 Winchester and as large as .35 caliber and every caliber in between literally. My hunting party has taken hundreds of elk over the last 4 decades and have tried every reasonable variation of bullets, velocity ranges etc. to come to a conclusion as to what is best in real time killing power and what is truly needed? the only common denominator is bullets, and shot placement period. as for the smoker cartridge there is not one period. if you have a old .270 in the closet great research proper hunting bullets load them and place shot where it belongs and bam!! you have a dead elk down. short of knowing your equipment and finding something to kill the rest really dose not matter its a ford chevy thing. If you equate killing power to dropping a animal in its tracks know matter the canon you better incorporate High shoulder shots etc. to achieve the affect but me personally do not consider that the place to shoot a animal as there is less fudge when crummy shot is placed. shooting a animal in the marsh mellow as we call it or lungs as others may call it animal may jog a few yards after the hit but are defiantly dead you just haven't shocked the nervous system and that is completely ok dead is dead. it does not require the latest greatest newfangled boom! boom! smoke stick to get the job done well. know your rifle and its ability and use quality bullets designed to kill even if the BC may not completely be up to snuff. spend more time hunting and less time chasing ghosts and goblins..
Shawn Williams
Shawn Williams