what caliber do you like for elk hunting?

[Dimner]

I guess I don't need a cartridge that's more powerful than my 270, because I might not be a good enough shot to hit a 4 or 5 hundred yard elk with a kill shot -- and I know it. There are a lot of guys who aren't any better than I am but they just don't know it. And a "Magnaboomer" isn't gonna help a lot.

It's been my experience that most guys don't shoot much better than 2 MOA with their deer/elk rifles. And that's off a concrete bench at the range. Take away the sand bags, or lead sled, and put them on a bog-pod, or a sketchy rest in natural conditions, and that is probably gonna double or triple. That's gonna make for a 16 + MOA group at 400 yards,, and then enter the error of wind and trajectory miscalculations.

Now I know that most of the members here wouldn't have much of a problem in this regard, -- I'm just thinking of the guys like me who aren't as good as some of y'all. jd

Very well said.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

My best buddy has taken piles of elk. He passes on tons of huge trophies. He prefers a bow, but his rifle is a 7 mag. His wife uses a .243. He says the .243 works fine, but she also just sits on the back porch till one she likes walks by . Must be nice to own a ranch in MT eh?

 

[chuckshooter]

30 cal. Barnes 180gr. triple shock. leaves the barrel at 180grs. recover it on the far side of the animal, it still weighs 180 grs. the pedals of the bullet open up and fold back turning into a razor sharp cutting machine,

 

[ebb]

The outfitter I hunted with killed 2 or 3 for the freezer every year with a 30/30. He was shrewd old codger so I bet he used up his cow tags and killed them rather close. Winchester built in 1914 I think he said, 0% bluing, so dry where he lived it was silver not really bright but silver and no rust.

 

[6fatrat]

300 win mag, but this year a crossbow.

 

[ranger3]

In my mind, 300 WM is the best

 

[Rockchuck]

460 why magnum 700gr solidsreally a 300 win mag hard to beat

 

[Doug Casner]

The way I always thought that magnaboomer might get to the vitals if you hit him in the ass. Doug

 

[Tangent]

I know nothing about hunting other than what I read. 300WM seems to be a good all-rounder with a variety of bullet weights.

 

[jds holler]

I've been shooting lately with a friend who has an old Rem 700 BDL in 8mm Rem Mag. (which I"d guess could be called a magnaboomer) The barrel is kind of medium weight, and it's got a brake on it that tames it down pretty well. He takes his time shooting a group, and frequently has most holes touching at 100. The thing shoots like a dream, and I'd love to have it, but not because it's a magna boomer. jd

 

[chuckshooter]

maybe I'm being a bit picky but, I'd like to think the people on this forum know the difference between caliber and cartridge. the OP asked what "caliber" and most people are responding with what "cartridge". It's kind of like calling a revolver a pistol to a hand gun guy. there are not the same, but both are hand guns. for all I know, he probably meant to say cartridge. OK. I'm ready, I can take it. fire back

 

[DiffEQ]

maybe I'm being a bit picky but, I'd like to think the people on this forum know the difference between caliber and cartridge. the OP asked what "caliber" and most people are responding with what "cartridge". It's kind of like calling a revolver a pistol to a hand gun guy. there are not the same, but both hand guns. for all I know, he probably meant to say cartridge. OK. I'm ready, I can take it. fire back

Perhaps the OP, @outlaw1873, confused caliber with cartridge when posting the title.
I'm appreciative of other's posting their preferred cartridge. .270 is generally how 270 Winchester is referenced.
If I told you I preferred .264, .284, .308, .338 or .359 caliber, that would give you a broad range of cartridges to choose from. I think it really comes down to what gun do you prefer.
I first started with 7 Mag for over five years. Switched to 7mm/08 for another five, used a 6.5 Swede one year, my 338 Model 70 two years, and this year I haven't decided whether to use my 35 Remington, 6.5 Swede, 300 Savage, or 7mm/08. I think I'm done with the magnums.
Edit to add, heck, I might even use my 450 Bushmaster this year, since where I'll be hunting, a shot more than two hundred yards is extremely unlikely.

 

[chuckshooter]

Perhaps the OP, @outlaw1873, confused caliber with cartridge when posting the title.
I'm appreciative of other's posting their preferred cartridge. .270 is generally how 270 Winchester is referenced.
If I told you I preferred .264, .284, .308, .338 or .359 caliber, that would give you a broad range of cartridges to choose from. I think it really comes down to what gun do you prefer.
I first started with 7 Mag for over five years. Switched to 7mm/08 for another five, used a 6.5 Swede one year, my 338 Model 70 two years, and this year I haven't decided whether to use my 35 Remington, 6.5 Swede, 300 Savage, or 7mm/08. I think I'm done with the magnums.
Edit to add, heck, I might even use my 450 Bushmaster this year, since where I'll be hunting, a shot more than two hundred yards is extremely unlikely.

cartridge/caliber selection should be like the answer to the old question of, How much toilet paper does someone need. the answer is...

enough to get the job done.

my preferred cartridge for elk is 300 wby. on a rem. 700. a 300wm would have been fine but, I had a defective rem. in the repair shop and they offered me this gun as a replacement. I couldn't say no.

 

[jds holler]

Well, I guess this has turned into another of the "how big for elk" threads. According to my archives, there has been 114 of these threads since the inception of this forum, for a total of 2873 individual posts.

AND -- The OP hasn't seen fit to poke his nose back into the thread that he started!! I think we've been punked.. jd

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I've heard of folks using a .270 for cow elk. saw it also on Yellowstone Wardens so it has to be true. Lol.

It is true if you can shoot here's mine at 390 yards throat shot 270 down never got up.The stick marks the bullets entry.Hornady 145 grain ELD-X. sighted in at 200 yards , about 18 inches low at 400.

 

[n.c.outlaw2024]

thank you guys. always been curious about this. guess i did confuse caliber with cartridge.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Your talking 1to maybe 2 seconds.
I've shot plenty of elk and deer on " high" country hunting trips cant think of 1 instance a single shot would have not sufficed. Set up properly a single shot can be shot pretty quick. Even though I dont run single shots hunting I've ran them pretty quick on all my varment rifles.
I'll take accuracy anyday if a single shot is what it takes.

I appreciate your skill and experience in making one shot kills. Many members here do not equal you. I trust you are not telling me a single shot is more accurate than a bolt action rifle.

I really think you missed the point. L. Sherm was pointing out. To me he's telling you to make sure you have the confidence to take ANY game at ANY distance. If you don't want to invest in the time to gain the confidence at 300, 400, or even 1000 yards, DON'T!

I have never taken an Elk, but I can assure you that there are people who have taken Elk with a 22LR. If you can get close enough to get a head shot, that Elk is going down. I do love Elk meat though, not the tenderloin as much as the loin/backstrap or roasts. But I'll eat it if it gets down to a bowl of peas or Elk tenderloin, I don't mind that liver taste as much.This holds true for the low country also, as it does all Hunting. If you don't feel confident in the shot, don't take it, keep looking for another animal.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The Barnes .308 168 gr blems(they actually weigh 165.5 having an extra pressure band cut) continue to group very well. I won the TC Icon 30TC at a RMEF banquet, only firearm I have won. I like to think that rifle has a little extra luck in it. Still will limit my max shooting distance based on bullet velocity, as there is a minimum velocity for reliable expansion of copper solids. The cow/calf tag I have is in a mountain area, no motor vehicles off designated roads, bone out kills and pack. Probably will be by myself (64) as the in state group has retired from elk hunting. I like the high shoulder shot, 4-5" below the top edge, they take no steps.

 

[V509]

A Remington titanium 700 chambered in 30.06 is what I have used for years and found it to be effective.

My hunting is generally limited to 400 to 450 yards or so

 

[Dimner]

How are you guys that take more than one elk a year eating all that meat? Two white tail a year feeds us fine and usually there is a bit left over before the next hunting season for jerky and meat sticks.

What are your go-to recipes? I have to imagine it's something with easy prep and cooking. Or maybe y'all have huge families?