what caliber do you like for elk hunting?

[JMAN80]

I have used my 270 with 150 partitions on a couple of elk. Killed them just fine, but I Mostly use a 300RUM with 200 Accubonds

Them 150’s & .270 are a deadly combo!

 

[JMAN80]

I'm glad to hear that... I'm gathering the bits for a 300wsm. As mainly a 308 guy it made sense to be able to shoot the same bullets and barrels.

Lapua is Making brass for them again!

 

[JMAN80]

Last time I looked PRS shooters were shooting low recoil rifles, not some of the typical elk cartridges. Let them try that with a 7mag, .300 mag of some type, .338 and see if it is 1-2 seconds and they are still on target.

Check out Morgun King….. he got into PRS with a 7mag and he can run it but he’s a hunter at heart. Ain’t many like him! He’s big with NRL Hunter series.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

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?

One year me and the old lady ate 3 elk. We didnt eat much other meat. Learn how to braise it, thats one of the best ways. Roasts, cube steaks, fajitas, stir fries, mexican tacos, stews, chilis, ext. Its lean meat, it can get tough and dry if you treat it like marbled beef. Recipes that call for sirloin work well with wild game. Dont just throw it on the grill like a marbled ribeye or your going to be disappointed. I never cut chops or steaks. The back straps were cut into roasts. Theres lots of things you can do with the ground but I use very little ground meat in general so Id keep the scraps for stew instead. We do cook 2 to 3 meals a day and almost never eat out so that helps.

 

[CJ6]

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?

A decent Midwest deer (160-220) dressed will be gone in a month and a half between the wife and I and 4 grown (married) kids. Elk maybe 4 months tops.

 

[Dimner]

One year me and the old lady ate 3 elk. We didnt eat much other meat. Learn how to braise it, thats one of the best ways. Roasts, cube steaks, fajitas, stir fries, mexican tacos, stews, chilis, ext. Its lean meat, it can get tough and dry if you treat it like beef. Recipes that call for sirloin work well with wild game. Dont just throw it on the grill like a marbled ribeye or your going to be disappointed. I never cut chops or steaks. The back straps were cut into roasts. Theres lots of things you can do with the ground but I use very little ground meat in general so Id keep the scraps for stem instead. We do cook 2 to 3 meals a day and almost never eat out so that helps.

Thanks Alex.
Basically i do the following with venison

Roasts
Stew (crockpot)
White Bean Chicken chilli (of course with venison)
Seasoned small pre cooked strips and cubes for Quesadilla, salads, tacos, stir fry.

But the majority is just pan fried steaks in butter with light flour and seasonings. Man so yummy.

I don't have the equipment to do ground, so we don't do those recipes.

One thing im missing is a really good neck roast recipe. Haven't found one yet.

 

[Bc'z]

Break out the preasure cooker and get to canning

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I cant help you on that but we do always use the shanks which might be close to cooking a neck with all the tissues involved. Ossobuco is a good way to do shanks and I bet it would work well on a neck. 3 elk was too much. We didnt even take one the next year. We got a little burnt out. But 1-2 was good. I like to cook so finding new things to try is fun for me. I used to do white bean chili with pheasant. It was hard to beat. I dont have access to elk or pheasant anymore unfortunately.

 

[CJ6]

Easy and tasty dish is seering 3/4"-1" thick slices in a frying pan with butter, garlic and mushrooms. Put that into a baking pan with rice (whatever type you like) add cream of mushroom soup and bake.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Ground elk with 20-25% beef naval grills excellent burgers. Straight course ground for taco soup/chili and pasta sauce. I vac pack so a year in the freezer isn't a problem. Seasoned flour pan fried steaks(fresh) medium rare with potatoes/onions is a great camp meal.

 

[jds holler]

There's plenty of good cooking advice above, and for any critter, there is a few ways of cutting and cooking them that are better, and bester.
I do cut plenty of it into steak meat, but thick enough (3/4"ish) that I can leave it pretty rare and juicy in the middle. If you don't like meat on the medium rare side, you're flirting with disaster.

Elk burger is great, but we add at least 10% beef fat in the grind. The low and slow flour and oil in the skillet is great also, just don't over cook.

I haven't hunted or killed any elks for a half dozen years, but I've got two friends who do the "ranch hunt" thing every year, and they give us plenty every year. I just brought home about 50 pounds the other night. Some of it looks like it's been cut up with a hatchet, but I make it work. A can of mushroom soup and three hours in a 300 degree oven will turn even a badger into a delicious meal. jd

 

[Liven The Dream]

.270 Winchester . 99% Done Deal
.280 Remington 1% Done after a little walk .

 

[Uncle Bruce]

Ground elk with 20-25% beef naval grills excellent burgers. Straight course ground for taco soup/chili and pasta sauce. I vac pack so a year in the freezer isn't a problem. Seasoned flour pan fried steaks(fresh) medium rare with potatoes/onions is a great camp meal.

Please enlighten me on your version of beef navels.

 

[L.Sherm]

Ground elk with 20-25% beef naval grills excellent burgers. Straight course ground for taco soup/chili and pasta sauce. I vac pack so a year in the freezer isn't a problem. Seasoned flour pan fried steaks(fresh) medium rare with potatoes/onions is a great camp meal.

For years I've had Burger made mixed 50-50 with Elk/deer and a fatty Beef Burger.
I also have Breakfast sausage made the same way with Elk/deer- pork.
This year I did my own same way with Antelope it was pretty good.

 

[David Milisock]

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

Not to be a jackass, but what the hell good is a caliber without a cartridge?

 

[L.Sherm]

This has turned into like the argument between neck tension and neck interference.

 

[TheCZKid]

I'm in the final stages of building a new (to me) hunting rifle, for deer and elk here in Oregon. I have been using my trusty Remington 700 30-06, but I'm building a 7MM-08. It's the first bolt action rifle that I'm assembling myself. I purchased the tools to assemble it, and the parts for the rifle lightly used here on AS, with a Savage 10 action, and a Shilen select match 24" sporter profile barrel, 1:9 twist.

The first bullet I'm intending to test, and maybe shoot, is Hornady 154 gr SP Interlock with flat base, as I have almost 149 on hand, and they have good reviews. Also, have 91 of Nosler AccuBond 150 gr long range bullets, which are boat-tail and poly tipped. Figure the gun will like one better than the other, so looking forward to testing. I need to get the barrel bead blasted to take off the shine of the stainless barrel, then I can assemble it and get to testing.

Anyone have input on loads for this gun, for deer and elk, and hopefully for the bullets I noted, I'm interested in your suggestions.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Anyone have input on loads for this gun, for deer and elk, and hopefully for the bullets I noted, I'm interested in your suggestions.

Doug, you may also want to experiment with the Barnes Triple Shock bullets in your 7-08, as in my Ti 7-08 Ackley, they give stellar performance on the target, as well as being able to anchor a bull in the black timber. Their 140gr for elk and the 120gr for mulies seems to be what works for me using Varget.

Even using a 7-08 with the 140 for elk, I get complete penetration, leaving a very good blood trail if he doesn't drop on the spot, which we all know elk seldom do. Good luck with that build.

 

[Bc'z]

Doug, you may also want to experiment with the Barnes Triple Shock bullets in your 7-08, as in my Ti 7-08 Ackley, they give stellar performance on the target, as well as being able to anchor a bull in the black timber. Their 140gr for elk and the 120gr for mulies seems to be what works for me using Varget.

Even using a 7-08 with the 140 for elk, I get complete penetration, leaving a very good blood trail if he doesn't drop on the spot, which we all know elk seldom do. Good luck with that build.

Have you tried the LRX at all?
Barnes states a lower impact velocity required for expansion with the 139LRX down to 1400fps.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Have you tried the LRX at all?
Barnes states a lower impact velocity required for expansion with the 139LRX down to 1400fps.

No, have not, as I've got a large stash of the TTSX bullets on the shelf, so see no need to try something new. "If it ain't broke"......

But thanks for the suggestion.