308 win, for elk.

[GlennGTR1]

Is anyone here using a 308 win, for elk hunting?If so what kind of load are you using and what are the results.

 

[Klong]

I did not shoot it, but a freind of mine has shot many with the 180 Remington core lock bullet. Most were less than 100 yards, but a couple were out to 200 yards. Shot placement is very important ith the 308.

I shot 1 with the 300 WSM and the 168 Barnes bullet.

 

[RonAKA]

I think it would be just fine out to 200 yards or so. I like Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame bullets for big game.

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.308winchester.html

 

[shortgrass]

The .308 for elk? Why not? As mentioned, make shot placement a priority, use a bullet of the proper construction. Know the rifles' , the cartridges', and your limitations. I've been using either my .30/06 or .270 Winchester for over twenty years, never felt I needed a magnum because I insist on picking my shots and "hunting", not just shooting long range. I've never had to 'chase' one.

 

[FryeGuy]

A .308 is bigger than anything I have shot one with. I haven't had to track one yet. I did shoot one with a .264 win mag, but I was only using 120grain bullet, and that was a 300yd shot. look at the ballistics on it. it really isn't that much slower with the 165 bullets than a 30-06 or a 300 mag? it is only 100fps slower than the 30-06, and 400fps slower than a 300wmag? the 30-06 was the go to gun forever. I have two .308's now, and the next time I go elk hunting, it will be with one of them. I sure as heck wouldn't hesitate to shoot 300yds with it either!

 

[coues52]

Keep the shots within 300yds,pick your shot,(no texas heart shots) it will do fine.. my wife used one on her 340 Bull with one. Ps: used to guide elk hunters ( Deer, antelope,moose) for years.. biggest problems I had was hunters showing up with 300 mags,338,etc and couldn,t handle them... Do not expect "bang flop" even with the mags plan on 2 shots..she used the 165 sierra in her pre 64 win 308 (2 solid lung hits).~Danny

 

[North Fork]

I have killed allot of elk with a 308 i use 165gr nosler ballistic hunting bullits the last to where over 300 yards.

 

[Scott Harris]

308 is plenty for elk. My son shot one last year with a 125 gr Nosler loaded as a light recoil round. It stood there after being shot and keeled over about 15 seconds later. Elk are just overgrown deer, you don't need a canon to take em down. Shot placement is always the key.

 

[bozo699]

Elk are just overgrown deer, you don't need a canon to take em down.That is not true elk are huge hard to kill animals, Nothing @ all like deer!!!
However a 150-180 grain hunting bullets put in the right place out of a .308 win should be able to take elk out to 300 yards. Maybe even further if you know and understand your rifle, yourself, and your prey.
Wayne.

 

[zcrackshot]

My son shot a cow elk with a 168 gr Berger VLD that left the muzzle of my Tikka 308 slower than my 300 Ultra pushes them at 300 yards. The animal was standing broadside at a distance of 544 yards per my Leica CRF1200. The cow dropped at the shot and rolled 20 yards downhill and never so much as kicked. I use 155 gr VLD's on mule deer with much the same result. Tried many other bullets and have to say that inside of 400 yards the sierra gameking and hornady interlocks are absolute killers too. Good luck with your 308. Don't discredit a round that deserves more respect than given. Hitting your target is paramount and my wife and son both love my 308 because it's so mild to shoot and deadly accurate, it also kills with the best of them when kept inside it's potential limits.

 

[bozo699]

zcrackshot,
If your tikka .308 is 1/2 as accurate as my 7mm-08 Tikka T3 and I am sure it is Than it is scary accurate,and I agree with your end statement.
(it also kills with the best of them when kept inside it's( potential) limits.)
Wayne.

 

[zcrackshot]

Bozo699, for your information My Tikka is a T3 Varminter topped with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14X44 and the worst group I've ever shot with it myself was right at an inch C-C with some old 150 gr Remington Core-Lokts that I wanted to get rid of. It regularly prints groups in the .3's with 155 gr Bergers and hardly a measurable difference with 168's. I have a T3 lite in 6.5X55 swede that shoots just as good with nearly anything I load for it. Great rifles for the money!

 

[bozo699]

zcrackshot,
That is great, I said I would never buy factory rifles anymore But these Tikka's really shoot. Most everyone I talk to about these rifles have similar results as you and I have had. Good luck to you and your family with your hunting adventure's this season.
Wayne.

 

[Steave]

Sure, a .308 is plenty with a properly constructed bullet of sufficient weight.

That said, IMO, it is not an ideal choice. I no longer elk hunt, I really don't hunt any big game, for that matter, but did a fair amount of it when I lived in Wyoming. An elk is a damn big animal and most of the terrain in elk country, well, long or relatively long shots are common. I'm a firm believer using a round with plenty of horsepower for elk, personally, my favorite was a .338 Win Mag with a 225 gr. Nosler Partition, I also used a .300 H&H with 180 and 200 gr. Partitions.

I've never believed that magnum rounds are the the be all end all of hunting rounds; shot placement is king and bullet construction is queen, but I think that bullet weight and velocity are also important for elk.

 

[bozo699]

Sure, a .308 is plenty with a properly constructed bullet of sufficient weight.

That said, IMO, it is not an ideal choice. I no longer elk hunt, I really don't hunt any big game, for that matter, but did a fair amount of it when I lived in Wyoming. An elk is a damn big animal and most of the terrain in elk country, well, long or relatively long shots are common. I'm a firm believer using a round with plenty of horsepower for elk, personally, my favorite was a .338 Win Mag with a 225 gr. Nosler Partition, I also used a .300 H&H with 180 and 200 gr. Partitions.

I've never believed that magnum rounds are the the be all end all of hunting rounds; shot placement is king and bullet construction is queen, but I think that bullet weight and velocity are also important for elk.

Well put Steave.
Wayne.