Elk calibers
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Try a classic/classic.
Find and treasure an OM 70 in 300 H&H. I do...
Find and treasure an OM 70 in 300 H&H. I do...
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
A big bull is twice the size of a cow with shoulder bones to match. Theres a big difference.
We had a jack@$$ show up in camp one time toting a 257 weatherby with 17 rounds of ammo, no two the same make or bullet, in a sandwich baggy no less, that had probably been reused for 15 years.
Now nothing wrong with a 257 weatherby, but help me out a little. Buy a couple boxes of ammo and have it sighted in when you get to camp.
Said he had shot plenty of coyotes off his tractor at home so he knows his rifle is sighted in.
I took 3 rounds and got him on paper at 35 yds, and one to check at a 100. So that left us with 13 rounds of ammo on a $5K elk hunt.
I figured we were safe to ethically shoot at an elk out to 200 yds.
Well I packed him around all week, and he was such a whiner, and bitcher, and all round miserable human that just about everybody in camp hated him by the 3rd day.
5th day, he was the last guy that still needed an elk. I took him to a favorite clearing. Propped him up in a blind made out of sticks and branches. I went over the ridge and watched a clear cut on the other side.
Last 5 minutes of light, I'm packing up to go get him, And a shot rings out. "No way"! I took off running and found him standing in the middle of the meadow admiring a big 5x5 bull lying there on the ground. Perfect little hole right behind the shoulder.
By the time we got him field dressed, in the truck, and down the mountain it was just past supper time. We pulled to the kitchen and everyone came spilling out to see what we got. Guides, hunters, the cook - everyone started high 5ing me and slapping me on the back. Pretty much ignored the jack@$$ hunter.
So, I can say a mismatched 257 weatherby with who knows what kind of ammo can kill a 3yr old bull elk at 75yds.
Even if it is a miracle.
Now nothing wrong with a 257 weatherby, but help me out a little. Buy a couple boxes of ammo and have it sighted in when you get to camp.
Said he had shot plenty of coyotes off his tractor at home so he knows his rifle is sighted in.
I took 3 rounds and got him on paper at 35 yds, and one to check at a 100. So that left us with 13 rounds of ammo on a $5K elk hunt.
I figured we were safe to ethically shoot at an elk out to 200 yds.
Well I packed him around all week, and he was such a whiner, and bitcher, and all round miserable human that just about everybody in camp hated him by the 3rd day.
5th day, he was the last guy that still needed an elk. I took him to a favorite clearing. Propped him up in a blind made out of sticks and branches. I went over the ridge and watched a clear cut on the other side.
Last 5 minutes of light, I'm packing up to go get him, And a shot rings out. "No way"! I took off running and found him standing in the middle of the meadow admiring a big 5x5 bull lying there on the ground. Perfect little hole right behind the shoulder.
By the time we got him field dressed, in the truck, and down the mountain it was just past supper time. We pulled to the kitchen and everyone came spilling out to see what we got. Guides, hunters, the cook - everyone started high 5ing me and slapping me on the back. Pretty much ignored the jack@$$ hunter.
So, I can say a mismatched 257 weatherby with who knows what kind of ammo can kill a 3yr old bull elk at 75yds.
Even if it is a miracle.
No miracle there. The quarter bore kills as well as anything else. Proper shot placement.We had a jack@$$ show up in camp one time toting a 257 weatherby with 17 rounds of ammo, no two the same make or bullet, in a sandwich baggy no less, that had probably been reused for 15 years.
Now nothing wrong with a 257 weatherby, but help me out a little. Buy a couple boxes of ammo and have it sighted in when you get to camp.
Said he had shot plenty of coyotes off his tractor at home so he knows his rifle is sighted in.
I took 3 rounds and got him on paper at 35 yds, and one to check at a 100. So that left us with 13 rounds of ammo on a $5K elk hunt.
I figured we were safe to ethically shoot at an elk out to 200 yds.
Well I packed him around all week, and he was such a whiner, and bitcher, and all round miserable human that just about everybody in camp hated him by the 3rd day.
5th day, he was the last guy that still needed an elk. I took him to a favorite clearing. Propped him up in a blind made out of sticks and branches. I went over the ridge and watched a clear cut on the other side.
Last 5 minutes of light, I'm packing up to go get him, And a shot rings out. "No way"! I took off running and found him standing in the middle of the meadow admiring a big 5x5 bull lying there on the ground. Perfect little hole right behind the shoulder.
By the time we got him field dressed, in the truck, and down the mountain it was just past supper time. We pulled to the kitchen and everyone came spilling out to see what we got. Guides, hunters, the cook - everyone started high 5ing me and slapping me on the back. Pretty much ignored the jack@$$ hunter.
So, I can say a mismatched 257 weatherby with who knows what kind of ammo can kill a 3yr old bull elk at 75yds.
Even if it is a miracle.
The difference in weight isn't as much as some think it is. A bull looks much larger than a cow because it is a bit taller and close to two feet longer. The antlers on a mature bull can weigh 40 pounds, or maybe even more. Average weight for a Rocky Mountain Bull is 700 pounds, while the average weight for a cow is 500 pounds. The Roosevelt's bull averages 900 pounds, whereas the cow averages 600 pounds.
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
Great story Sam,
I live in elk country and stories like yours are not rare. Elk have a will to live that is unmatched by anything I have seen. Its not about size. Moose are bigger but dont have the same will to live. All the small caliber guys will be happy, until the day they aren't. Then they will know why some of us have opinions like we do.
I live in elk country and stories like yours are not rare. Elk have a will to live that is unmatched by anything I have seen. Its not about size. Moose are bigger but dont have the same will to live. All the small caliber guys will be happy, until the day they aren't. Then they will know why some of us have opinions like we do.
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Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
^^^^^^Exactly!^^^^^^^^^^
CW
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
.270 Winchester 24" Barrel 98 Action Canjar Trigger 150 gr Speer Hot Core
longest shot 567 Colorado Grand Junction one side of the Canyon to the other .( never do it again ). To Old.
Took the Bullet seconds to get there, took me hours ….
longest shot 567 Colorado Grand Junction one side of the Canyon to the other .( never do it again ). To Old.
Took the Bullet seconds to get there, took me hours ….
I'm not trying to pick a fight but if I draw cow tag it would be 4th season, different game unit, different season, and be lower than I normally hunt on bull tag. It's also tag I don't draw every year. I hope that answer your question
Sure does, curiosity creates questions, questions create conversation, conversation creates the ability to learn from others.
I'm seriously considering building a 300norma, and if I go this route it would definitely be my choice over the 06'.
That said, I've hunted elk for close to 20 years. Never killed one either.
It's a different hunt altogether when you use a bow. Getting to within 40 yards is tough.
I've called big ass scratchin bulls into some really close range, under 20 yards and not have a shot due to brush or cows standing in the way.
the issue it not whether the small caliber will kill the elk under perfect conditions. it will kill easily if the elk cooperates and stands still broadside.
if the elk appears at the last 15 minutes of light on the last day and you have climbed that mountain everyday of season and seen no elk. if the elk appears at an odd angle and is only going to be visible for one minute of those last 15 minutes as he walks over the ridge do you have the fortitude to pass the shot? or do you carry the caliber that will kill that elk?
if you have not climbed that mountain you really don't understand the dilemma. or the effort and expense expended just to get there. especially if you have a 30 hour drive and only get to hunt every few years.
some recovered bullets. perhaps twice as many were not recovered because they exited.
the one on the right is one to note. it was found beside my bullet and had obviously been in the elk for at least a year. the elk was quite healthy at the time of expiration.
theses are 180 gr speer grand slams and most were found because they transited a large amount of the animal at an angle.
if the elk appears at the last 15 minutes of light on the last day and you have climbed that mountain everyday of season and seen no elk. if the elk appears at an odd angle and is only going to be visible for one minute of those last 15 minutes as he walks over the ridge do you have the fortitude to pass the shot? or do you carry the caliber that will kill that elk?
if you have not climbed that mountain you really don't understand the dilemma. or the effort and expense expended just to get there. especially if you have a 30 hour drive and only get to hunt every few years.
some recovered bullets. perhaps twice as many were not recovered because they exited.
the one on the right is one to note. it was found beside my bullet and had obviously been in the elk for at least a year. the elk was quite healthy at the time of expiration.
theses are 180 gr speer grand slams and most were found because they transited a large amount of the animal at an angle.
I've whittled my way down to two calibers and 3 rifles. 25 and .375. I seriously doubt I'll ever use the 375 H&H again, unless I am going grizzly hunting.
What bullet were using for 698 yard shot? Muzzle velocity? Barrel length? Any wind? Where did you hit it? Pass thru?
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