Elk Hunting Cartridge Advice

[K22]

A good friend of mine will be going on a guided Elk hunt in Colorado. This will be his first hunting trip out west and first Elk hunting experience. I'm trying to help him prepare from a shooting perspective.

He's accomplished PA big game hunter but not a range shooter kind of guy. He will using his long time 308 rifle with a 3 x 9 scope and factory ammunition. He's taken a bunch of deer and three black bears in PA, the latter no small task. He's the best hunter I've ever seen but unlike me, he's not a reloader, range shooter or precise shooter type of guy. He's check's sight in before big game season with 3 shots and that's it. His go to ammo is 180 Remington soft point Core Loke factory ammo which he's used forever but due to terrain, all his shots were well under 150 yards.

His guide has advised him to be prepared for a 200 to 300 yards shot.

I've never hunted Elk and I haven't shot factory centerfire rifle ammo in a very long time. Can you Elk hunters recommend a factory offering that will be effective.

PS: My novice review of bullets and ballistic tables indicates that a 165-spitzer bullet might be a good compromise between velocity and energy for the aforementioned distances and cartridge.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Have him load up a good shooting load using the 180gr Nosler Partition and he'll be good to go. No elk I've ever shot with one has lived, all came home with me for dinner. Nothing magic about killing an elk, as always, shot placement is the key as long as the 'right' bullet is used.

This tidbit does not apply to your friend, but in my M70 ,338-06 Ackley, the Nosler 210gr Partition has really performed well on elk for me. Like end-to-end complete penetration of a large 5pt bull from just under 50 yards. That's just one, they've all died quickly using the Partition.

 

[nakneker]

If he is use to that .308 and use to that Remington ammo he is good to go if shots are limited to what the guide said, 2-300 yards. Lots of elk have gone to elk heaven using corelokts and a 308. Yes there are better choices but if he’s use to that set up I wouldn’t change a thing, I would encourage him to shoot a bit more than 3 times before the hunt. 300 yards isn’t a far shot but it’s twice the range he’s use to if all of his bear and deer were 150 and in. If he wants to get a new rig then the sky is the limit of course but there’s something to be said about using a rifle your familiar with. We’ve, that being family and friends, have killed a lot of elk here in Arizona with non magnum cartridges, That being said we’ve all gone to bigger offering as the shots have gotten longer over the years.

 

[slm9s]

Of all the chamberings/bullet combinations to take elk, I'd guess a 308 with 180 Core-Lokts are one of the most popular ever used. Is it what I would use? No. But for elk 300 yards and under I think your friend is going to do fine.
If he's looking for an excuse to buy another gun, you've come to the right place.

Dear Friend's Wife: Your husband is woefully undergunned and would risk wasting the money spent on this upcoming elk hunt out West. He needs to immediately purchase a Christensen Arms Ridgeline (or similar) in 300 win mag or 33 nosler or similar. A reloading setup with components would also be necessary to extract suitable performance from this new rifle. Out West, really really LONG SHOTS are the norm, so a riflescope with reliable turrets is necessary to successfully make such a shot. Procuring a Vortex Razor or simiilar optic will complete the bare minimum rifle platform to ensure a happy outcome to the hunt.

 

[wboggs]

Federal Premium 175 gr terminal assent.
Fed Prem 180 nosler Part if you can find them
Barnes Vortex 168gr tipped tsx if you can find them.
Zero for 200, do not take a shot over 300. Closer is better.
Get in physical shape for the mountains.

 

[CharlieNC]

Definitely practice shooting more than just checking 3shots for zero. Try various field shooting positions. Ammo is cheap vs blowing a shot.

 

[Rem06]

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[wboggs]

Good advice from CharlieNC.
Also practice after running when you are out of breath.
I don't know his age but the western mountains are vastly different from the east.

 

[Rem06]

Good advice from CharlieNC.
Also practice after running when you are out of breath.
I don't know his age but the western mountains are vastly different from the east.

 

[ALK]

Altitude here is a killer (for real). I to believe his 308 will be fine especially since he's shot it alot. A few longer practice sessions would help. By far the worst problem hunters have, coming from another state, is physical condition.

 

[rockhound78]

165 Partition would work well, I would think or a good bonded core bullet, like an Accubond. If he is shooting the Remington 180, then that would work just fine out to 300yds. I would sight in 3" high at 100yds, that should put him on at about 225yds and probably about 6" low @ 300yds. Where is your friend going to hunt, here in Colorado?

Like ALK says, altitude here is a killer. Tough enough on us that live here at 6000 ft, when we are climbing a hill at 10,000 feet!!!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

5/5 on a paper plate at 300yards gtg, if the combo won't do that keep working. I do mean hitting the paper plate each time.

 

[K22]

If he is use to that .308 and use to that Remington ammo he is good to go if shots are limited to what the guide said, 2-300 yards. Lots of elk have gone to elk heaven using corelokts and a 308. Yes there are better choices but if he’s use to that set up I wouldn’t change a thing, I would encourage him to shoot a bit more than 3 times before the hunt. 300 yards isn’t a far shot but it’s twice the range he’s use to if all of his bear and deer were 150 and in. If he wants to get a new rig then the sky is the limit of course but there’s something to be said about using a rifle your familiar with. We’ve, that being family and friends, have killed a lot of elk here in Arizona with non magnum cartridges, That being said we’ve all gone to bigger offering as the shit’s have gotten longer over the years.

That's exactly what the Guide told him, take the rifle you're most familiar with and that is what he is going to do.

I'm going to help prepare him shooting wise and I can assure you that he'll take more than 3 shots. I plan on having him shooting at different ranges from 100 to 300.

I agree, Rem Core Loke's are good bullets. I was just concerned about the 180-grain trajectory of a soft point round nose. I had plan to have him sight in 250 yards with a boat tail spitzer which would put him within the vital area from 50 to 300 yards without any hold over. Of course, all this depends on what factory offerings we can find available.

 

[K22]

Definitely practice shooting more than just checking 3shots for zero. Try various field shooting positions. Ammo is cheap vs blowing a shot.

Agree - I will be helping him prepare from a shooting perspective.

 

[K22]

165 Partition would work well, I would think or a good bonded core bullet, like an Accubond. If he is shooting the Remington 180, then that would work just fine out to 300yds. I would sight in 3" high at 100yds, that should put him on at about 225yds and probably about 6" low @ 300yds. Where is your friend going to hunt, here in Colorado?

Like ALK says, altitude here is a killer. Tough enough on us that live here at 6000 ft, when we are climbing a hill at 10,000 feet!!!

Don't know the location in Colorado - guide advised him to prepare to a potential 200 to 300 yards shot.

 

[K22]

Altitude here is a killer (for real). I to believe his 308 will be fine especially since he's shot it alot. A few longer practice sessions would help. By far the worst problem hunters have, coming from another state, is physical condition.

My friend is 73 years old in terrific physical condition. But I've been to Colorado, no hunting, but vacationing and I know the Altitude can be a big issue for an eastern.
Thanks.

 

[K22]

Have him load up a good shooting load using the 180gr Nosler Partition and he'll be good to go. No elk I've ever shot with one has lived, all came home with me for dinner. Nothing magic about killing an elk, as always, shot placement is the key as long as the 'right' bullet is used.

This tidbit does not apply to your friend, but in my M70 ,338-06 Ackley, the Nosler 210gr Partition has really performed well on elk for me. Like end-to-end complete penetration of a large 5pt bull from just under 50 yards. That's just one, they've all died quickly using the Partition.

He will used factory ammo.

 

[K22]

5/5 on a paper plate at 300yards gtg, if the combo won't do that keep working. I do mean hitting the paper plate each time.

Love the idea of practical shooting - it's the way I spend 95% of my range time shooting at 3 x 5 cards (practice practice for varmint and predator hunting).

I'm nowhere near the capability of hunting big game as my friend is but I am a practical precision hunter / shooter which he is not. I will be helping him prepare for this trip of a lifetime. By the time he departs, he will be ready or at least know his capability to make that shot of a lifetime.

Since I will never make that hunt, I will live it vicariously through him.

Drill Sargent - K22

 

[ALK]

One more note--Everyone could use a friend like you. Good on you!

 

[Chappy]

Getting something with either a 180 Nosler partition or a 165 Barnes TSX. That's my advice.