Going on an Elk hunt next year in Colorado. Was out there in 03 and used a Rem 700 Sendero in 300UM to kill a nice 5x5 but realized a lighter rifle would be nice. I have a 270 and a couple 308’s and 30-06 sporter weight rifles and can’t decide which one to use. I’m leaning more towards the 270 for less recoil and flatter trajectory since accurate shot placement trumps all but kinda feel it’s a lil on the small side for elk. Most shots would be less than 200 yards but a possibility of 4-500 yards if it was presented. I’m confident out to 400 yards as I shoot it regularly on my range at home. I know a quality bullet is a must especially for the 270 so which of those 3 calibers would you choose and what bullets would you prefer to use if it was accurate enough in your rifle?
Help me choose a elk rifle!
- Thread starter JASON50CAL
- Start date
CharlieNC
Gold $$ Contributor
Any of those would perform well, so choose the one that you can practice with the most and shoot most confidently. You are correct regarding proper bullet selection, and I suggest you get a copy of Nathan Foster's Terminal Ballistics which has more data based info than you could ascertain from informal recommendations. Have fun!
nwmnbowhunter
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm a 270 win man.
My new go to load that is shooting lights out in all 4 of my 270s is...
New peterson brass
Fed 210M primer
116 gr absolute hammer bullet
60.5 grains of H4350
3.30 coal
In 22 inch barrels I'm getting 3400 fps
In 24 inch barrels I'm getting 3500 fps
Zero pressure signs. I started getting ejector marks at 62 grains.
If you don't like that, any 130gr with 60 gr of h4831 at 3100, or 150gr with 55gr H4350 at 2900 will do just fine within 400 yards.
My new go to load that is shooting lights out in all 4 of my 270s is...
New peterson brass
Fed 210M primer
116 gr absolute hammer bullet
60.5 grains of H4350
3.30 coal
In 22 inch barrels I'm getting 3400 fps
In 24 inch barrels I'm getting 3500 fps
Zero pressure signs. I started getting ejector marks at 62 grains.
If you don't like that, any 130gr with 60 gr of h4831 at 3100, or 150gr with 55gr H4350 at 2900 will do just fine within 400 yards.
Your .270 WCF with, some Berger 140 grain, Classic Hunters, will "Do" everything you want, to 500 Yards and without, a Ton of Recoil and in,.. a NICE,.. light weight, Rifle ! Great choice, for, "Boiler Room", shots !
Nothing wrong with, the 06 with 165 Part's, either !
The 140 gr Classic's, are VERY Accurate ! I'm getting, SUB 1/2 MOA groups out of my, 7.7 pound, .270 WSM Tikka and recently shot, a 6" group at,.. 700 Yards with them.
Leave your HEAVY "Cannon",.. in the Safe !
Nothing wrong with, the 06 with 165 Part's, either !
The 140 gr Classic's, are VERY Accurate ! I'm getting, SUB 1/2 MOA groups out of my, 7.7 pound, .270 WSM Tikka and recently shot, a 6" group at,.. 700 Yards with them.
Leave your HEAVY "Cannon",.. in the Safe !
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The first question is do the rifles shoot well? If they all shoot well then the next question is how long a barrel on the 30 06? If you have 24" or 26" on the 30 06 then Hornady has a nice 200 grain ELDX you might want to try. They also have a 178 grain ELDX. If the 30 06 only has a 22" barrel you may only want the 178.
46and2
Silver $$ Contributor
Take the 300 Rum, you might be glad you did.
I was thinking of bringing two so I had a backup rifle just in case
.270 is a great cartridge for Elk given you already have one on hand. The only other cartridge I'd say Trump's it in the same case capacity (especially for a long range option) is the .280. Heavier bullets available with better LR ballistics. Most likely your .270 is a 10 twist barrel and most .280 barrels offer 9-9.5 twist barrels offering use of bullets up to 168-175 in the low drag configuration. Again the .270 certainly will do the job out to the ranges you speak of no problem.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Two words:
Alex Wheeler
Contact him!
Alex Wheeler
Contact him!
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
I’ve hunted elk all my life, my first rifle was a 270 in a Remington 700. It was my only rifle growing up and it accounted for a lot of game. At the time I was using factory Remington CorLokts in 130 grain. It’s still a very effective cartridge at the ranges you are talking about, a 270 with partitions is a lethal combo on elk. Lots of other good Bullet choices too, were spoiled. You lose some range compared to the big mags and you can’t take some of the shots you can with the bigger cartridges but it’s taken a lot of elk and done so very cleanly.
The others you mention have done so as well. I’d just echo what’s been said above, take the one you shoot and know the best. Pick a suitable bullet for elk, don’t take a shot that is pushing you past ranges and angles your comfortable with. I certainly wouldn’t go buy another rifle though unless you need a good excuse, if that’s the case have fun Picking a new one.
The others you mention have done so as well. I’d just echo what’s been said above, take the one you shoot and know the best. Pick a suitable bullet for elk, don’t take a shot that is pushing you past ranges and angles your comfortable with. I certainly wouldn’t go buy another rifle though unless you need a good excuse, if that’s the case have fun Picking a new one.
This...
And that!!!
My good friend dumped, and I mean DUMPED a dandy 6x6 last year with his Tika 06' 165gr partition.
My backup would be the 270 with a 150 partition.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Always take 2 rifles/bows on out of state big game hunts. This year I will be going to Montana, with a group. I have a 30TC, and 7saum that I have killed elk with, but I may take a 30-06 or 338wm as a 2nd because others in the group have them. So some redundancy without having to go to a store(plus the ammo situation in stores, no longer can you count on even a "standard" cartridge being available). I shoot out to 500, but even on public land getting inside 200 yards is not that difficult. Already decided the 30TC with 165 sst will be my primary again(2 elk with it) this time suppressed.
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