Best Elk cartridge

vikingpreacher · 02-28-2008, 05:54 PM

Me and my buddy were talkin' about trying to get an Elk hunt next year and for me I'd use a muzzleloader but, if you were going to choose 1 cartridge for Elk hunting what would it be?

Midas · 02-28-2008, 05:59 PM

.338 Winchester Magnum

texnmidwest · 02-28-2008, 06:19 PM

Although I am not a fan of recoil and know there have been a lot of elk fall to lighter cartridges, I think I would choose a 7mm mag. or 300 win Mag. But for the most part if I have a rifle in the 30-06/270 class and can place my shots well that is what I would take. The most important thing in choosing a cartridge is choosing what you can hit a gnat in the butt at 200 meters with. With in reason of course.

Magnumsrule · 02-28-2008, 06:41 PM

Same. 7mm rem mag or 300 win mag.

thebigitch62 · 02-28-2008, 07:07 PM

.300 RUM it works

7mmremmag1995 · 02-28-2008, 07:15 PM

50 BMG

!!!!

i'd take a 7mm Rem mag. flat shooting

270wsm · 02-28-2008, 07:17 PM

.300WSM

billy · 02-28-2008, 07:53 PM

45-70

samuel · 02-28-2008, 07:59 PM

There are three cartridges that I always liked,.7mm mag,.300win mag,and .375H&H..Had no trouble dropping them with little or no running with a double lung shot with any of these.I like Midas,s .338 but that is a lot of gun. sam.

Idaho Dave · 02-28-2008, 08:00 PM

I have taken several with a 300 win mag and several with 30-06

MOD 70 · 02-28-2008, 10:05 PM

.375 H@H or .416 Rem. or .416 Rigby. A .338 or .340 Wea. would be perfect, but I don`t have either of those right now. I know lesser cartridges will kill any elk that ever walked, but if you only get one chance at a true trophy bull and he`s going away from you(odds are 50/50 , they do have two ends ) at 250 yrds what do you do? Serious elk hunting requires serious guns. Big elk - Big bears, It seems you always find them together. It might be different where you live and hunt, but I know it`s right for where I am.

Magnumsrule · 02-28-2008, 10:11 PM

Agreed that you need a fairly big gun. However .416 is getting pretty big and your range is starting to be limited. 300win mag would do fine at 250 yards. Could step up to 300rum. 338 ultra mag.

Ron AKA · 02-28-2008, 10:19 PM

Elk are not really that big. Between deer and moose -- probably bit closer to moose. They tend to offer longer ranges shots if hunted in more open country. Nice to have a flatter shooting gun. A 270 or 280 would do fine with 140-150 grain bullet, as would the 7mm RM and 300 WM, but the later two are getting into overkill for the game being hunted. I've hunted them with my 264 WM, but sadly report I never got to test it!

Ron

Magnumsrule · 02-28-2008, 10:21 PM

Bull elk here are over 1000 pounds. 270s are not recommended to take them. You have to break bone with an elk. I bneleive that elk are much tuffer than moose. Moose are bigger in size but they will not take as much of a beating. 7mm and 300 are optimal in my opinion as the are flat and hards hitters. Long shots are almost always what happens.

sbowers5 · 02-28-2008, 10:36 PM

no bone breaking is required when you put the round through both lungs animals can'tl live if shot in this manner. just my opinion.
steve

jaeger · 02-28-2008, 10:37 PM

Even though I do not own one I would have to say the .300 WM would have to be the best for elk. I have fired the 338rum and it is just punishing. A 7mm mag would probably do just fine but I am a .30 cal fan. And the faster the better. Or you could take out a second mortgage on your house and use .300 RUM power level 3. at $80.sumthing a box. oh and I use a .308.

Ron AKA · 02-28-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbowers5

no bone breaking is required when you put the round through both lungs animals can'tl live if shot in this manner. just my opinion.
steve

I agree it is the only way. Rib bones break easily.

Ron

Mooseman684 · 02-29-2008, 12:32 AM

.300 Win Mag would be just perfect for Elk ...even at long ranges...
Rich

AKHunter · 02-29-2008, 01:54 AM

.280 rem to a .338ish would do fine. I am puzzled by the break bones requirement and the tougher than moose statement. Surprise a critter with a bullet properly placed and it WILL take a dirt nap, pronto.

MOD 70 · 02-29-2008, 01:55 AM

If you wanted to take a less than optimum shot as in the scenario that I suggested,do you feel a .30 caliber is really up to the task? I don`t. I`m not trying to say it won`t do it on a clean shot, of course it will, as I`ve shot quite a few animals with .300 Wea. (premium bullets-at max.). I don`t think it`s the best choice for a south to north shot at a once-in a-lifetime trophy bull. It would be nice if they would pose for me, but that is not something that is they are likely to do for me. A .30 cal maybe the ticket where you hunt, for most big game, but in my opinion, .30 cal is where it starts. Do you have elk in Alaska? Please excuse my ignorance, but I usually think of the Muskwa to Toad River areas of B.C. as the most northern elk areas. I just don`t know much about Alaskan game. I was born in Whitehorse ,Yukon Territory and don`t remember any around there.

02-28-2008, 05:54 PM	#1
vikingpreacher Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 269	Best Elk cartridge Me and my buddy were talkin' about trying to get an Elk hunt next year and for me I'd use a muzzleloader but, if you were going to choose 1 cartridge for Elk hunting what would it be? __________________ Join the cartridge comparisons group! http://gunandgame.com/forums/group.php?groupid=3

02-28-2008, 05:59 PM	#2
Midas Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,939 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	.338 Winchester Magnum __________________ "Recoil lasts for a second, gravity lasts forever"

02-28-2008, 06:19 PM	#3
texnmidwest New Sheriff in Town! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 4,780	Although I am not a fan of recoil and know there have been a lot of elk fall to lighter cartridges, I think I would choose a 7mm mag. or 300 win Mag. But for the most part if I have a rifle in the 30-06/270 class and can place my shots well that is what I would take. The most important thing in choosing a cartridge is choosing what you can hit a gnat in the butt at 200 meters with. With in reason of course. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

02-28-2008, 06:41 PM	#4
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 602 Blog Entries: 2	Same. 7mm rem mag or 300 win mag. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

02-28-2008, 07:15 PM	#6
7mmremmag1995 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,272 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 1	50 BMG!!!! i'd take a 7mm Rem mag. flat shooting __________________ Just LeDoux it

02-28-2008, 07:07 PM	#5
thebigitch62 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Port Orchard Wa Posts: 112	.300 RUM it works

02-28-2008, 07:17 PM	#7
270wsm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 326 Images: 2	.300WSM __________________ THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT,THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER,AS I HAVE LOVED YOU-Jesus Christ(John15:12)

02-28-2008, 07:53 PM	#8
billy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 15,791 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 158	45-70 __________________ ignint mcnugget... the slug o love sez... remember kids two warning shots to the head for safety!

02-28-2008, 07:59 PM	#9
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,081	There are three cartridges that I always liked,.7mm mag,.300win mag,and .375H&H..Had no trouble dropping them with little or no running with a double lung shot with any of these.I like Midas,s .338 but that is a lot of gun. sam.

02-28-2008, 08:00 PM	#10
Idaho Dave Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 544	I have taken several with a 300 win mag and several with 30-06 __________________ Living the life

02-28-2008, 10:05 PM	#11
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 169	.375 H@H or .416 Rem. or .416 Rigby. A .338 or .340 Wea. would be perfect, but I don`t have either of those right now. I know lesser cartridges will kill any elk that ever walked, but if you only get one chance at a true trophy bull and he`s going away from you(odds are 50/50 , they do have two ends ) at 250 yrds what do you do? Serious elk hunting requires serious guns. Big elk - Big bears, It seems you always find them together. It might be different where you live and hunt, but I know it`s right for where I am. __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

02-28-2008, 10:11 PM	#12
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 602 Blog Entries: 2	Agreed that you need a fairly big gun. However .416 is getting pretty big and your range is starting to be limited. 300win mag would do fine at 250 yards. Could step up to 300rum. 338 ultra mag. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

02-28-2008, 10:19 PM	#13
Ron AKA Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 704	Elk are not really that big. Between deer and moose -- probably bit closer to moose. They tend to offer longer ranges shots if hunted in more open country. Nice to have a flatter shooting gun. A 270 or 280 would do fine with 140-150 grain bullet, as would the 7mm RM and 300 WM, but the later two are getting into overkill for the game being hunted. I've hunted them with my 264 WM, but sadly report I never got to test it! Ron

02-28-2008, 10:21 PM	#14
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 602 Blog Entries: 2	Bull elk here are over 1000 pounds. 270s are not recommended to take them. You have to break bone with an elk. I bneleive that elk are much tuffer than moose. Moose are bigger in size but they will not take as much of a beating. 7mm and 300 are optimal in my opinion as the are flat and hards hitters. Long shots are almost always what happens. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

02-28-2008, 10:36 PM	#15
sbowers5 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: sawyer, ok Posts: 670	no bone breaking is required when you put the round through both lungs animals can'tl live if shot in this manner. just my opinion. steve __________________ For those who never fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.

02-28-2008, 10:37 PM	#16
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 437 Images: 3	.300 win mag Even though I do not own one I would have to say the .300 WM would have to be the best for elk. I have fired the 338rum and it is just punishing. A 7mm mag would probably do just fine but I am a .30 cal fan. And the faster the better. Or you could take out a second mortgage on your house and use .300 RUM power level 3. at $80.sumthing a box. oh and I use a .308. Last edited by jaeger; 02-28-2008 at 10:39 PM.

02-29-2008, 12:32 AM	#18
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness...Currently in Holiday, Fla. Posts: 11,015 Images: 2	.300 Win Mag would be just perfect for Elk ...even at long ranges... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

02-29-2008, 01:54 AM	#19
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 899	.280 rem to a .338ish would do fine. I am puzzled by the break bones requirement and the tougher than moose statement. Surprise a critter with a bullet properly placed and it WILL take a dirt nap, pronto.

02-29-2008, 01:55 AM	#20
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 169	If you wanted to take a less than optimum shot as in the scenario that I suggested,do you feel a .30 caliber is really up to the task? I don`t. I`m not trying to say it won`t do it on a clean shot, of course it will, as I`ve shot quite a few animals with .300 Wea. (premium bullets-at max.). I don`t think it`s the best choice for a south to north shot at a once-in a-lifetime trophy bull. It would be nice if they would pose for me, but that is not something that is they are likely to do for me. A .30 cal maybe the ticket where you hunt, for most big game, but in my opinion, .30 cal is where it starts. Do you have elk in Alaska? Please excuse my ignorance, but I usually think of the Muskwa to Toad River areas of B.C. as the most northern elk areas. I just don`t know much about Alaskan game. I was born in Whitehorse ,Yukon Territory and don`t remember any around there. __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat