- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
All of the replies here are spot on. A .30-06 level of power with a well constructed bullet is about perfect for elk. Bigger or smaller isn't a bad choice if the operator uses the equipment properly.
My favorite .308 diameter elk bullet is a 180gr Barnes now the TSX. NPT, Swift A-Frame, North Fork, TB, and others are all good elk bullets.
My all time favorite "git er done." elk rifle is a carbine M-70 in .375H&H it makes one hell of a good dark timber any angle elk thumper and a pretty fair cross canyon poker as well.
Now don't get me wrong I am NOT saying that you need to run out and buy a .375H&H for elk. But if you've got one it is a fine choice, it does minimal meat damage, and it hit like a 20LB hammer. Power and trajectory wise it is real close the more common , and more often used for elk, .338 win.
I guess I am admitting that I'm a bit eccentric when I tell people that I've killed the majority of my elk with my little .375H&H. but me and that rifle have a very special relationship. I point it and stuff dies.
I’ve also killed elk with a .30-06, 270 win, .300 Weatherby, a .223 (winter cull hunt) ,a .270 weather by. I’ve seen them killed with all sorts of stuff . It all works good if the shooter does their part.
The most wounded non recovered elk that I’ve seen get away were with a 7MM by a wide margin. And this is not because the 7MM is a bad round. Not at all. Rather the reason is that the 7MM for all practical purposes is nothing more than a 30-06 with a belt. The rounds are so close in capability as to have darn near identical ballistics.
The problem being that a fair number of 7MM shooters are afflicted by the “magnum” title on their chosen round and are stricken a severe case of “Milermore” syndrome. You know, it’s a “magnum” and I ain’t even going to shoot unless it’s a milermore away.
I saw it happen again two seasons ago in Co. I helped the guy blood trail his elk for a couple of miles until my horse threw a shoe in the snow and I gave up on it.
My favorite .308 diameter elk bullet is a 180gr Barnes now the TSX. NPT, Swift A-Frame, North Fork, TB, and others are all good elk bullets.
My all time favorite "git er done." elk rifle is a carbine M-70 in .375H&H it makes one hell of a good dark timber any angle elk thumper and a pretty fair cross canyon poker as well.
Now don't get me wrong I am NOT saying that you need to run out and buy a .375H&H for elk. But if you've got one it is a fine choice, it does minimal meat damage, and it hit like a 20LB hammer. Power and trajectory wise it is real close the more common , and more often used for elk, .338 win.
I guess I am admitting that I'm a bit eccentric when I tell people that I've killed the majority of my elk with my little .375H&H. but me and that rifle have a very special relationship. I point it and stuff dies.
I’ve also killed elk with a .30-06, 270 win, .300 Weatherby, a .223 (winter cull hunt) ,a .270 weather by. I’ve seen them killed with all sorts of stuff . It all works good if the shooter does their part.
The most wounded non recovered elk that I’ve seen get away were with a 7MM by a wide margin. And this is not because the 7MM is a bad round. Not at all. Rather the reason is that the 7MM for all practical purposes is nothing more than a 30-06 with a belt. The rounds are so close in capability as to have darn near identical ballistics.
The problem being that a fair number of 7MM shooters are afflicted by the “magnum” title on their chosen round and are stricken a severe case of “Milermore” syndrome. You know, it’s a “magnum” and I ain’t even going to shoot unless it’s a milermore away.
I saw it happen again two seasons ago in Co. I helped the guy blood trail his elk for a couple of miles until my horse threw a shoe in the snow and I gave up on it.