Elk Cartridges: Some observations

[Riomouse911]

I have three rifles that I would not hesitate to bring on an elk hunt: a straight-pull Mauser 96 American in .270 Win, a Win Model 70 in 7mm Rem Mag or my German Weatherby Mark V in .300 Weatherby.

Of the three, I think the 7mm RM is the most versatile of them all.

Stay safe.

 

[wombat13]

I don't know if I'll ever have the chance, but I'd love to go on an elk hunt with my son. If we do, I'll be carrying my .300WM (although I would probably want a stock that's lighter than its current laminate) and my son will be carrying Kimber hunter in .280ai. I have an accurate load in the .300WM with a 150gr TTSX and I'm going to start working on loads for the .280ai with a 120 gr and 140 gr TTSX.

As far as getting in shape, I'd probably have to focus on hiking with a heavy pack. I've got a back problem and the worst things are running and jumping, so most high-intensity interval exercises are out. I've also found that some of the toughest exercise I've ever done was dragging a deer, so I fashioned a sled out of a flat piece of wood and I load 100lbs of sand on it and drag it around.

 

[courtgreene]

I don't know if I'll ever have the chance, but I'd love to go on an elk hunt with my son. If we do, I'll be carrying my .300WM (although I would probably want a stock that's lighter than its current laminate) and my son will be carrying Kimber hunter in .280ai. I have an accurate load in the .300WM with a 150gr TTSX and I'm going to start working on loads for the .280ai with a 120 gr and 140 gr TTSX.

As far as getting in shape, I'd probably have to focus on hiking with a heavy pack. I've got a back problem and the worst things are running and jumping, so most high-intensity interval exercises are out. I've also found that some of the toughest exercise I've ever done was dragging a deer, so I fashioned a sled out of a flat piece of wood and I load 100lbs of sand on it and drag it around.

Smart of you to tune your exercises to the trip and the activities for which you need to be in shape. I think any effort to stay in shape or get that way is great, but if I’m planning to move on mountains I should be training in a way that imitates moving in mountains (or dragging deer or whatever).

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

there was a time back in the 60s when Field and Stream and Outdoor Life touted the .257 Roberts as an Elk rifle.

 

[Skeptic13]

It's the bullet that is important not the cartridge. I can shoot the same 180 gr bonded bullet like the Nosler Partition out of a 308, 30-06, 300 WSM, 300 Wim Mag, 300 Savage, 300 Weatherby Magnum, 300 H&H, 300 RUM and so many more. Some of these cartridges will deliver the bullet faster than others and shoot a little flatter but the elk probably won't know the difference. Pick the cartridge that allows you to put a quality bullet into the right location on the animal consistently and you will kill an elk.

 

[Trey Veston]

there was a time back in the 60s when Field and Stream and Outdoor Life touted the .257 Roberts as an Elk rifle.

It is one. I shot my first elk with it in 1984 using a Winchester XTR Featherweight...



Then a Pronghorn...




I used it for many other deer and elk over the years, but then graduated to a .30-06, .35 Whelen, and now think that the .30-06 Ackley Improved is just fine. 180gr Nosler Partitions or Ballistic Tips are bullets are my go-to.

When hunting elk, you never know if you're going to get a shot at 300 yards, or at 30 yards.

This bull was taken at 30 yds. and was basically point-shot from the hip as it ran by in the brush.




This Elk was 300+ yards and on a hillside...



This moose was only 70 yards away...



All were taken with one shot and using a .30 cal 180-grain bullet.

Now, I'm not saying nothing else will work. Not at all. My brother recently switched to the 6.5 PRC using a 147gr bullet. My stepdad went down to the 6.5 Creedmoor. My brother gets giggles from shooting .5 moa at 600 yards. My step-dad has a bad neck and shoulder and the 6.5 CM makes hunting tolerable. Both are still killing animals.

There are just so many variables in elk hunting that saying one caliber is the "best" shows a lack of experience. I have settled on a .30 cal bullet at 180grs going around 2700-2800 fps as the most versatile and effective. But that's me. I know that it kills things and is not too punishing to shoot. Others may find a smaller bullet going faster to be better. And it may be. I just tend to not get too excited in caliber discussions when it comes to hunting.

Some may say that shooting an elk at 269yds with a .257 Roberts with a 120gr Nosler Partition was foolish, but it worked. The man that gave me that rifle and loaded that ammo was my father, and I'm willing to bet that he has hunted more species of big game on more continents that anyone on this forum. He knew how accurate I was and that a well placed shot would drop an elk. It did. He then loaded up some 117gr bullets for the antelope hunt and those worked as well. I always trusted his recommendations for calibers and big game. He gave me my .30-06 Ackley Improved and said it is the only caliber I would need for hunting in Idaho. So far, so good.

 

[earlthegoat2]

20 years ago I did a fair bit of western hunting in both the US and Canada. Cow elk, black bear, cow moose, and caribou were the only big game involved.

My own opinion is that bigger is always better until it makes your shooting worsen.

I can shoot a 6.5 CM really good but I can shoot a 300 WM just as good. I would be hard pressed to choose the 6.5 ever for game larger than mule deer.

Of course this is a minute example and very one dimensional compared to the volume of choices and circumstances we have for this conversation. These are just 2 rifles I happen to have.

New ways of thinking tend to gravitate towards smaller being better. I would agree if we were talking about a house but I tend not to agree if we are talking about automotive engines or hunting rifle cartridges.

I still use way too much gun for the southeastern and midwestern whitetails and hogs I currently hunt. I can shoot those firearms proficiently so that is what I use. My dad used to use 12 ga. Then He switched to 20 ga. Now at over 70 he uses 350 Legend. I picture a similar progression for myself as I age. If you have the knowledge of your equipment’s capabilities and the patience to wait for a shot that your rifle is capable of making then there really is nothing more to debate.