Best choice for Elk caliber?
- Thread starter Swatman05
- Start date
Backpack Hunter
New member
- Jan 2, 2013
- 364
I'm a fan of the 30-06 as it has served me well for years. Have used the 270 with no problems (limited experience) in the past.
Arrows4Elk
New member
- Feb 20, 2014
- 166
Swatman05 said:
If you are set on a .338, might I suggest the Savage 11/111 Long RangeHunter instead of the 110FCP. It's .6lbs lighter and better suited to a hunting application than the 110FCP law enforcement/tactical model.
Also, check out the Savage model 16/116 in .300 Win Mag. Plenty of gun for elk, accurate and 2lbs lighter than the 110FCP.
DIRK DURHAM
New member
- Dec 18, 2012
- 132
338Win Mag
Reminton 700 XCR2
2.5-10x42 Nightforce Compact w/zerostop.
Reminton 700 XCR2
2.5-10x42 Nightforce Compact w/zerostop.
I use a Winchester model 70. I have always used 130 or 150 grain store bought bullets. I recently bought reloading stuff and will now be shooting 140 barnes triple shock. I shot a deer this year and he didn't know what happened. I'm excited to try it on an elk next year.
My 2¢... My rule for hunting game the size of elk is "There is simply no sense in messing with deer cartridges while hunting elk." You have planned this hunt for a year or more. You have saved money by foregoing a night out with the boys a number of times, packed your lunch instead of eating out, worked overtime when asked, just to make this trip happen.
You deserve this trip and now you are there. You are in the field and its been 6 or 7 days since you have seen a good bull. You haven't been sleeping all too well at your spike camp, the food ain't like mom's, humping those steep slopes is starting to show in your legs and back. You start to believe your chances are slipping away...
Then just when you were going to pack it in for the day, you spot a 6x6 bull 300 yards away on a ridge across from you. You catch a glimpse of the bull in a small clearing as he starts to follow some cows. Time to decide to move in or your tag is going to be a souvenir... now or never. Thinking ahead, you got in shape well before the hunt, but you are a bit weary.
By the time you have closed the gap to 175 yards, you are breathing hard, your legs are wet noodles. The bull has moved to a position just below the crest of a ridge and he gives you a brief quartering-away shot with a moment to decide; shoot or he crosses over...
Ask yourself now, do you want your chance to tag this bull to depend on a rifle in a small caliber? Its at the end of the day so, what if you hit him and he takes off? Do you even have the legs to begin tracking him? Most importantly, is this an ethical shot?
Whatever caliber you choose, remember you can avoid a situation like this if you take enough gun to do the job right. For me, I have a Steyr Mannlicher in .338 RCM and have used it to take a number of cows and a fine 6x6 bull (as well as a big Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbok and Impala in Africa).
Steyr no longer chambers this cartridge and Ruger only offers one "unsuitable" rifle for .338 RCM; they pretty much abandoned it and the .300 RCM. So if it were me, I would buy a rifle in .375 Ruger because when I go back to Africa, I will also have a Dangerous Game rifle and one that will take big plains game like Eland.
If not those, then which one? For me, I have no use for anything with a belt or a rebated rim... personal choice. So, what is left? I'm hunting domestically so wildcats are okay, but still pose a problem if they get left home or a bad lot is in hand.
Perhaps I might consider the 9.3's, .370 Sako or something similar. Thoughts?
You deserve this trip and now you are there. You are in the field and its been 6 or 7 days since you have seen a good bull. You haven't been sleeping all too well at your spike camp, the food ain't like mom's, humping those steep slopes is starting to show in your legs and back. You start to believe your chances are slipping away...
Then just when you were going to pack it in for the day, you spot a 6x6 bull 300 yards away on a ridge across from you. You catch a glimpse of the bull in a small clearing as he starts to follow some cows. Time to decide to move in or your tag is going to be a souvenir... now or never. Thinking ahead, you got in shape well before the hunt, but you are a bit weary.
By the time you have closed the gap to 175 yards, you are breathing hard, your legs are wet noodles. The bull has moved to a position just below the crest of a ridge and he gives you a brief quartering-away shot with a moment to decide; shoot or he crosses over...
Ask yourself now, do you want your chance to tag this bull to depend on a rifle in a small caliber? Its at the end of the day so, what if you hit him and he takes off? Do you even have the legs to begin tracking him? Most importantly, is this an ethical shot?
Whatever caliber you choose, remember you can avoid a situation like this if you take enough gun to do the job right. For me, I have a Steyr Mannlicher in .338 RCM and have used it to take a number of cows and a fine 6x6 bull (as well as a big Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbok and Impala in Africa).
Steyr no longer chambers this cartridge and Ruger only offers one "unsuitable" rifle for .338 RCM; they pretty much abandoned it and the .300 RCM. So if it were me, I would buy a rifle in .375 Ruger because when I go back to Africa, I will also have a Dangerous Game rifle and one that will take big plains game like Eland.
If not those, then which one? For me, I have no use for anything with a belt or a rebated rim... personal choice. So, what is left? I'm hunting domestically so wildcats are okay, but still pose a problem if they get left home or a bad lot is in hand.
Perhaps I might consider the 9.3's, .370 Sako or something similar. Thoughts?
FairChase said:
This topic usually starts arguments on just about every hunting forum there is. I find that there are usually a few thoughts that always seem to come up. 1) use what you can shoot the best no matter the caliber 2) you need some super magnum that you are more likely to dislocate your shoulder with than be able to shoot accurate every time 3) and everyone has their favorite caliber. I have a few friends that have used nothing but a .243 and have never lost an elk. I also have a few friends that use some of the magnums and seem to always need 2 shots. I use either a .270 or 30-06. Its just a personal choice. I find that depending on the caliber choice I pick and choose my shots differently.
montanaelk31
Member
- Mar 18, 2014
- 307
If you are getting a rifle Just for elk, I would suggest the largest caliber you can shoot accurately. For most people that's a 270 to 300 mag.
For me my go to rifle is an Xbolt chambered in .338 WM. That's because I can't get my .375 to group like the 338 or I'd shoot it. Accuracy above all else!
For me my go to rifle is an Xbolt chambered in .338 WM. That's because I can't get my .375 to group like the 338 or I'd shoot it. Accuracy above all else!
eaglebuilder
New member
- Mar 8, 2016
- 10
I am big fan of the 375 H&H ,I do not have one at this time.I had a Ruger #1 in 375 H&H and it shot very well. I now using classic a Mauser 98 pre-war Sauer in 8x57 Ackley improved. I reload the factory ammo does not use 
copper bullets. Barnes manufacture TSX and TTSX bullets which groups very well out of the factory barrel. The rifle came with Bishop stock and single stag set trigger ,but it was not drilled and tapped for a scope. I had the rifle tapped for a scope and glass beded .
copper bullets. Barnes manufacture TSX and TTSX bullets which groups very well out of the factory barrel. The rifle came with Bishop stock and single stag set trigger ,but it was not drilled and tapped for a scope. I had the rifle tapped for a scope and glass beded .bruceleroy
New member
- Sep 21, 2013
- 13
Just came to stir the pot a bit and say I love my .308 with a good quality bullet for short to medium ranges. I get plenty of power with a 168 to 180 grain premium bullet to ethically take elk much further than I will actually take a shot.
I also load a 215 grain bullet really long (3.1 inches) in a long chambered R700 and get stupid awesome ballistics. I would take a shot on game with that round on an elk to 1000 yards if the situation were ideal. The elevation where I hunt aids quite a bit in retaining energy.
What I wont do, and this is the most important aspect in any shot decision, is take a questionable shot at any range, EVER.
I also load a 215 grain bullet really long (3.1 inches) in a long chambered R700 and get stupid awesome ballistics. I would take a shot on game with that round on an elk to 1000 yards if the situation were ideal. The elevation where I hunt aids quite a bit in retaining energy.
What I wont do, and this is the most important aspect in any shot decision, is take a questionable shot at any range, EVER.
