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What caliber for Elk #5818931 07/06/15 02:55 AM
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bigjoe8565 Online Content OP
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I'm saving my money for an Elk hunt next year and a new rifle. I've heard I need anything from a .270 to a.338 Win Mag for the hunt. Any of you guys have real world experience on what caliber would be best?

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5818946 07/06/15 03:02 AM
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I've carried a .338 the few times I've been. I've killed two bulls with it.

Lots of elk hunters swear by the 7 mag.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5818959 07/06/15 03:10 AM
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Doesn't take much to kill a perfectly broadside bull anything from 270-338 will work. You get into the bigger options when things aren't perfect.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5818961 07/06/15 03:11 AM
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Shot placement is key as with all animals...

I went 300 win just to make sure I had enough umph if it's a shot at range. Make sure to get a good quality bullet.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819006 07/06/15 03:38 AM
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30-06 so when you come back to Texas you still have a usable rifle.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819018 07/06/15 03:43 AM
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I'd say 300 mag. For range and power and anything-kill-a-bility.

Really, just be comfortable behind whatever you're shooting. A lot of people use 270s. I was once told of a 223 elk kill. A lot of other people use 7 mags, which has been said before.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819105 07/06/15 04:57 AM
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Key with an elk like lots of other big game is make that first shot into the vitals. A poor first shot and it can make for a long tracking job if the animal is recovered at all. Once adrenaline gets going those big critters can get going and go for a ways even if shot with a big caliber like 338Win Mag or larger.

As far as caliber for elk, 270Win and up with good bullets will work fine, be honest with yourself and get one you can shoot well. I would much rather help find an elk shot in the lungs with a 257 Roberts than one shot in the gut with a 338 Win Mag.

A good friend that is an outfitter in Montana hates the 338 Win Mag for elk since almost all the hunters that have shown up with them cannot shoot them accurately. Myself, I have used 300 Wby Mag, 7mmSTW, 350 Remington Mag, 6.5-284 Norma and 257 Wby Mag. All worked well.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819106 07/06/15 05:00 AM
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7MM got my two bulls.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819118 07/06/15 05:20 AM
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Kill both of my bulls with a 270 WSM. One at 200 yards the other a little over 300. 129gr TSX.

Last edited by TexFlip; 07/06/15 05:20 AM.

Originally Posted by unclebubba
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819124 07/06/15 05:41 AM
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Teddy Roosevelt used Winchesters in various calibers and he said in his book to keep shooting an elk until it fell. BUT, he also had horrible vision, so that explains some things as well. He probably couldn't tell he hit anything until they either fell or disappeared. lol

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: thedoveshooter] #5819163 07/06/15 10:45 AM
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The world is full of good elk cartridges. Looking back, I took my seven bulls with no fuss or muss with:

7mmRM/160 Nosler PT @160 yds.
.30-06/180 Nosler PT @ 30 yds.
7mmRM/160 Nosler PT @ 40 yds.
.338WM/210 Nosler PT @ 280 yds.
.300WM/165 Nosler AB @ 130 yds. (Roosevelt elk).
.300WM/200 Nosler PT @ 180 yds.
7mmRM/140 Barnes TTSX @ 120 yds. (Tule elk).

Take your choice with any of the above. IMO, the list of adequate elk rounds would begin with the .25-06 (barely adequate) and end with the .338 (bordering on overkill). YMMV.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819166 07/06/15 10:53 AM
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300 ultra good to a 1000 yrds if you are shot placement is everything

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819305 07/06/15 01:41 PM
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The right bullet is more important than caliber. You want a bullet that will penetrate deep and expand. Something like a Barnes TTSX or Hornady GMX. With the right bullet anything from .243 up will work. Just know the limitations of range/energy with any round and keep your shots within those limits....

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819310 07/06/15 01:44 PM
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223

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819321 07/06/15 01:54 PM
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I think the calibers from 270 up through 338 WM have it covered as mentioned above by some folks with real experience so I will only mention the importance of a very stout bullet built for such a tough animal. Nosler Partitions seem to be the benchmark and in that group would be bonded bullets and solid copper.

I personally don't care much for the solid copper as they don't seem to expand much unless bone is hit. Took my 2nd Elk with a 7mm Rem Mag with Barnes 160gr TSX (Barnes factory ammo)at 370 yds bedded down below and quartering away from me. 1st shot entered the back and exited front side just behind the lungs (no expansion)...Elk did not flinch and stood up and began walking. Guide said shoot again, 2nd hit in left rump going through muscle only (no expansion), 3rd shot through spine at shoulders anchored him. We all thought I totally missed the 1st shot since he did not flinch and only verified the hit when the guides began skinning him.

Don't scrimp on the ammo...very cheap considering the total cost of the hunt. If you don't reload, buy several of the premium and see what shoots best and go with it. Another option is to get with Chad (Dallas Reloads) and he can help with selection of a premium bullet and work up a custom load for your rifle.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819361 07/06/15 02:13 PM
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I took my first 2 bulls with a 25-06 since it was all I owned. Neither shot was over 50 yards though. I've taken elk with 30-06, 300 Win Mag and a 7mm Rem Mag. I would base my round on what the likely shots would be. Where I took my first 2, a 100 yard shot was 'long range'. My longest shot to date on an elk was a cow I took at just over 300 yards with the 300 WM.
The bullet you use is just as important as the cartridge. I'm not a fan of the solid copper either. A quality cup-n-core will anchor an elk if you do your part! Next trip I go on will most likely use either a bonded bullet of some sort or a partition of some sort (A-frame, Nos. Partition etc). Most likely caliber(s) will be a 264 Win Mag and a 30-06 as back-up.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819393 07/06/15 02:26 PM
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I would use a 270 WSM as that is what I have. Nosler makes a 160 grain bullet in 270 that looks about right.

If I was picking a rifle from scratch for an elk hunt, I'd probably get a 325 WSM, maybe a 338 Winchester mag.


Kind regards, charlesb


Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819445 07/06/15 03:17 PM
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As said before, shot placement and bullet selection is much more important than caliber. If you have something in the 270/30-06 range, use a bonded/copper bullet and put it in the vitals. You will be fine. 300 Win Mag or bigger has more recoil than most can handle, whether they admit or not. You would be a lot better off putting a 180 Partition from a 30-06 in the lungs than a 220 grain Partition from a 338 Win mag in the gut.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819488 07/06/15 03:53 PM
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Pick something .270 or up (30-06 my choice), pick a bonded bullet that your rifle likes then after zeroing the rifle do not shoot from the bench again, I have never found one in elk country. Realistic practice equals hitting what you are aiming at and that trumps caliber and speed any day.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819491 07/06/15 03:54 PM
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One that you'll enjoy, shoot well, practice with and have a use for when the elk hunt is done. Lots of very effective choices. I for one think a 300 WM is an outstanding round. But others obviously work just as well.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819563 07/06/15 04:29 PM
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I've had great luck with the 7mm Remington.

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: rarjar] #5819588 07/06/15 04:45 PM
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Something that takes a....
6.5 mm
.277"
7mm
.308"
.338"
or .50" bullet

Which ever one of those you can shoot the best and has the best bullet for the job based on these guys' experience with said cartridge of your choosing. My elk was taken with a 7 Rem Mag and 180 gr. Berger, one shot to vitals at 200, done. But I could have been just as successful with a very long list of other cartridges.


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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819620 07/06/15 05:04 PM
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I have killed:

29 Elk with a 30.06 with (24 with 180 gr Remington Cor Lok bullets and 5 with 180 Winchester Ballistic Tip Silver Tip)
1 Elk with a 375 H&H Mag with 300 Swift A Frame (Preparing for Africa)
3 Elk with a 330 Dakota Mag with 250 gr Swift A Frame
3 Elk with a 243 with 95 gr Federal Fusion

Longest shoot was with a 243 412 Yards DRT...

Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: bigjoe8565] #5819826 07/06/15 06:48 PM
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Which state are you hunting? they may have some minimum requirement.

Also, what calibers do you already own?

Last edited by Gravytrain; 07/06/15 06:49 PM.

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Re: What caliber for Elk [Re: Nathan Nelson] #5819830 07/06/15 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted By: Nathan Nelson
I have killed:

29 Elk with a 30.06 with (24 with 180 gr Remington Cor Lok bullets and 5 with 180 Winchester Ballistic Tip Silver Tip)
1 Elk with a 375 H&H Mag with 300 Swift A Frame (Preparing for Africa)
3 Elk with a 330 Dakota Mag with 250 gr Swift A Frame
3 Elk with a 243 with 95 gr Federal Fusion

Longest shoot was with a 243 412 Yards DRT...




were you hunting for something else or did you go after elk specifically with a .243?


Just curious as to why one would specifically go after elk with a .243


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