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Best short mag cartridge for elk? #6987866 12/08/17 04:37 AM
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What short mag would you build and why?

Use: lightweight mountain rifle that's capable of handling elk out to 600yds or so.

I do reload so everything is on the table. Minimum bullet weight of 150gr

Must work well with a short barrel, probably 22" but may go 24" if I have to.

I've considered 7saum / 7WSM / 7x300 WSM / 300 WSM



Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987900 12/08/17 05:06 AM
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If it's a dedicated elk rifle, the .325 WSM seems an obvious choice. If you want the most available factory ammo, then .300 WSM. If you are into the esoterica of cartridge design, then perhaps a 7mm SAUM. All that out of the way, why not just get a .284 Winchester?


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987901 12/08/17 05:07 AM
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If I were building it would be 300 RCM or 300 WSM


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987922 12/08/17 05:41 AM
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I'll vote 300 WSM, but it's beyond my capability.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987948 12/08/17 06:56 AM
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I wouldn’t build a short mag for that, but since you asked, I’d go with the .300, to kill elk at 600.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987950 12/08/17 07:30 AM
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of the short mags I would go with the 300 or 323 for that but really wanting to go 600 for slk I would go with a long action cartridge

The 7x300 WSM would not be my choice as it has a tad less powder capacity than the 7mm WSM. They extended the case body a fraction on the 7mm WSM to keep it from chambering and firing in a 270 WSM


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987971 12/08/17 11:24 AM
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I've killed 2 big New Mexico bulls with 270 WSM.


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Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6987988 12/08/17 12:06 PM
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7mm08


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: Pitchfork Predator] #6988002 12/08/17 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted By: Pitchfork Predator
7mm08
last I checked that's not a mag cartridge...but I like your choice.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988017 12/08/17 12:42 PM
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6.5 SAUM and 147's (Tony killed a cow a few weels ago at 515 yards)

7 SAUM and 180's


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988028 12/08/17 01:01 PM
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There's only one short magnum that's got my attention and that's the 270 WSM. It's the only one that doesn't just duplicate what's already available (270 Weatherby excluded). Run a 140 Nosler Partition at 3250 or a 150 at at 3150 and you have some serious Elk medicine. Mrs. B will be shooting a 270 WSM in the future.


Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988102 12/08/17 01:43 PM
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Any of them would work fine, so it’s really just personal preference. I like a larger bullet for elk, so my personal mountain rifle for bigger game is a .300 WSM.

I shoot 180 grain bullets.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988127 12/08/17 01:55 PM
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338 WSM. It's a 300 WSM (or 325 WSM) necked up to .338". I have built 2 of these rifles. The last one we just finished. We are pushing a 250 grain Berger Elite Hunter at 2702 fps in a 22" barrel. Making brass is super easy. Just run 325 WSM brass over a 338 expander ball, and done. Or, neck up 300 WSM with an 8mm expander (.323") then a .338". It's very easy to make.

A little bit about the 325 WSM cartridge. It has the best "gas mileage" of any round. Meaning, it can push the heaviest bullet the fastest with the least amount of powder. The 338 WSM is right in line with it also, being only .015" larger, with much better bullet choices.

The 6.5 SAUM (or 6.5 GAP 4S, same thing) that Tony built pushing 147 ELD bullets is pretty nice, also! Very flat shooting with a high BC. That would be a good one, also.


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988131 12/08/17 01:56 PM
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I shot a 1400 pound cow with a 300 Wsm. Dropped like it had been hit with a sledge hammer.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: J.G.] #6988142 12/08/17 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
6.5 SAUM and 147's (Tony killed a cow a few weels ago at 515 yards)

7 SAUM and 180's


Shot two elk earlier this season with my 6.5 SAUM4s with the 143 ELD with good results.... both were only 175 yds though. I stumbled onto a lefty 270 WSM Tikka and with a 145 ELD-X loaded to 3180 that thing shoots amazing so I don’t doubt it’s capability.

Last edited by DStroud; 12/08/17 02:05 PM.

"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: HWY_MAN] #6988174 12/08/17 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted By: HWY_MAN
There's only one short magnum that's got my attention and that's the 270 WSM. It's the only one that doesn't just duplicate what's already available (270 Weatherby excluded). Run a 140 Nosler Partition at 3250 or a 150 at at 3150 and you have some serious Elk medicine. Mrs. B will be shooting a 270 WSM in the future.


I love the .270 WSM. It might just be the perfect sheep cartridge.

The purpose of the short mags was not to improve upon the performance of the parent cartridges, it was to duplicate them in a short action to facilitate weight savings in mountain rifles.
The added 150-200 fps the .270 WSM provides over the .270 Win was just a happy by-product of the different case configuration in that round.
With the exception of the .270 WSM, shooting the other short mags in non-lightweight rifles serves no real purpose.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988183 12/08/17 02:25 PM
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Any of those you listed will work. I have killed elk with 300 WM and 300 WSM and both worked well. I am of the same belief as Chad with regards to the 338WSM. I will have my 300 WSM re-barreled to 338 if I ever need something bigger.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988205 12/08/17 02:37 PM
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I agree that the .338 is probably the best elk round going too.

Recoil can be an issue with lightweight mountain rifles, so there’s always that to think about. If I wanted to step up from my .300 WSM, I would probably just get a .325 WSM and call it good.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988221 12/08/17 02:51 PM
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Couple of these listed I wasn't even aware of. I'll Have to do a little research on them. I am a little concerned about the recoil as it is lightweight rifle. I guess I could always add a titanium brake and calm it down a bit.



Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988335 12/08/17 03:49 PM
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I had a 7mm WSM built to run 180s to be my everyday gun but still be able to chase elk with it. 1-8 twist 24" brux and currently running on my lower node at around 2850. Without my can it kicks about like my dads 7mag, but with it, its about like a .243. With the can it feels about 8 foot long unfortunately, so the next bang stick will have a little short barrel.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988595 12/08/17 06:41 PM
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I'm found of my .300 WSM and staring at an elk and mule deer on my wall courtesy of that gun...


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988640 12/08/17 07:10 PM
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6.5 saum or 270wsm would be my picks


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988658 12/08/17 07:20 PM
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[size:11pt][/size].270 WSM, .300 WSM in a short magnum. However my best elk/mule deer rifle is a custom Remington 700 in .300 Weatherby, 180 gr. Sierra JSP and 180 gr. Barnes X (original X bullet). Longest shot on a bull elk just over 500 yds. one shot, took two steps DRT. Sitting from a solid tree limb rest.

Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6988725 12/08/17 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted By: P & Y
What short mag would you build and why?

Use: lightweight mountain rifle that's capable of handling elk out to 600yds or so.

I do reload so everything is on the table. Minimum bullet weight of 150gr

Must work well with a short barrel, probably 22" but may go 24" if I have to.

I've considered 7saum / 7WSM / 7x300 WSM / 300 WSM


What ever you shoot best at 1000 yards


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Re: Best short mag cartridge for elk? [Re: P & Y] #6989517 12/09/17 01:42 PM
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Like thwy said, i went with a 6.5 suam, carbon fiber stock and carbon wrapped barrel. Having just had spine surgery recoil was a concern. And after running the numbers found that a 147 with its high bc and speed only gave up less than 80 pounds of energy at a 1000 yards compared to the 180 7mm i typically run in the mountains. And nothing in a short mag platform can hang with it in the wind department, and switching winds up there can be a problem. Ended up taking a cow at 560 yards and got it all on video through a swaro spotting scope with a camera attached. She folded like something flipped her main breaker. All of them will get it done, but none with less recoil and less wind drift. Just my 2c, and what I did,

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