308 Winchester for Elk....?

[Alaska]

The 308 win

Is fully capable of taken elk, but they are many cartridges that are better.

I would draw the line ........270/280/30-06.

 

[pharmseller]

Bigger isn't better if you can't handle bigger very well.

Placement placement placement.



P

 

[Silent Sam]

Well here's my take from somebody that doesn't live in elk country and any elk hunt is a very special proposition.
308 is enough gun at the range you can put the first bullet in the vitals in from field positions and that bullet has enough oomph to get the vitals when that well hit bull doesn't know he's dead yet and turns away from you heading over the next ridge for parts unknown. You have to plan for what might happen, not just what should happen. For me that would be able to hold on hair at ranges I'd have already punched a lot of targets at without a bench. A big bull with a broken leg and/or one lung can end up in the next mountain range. That's not the memory I would want. For a 308 165gr load with a Partition or AccuBond, (which are good choices), that would be about 300yds Max. 200yds or closer would be a lot better.