Elk Hunters ?

[Guy Miner]

What do you experienced elk hunters use? What do you recommend for others? And why?

I've shot a grand total of one bull elk in my whole life - about ten years ago in Wyoming. Big 6x6 mature bull. Used a 7mm Rem mag, 700 ADL, with a 3-9x Leupold. Hit him with one 175 gr Nosler Partition. He took a few steps and collapsed. That was that.

But... I sure don't have any other elk taking experience. Doesn't really matter what I was carrying on other elk hunts, because I never took a shot on any of those other hunts...

So - you guys who actually take elk fairly often - what do you use and recommend?

Thanks, Guy

 

[DrMike]

Guy,

I can't say that I'm an expert, though I've been present a few times when elk were taken. I am convinced that just about any cartridge from 270 on up will work to take elk cleanly. My preference is for as much frontal area as I can get. The 7mm RM has served me well, as has the 325 WSM and the 300 WSM. I've used my 356 and witnessed elk taken with the 358 (though I've taken bison with my 358). I wouldn't feel particularly undergunned with a 30-06. What it really boils down to is for the hunter to know his cartridge and to have a good idea of the terrain he will hunt. Taking elk in close quarters allows use of rifles that would be less effective across a canyon.

 

[BP736]

I have killed bull elk with a 270 Winchester with a 150 gr Partition on the small end and a 338 Win. with a 250 grain Hornady Interlock on the big end and a few things in between. My current favorite elk rifle/load is a 300 Weatherby with a 200 gr AccuBond at 3000+ fps. For my money, elk rifles start at 30 cal. and go up from there. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to use a .284 of some kind if that's what I had. I just happen to have bigger options in my safe. Elk are big, tough animals and the extra horse power is never a bad thing. In many parts of Arizona, you can shoot as far as you care to and having enough energy when the bullet gets there is important. Of course, being able to put the bullet in the right place is the most important... but there is something to be said for big, heavy bullets.

just my thoughts...
BP

 

[big rifle man]

bp, you've got the right idea in regards to big heavy bullets, what they lack in velocity they more than make up for in penetration. I started Elk hunting with an 06. From that point went to a .300WSM (which is still my back up rifle), and then to a .338RUM. I'm not a shoulder shooter ( elk meat is too good to waste) and the .338 with 225 grain bullets usually puts the lights out very quickly or within two or three steps. Where I hunt in Colorado has no flat ground and as is normal if the Elk runs its usually down hill to the most miserable place you can imagine. More caliber is better than less.

 

[jmad_81]

Well I have taken an elk with a 270 and a 150 PT gold, a 160 AB (1 elk) out of a 280 AI, a 225 TSX (1 elk), 225 AB(2 elk), and a 185 CLX (1st bull) out of a 338 WM, and two wlk with a 260 AB out of a 375R.

On my first elk (a yearling) I hit her with the .270 and didn't even know it. I was only shooting 150 yards. After I missed she changed angles taking the shot away so I shot at a different one and missed ( I was 14, and had just sprinted 250 yards through some timber to catch up to them). I changed back to the first cow and broke both her front legs just at the bottom of the heart. When I was skinning her out I felt something drop out on my foot. It was my first shot! Now to be fair to the 270 I was 14 and making my own crappy handloads, I was scared of that rifle (kicked like a mule!), and Turns out my scope (a burris) had a busted retical. Sounds like a lot of excuses, but thats the story. I'm very sure that a good 270 in the hands of a capable user will cleanly take elk. I wouldn't go any smaller though.

The bigger the gun that I have shot them with, the happier I have been with the results. But I was very happy with the one that I shot last year with the 160 AB out of the 280 AI at 420 yards. He only went 10 yards, and 8 of those were rolling down the hill.

If I were heading to the elk woods this fall with a rifle it would be my 338 WM with a 225 AB @ 2870 fps. That is my "go to" elk rifle.

Your 7Mag would be a great choice, but I believe you have a 375 H&H sitting there that seems to dominate things that it gets let lose on.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I've seen a lot of elk killed, and quite a few that didn't get killed.

For practical purposes, as mentioned above, my recommended minimum is a .270 Winchester with a 150gr Partition.

My preferred load is a .338 Win mag and a 200gr BT at 3000+ fps. This gives you a large frontal area that quickly becomes alot larger. This causes huge internal trama that will bring a large determined critter to a stop. Keeping your velocity up on elk is important. I've elk hit with heavy for caliber bullets loaded to lower velocities that didn't sufficently expand, and that's where the tracking and cussing began. Our other rule is to always shoot an elk twice. If you think you got a good hit on an elk, unless they drop to the shot, shoot them again, because I hate tracking.

 

[SJB358]

Of the few I have taken with the 300WM (180gr XLC's), 270WSM (140gr AB) and 35 Whelen (225gr TSX) the Whelen was the most dramatic I have seen thus far. Very small sample, but with bigger bodied animals, I just feel better putting something large into them. This year, I am pretty sure my Whelen will go with me, with the 250gr PT's at 2650. I shoot the rifle well and love the way it handles. I am not sure what the 2nd rifle is going to be just yet, but I think it will be something 264 or bigger! Scotty

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have taken elk with the .30-06, .300 H&H and .338 WM and nearly taken one with the 7mm Mag (bad bullet performance). A few years ago, I switched to the .340 Weatherby. I bought my first .338 WM in 1967. It was a game changer for elk after the 7mm bullet fiasco. The .340 is just more of a good thing than the .338 WM.

I also have a .338 Federal but have not taken an elk with it. However, it should work just fine. We are fortunate to live in an age of several high performance bullet choices. My favorite is the 225 PT.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I've killed 10 elk and seen I dont know how many countless others shot since I've been tagging along.

Majority of the guys in our camp have always used 7 mags with 160-175s, 300s w/180-200s, or 338s with 225s-250s.

The women have used 270 w/150s and 30-06 w/165s

Most of these have been spikes/cows with occasional big bull thrown in, ranges from 50-900 yards

Elk are BIG, TOUGH, and HARDY animals, they really deserve the biggest/powerfull cartridge you can shoot well, that is my theory, and keep shooting them even if there hit untill they are down. Chasing wounded elk isn't to much fun and usually results in either a lost elk or a very long day.

My personal minimum would be a 264 mag with a good 125-140g bullet on up from there for cows/spikes.

Personal minimum for big bull would be 7mm mag with good 160 bullet on up.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Elk are BIG, TOUGH, and HARDY animals, they really deserve the biggest/powerfull cartridge you can shoot well, that is my theory, and keep shooting them even if there hit untill they are down. Chasing wounded elk isn't to much fun and usually results in either a lost elk or a very long day.

It always easy to spot the armchair elk hunters. They are the one's who've never had to chase a wounded one.

 

[DrMike]

It always easy to spot the armchair elk hunters. They are the one's who've never had to chase a wounded one.

+1

Ain't that the truth!

 

[Guest]

I've killed three Bull Elk, all with a 7 Rem Mag. Two of the three with Hornady 154 spire points and one with a 175 Nosler Partition. Although it did a fair job at killing them it was the reason I upgraded to a 300 RUM, I just wanted more horsepower. I haven't had the opportunity to squeeze the trigger yet on an Elk with this gun, maybe this year.

Also, My buddy in Colorado has killed more Bull Elk than anyone I personally know. Most were killed with the a 300 Win Mag using 180 Partitions, then he changed to 180 Barnes XLC Bullets. Last few years he upgraded to a 300 Weatherby Mag. with the same bullet. His velocity is 3270-3300 fps. He swears by the 180 Partition, mentioned the Barnes doesn't stack up to the Killing power of the Partition, he's changing back.

He lives by the fact 180 bullets with a 300 Magnum is tough to beat even out to 500 yds. He has taken a lot of Bulls between 300-500 yds, mostly one shot kills.

For me, he's like E.F. Hutton, when he speaks, I listen.

You really need a flat shooting, hard hitting, HELLO load for Elk with an excellent Premium Bullet to shoot those distances. Shot placement is everything. There are a lot of excellent Elk Rifles to choose from, take the one you shoot the best and use a Nosler AccuBond, E-Tip or Partition Bullet.

Don

 

[JD338]

Great question Guy.

I have only killed one bull elk, used my 338 RUM and it hammered the 5 pt at 350 yds.
The 338 RUM is more than what you need to take elk but it works well for me.
I am planning on another elk hunt next year and I will be using my 338 RUM again.

JD338

 

[6mm Remington]

6mm Remington 1-elk
25-06 Remington 1-elk
280 Remington several elk
30-06 Springfield several elk.

My dad used a 30-06 for a long time and bought a 7mm Remington magnum in 1972. He's used that ever since with a 160 gr. Partition. I believe all his elk have been with his 7mm except for one he shot with a 6mm Remington.

My biggest bull was a large 6x6 I got with my 280 using a 140 gr. Partition. Two shots at 250 yards. One exited, the other was under the hide on the off side. The bull only took a couple steps and went down. I'm a very firm believer if one is good, two is better I don't care what you shoot them with. If they are on the hoof even though I figure I made a great shot, I shoot again! I've never had any problems taking any of my elk with either my 30-06 or my 280.

I always considered my 280 and 30-06 a big gun, but I'm having cartridge envy with you guys on this Nosler Forum! I think I envision a 338-06 or a 45-70 or both in the future. :lol: I feel very strongly about using a good, make that great bullet on elk as I feel that's a large part of this equation. Nosler AccuBond, Partion, or E-Tip. Which ever shoots the best.

 

[6mm Remington]

I've never had any problems taking any of my elk with either my 30-06 or my 280.

Make a bad shot with anything though and it can make for a very long day.

 

[brianwyo]

You really need a flat shooting, hard hitting, HELLO load for Elk with an excellent Premium Bullet to shoot those distances. Shot placement is everything. There are a lot of excellent Elk Rifles to choose from, take the one you shoot the best and use a Nosler AccuBond, E-Tip or Partition Bullet.

Don[/quote]

I have shot 8 cows and 3 bulls and seen another dozen shot. I think any reasonable cartridge works fine. Good bullets and shot placement means you will be using your skinning knife soon!
I have a .308,280,7mm,300 and .338 rifles set up for big game. I pick whatever feels good on that day. A guy needs to take them all on a walk now and then. :grin:

 

[SJB358]

What about the Whelen! Man you don't know what your missing! Scotty

 

[jmad_81]

I'm a big fan of the shoot till they quit moving method for elk. They are big and cover ground very fast when they need to. Call me lazy, but I prefer to minimize my packing. I'm not against hard work and packing, but why make it harder than it has to be!

 

[DrMike]

I watched a big bull a couple of years ago take two solid hits from a 260 grain ABs launched from a 376 Steyr and two 200 grain PTs sent out from a 325 WSM before he toppled. He was so focused on a decoy that he didn't know he was hit with the first three shots. He'd shake all over, stumble and keep right on moving toward the decoy. Big bulls can be amazingly focused on love and take an astonishing amount of punishment before they realise they are dead. For that reason, I like to see something that gets their attention. I hate tracking wounded elk.

 

[YoteSmoker]

In short, 7mm08 does wonders on elk. So does 30-06 trajectoy with 180 grain compared to 140 grain. Put the well made bullet in the heart pump and it's game over. Use a well constructed bullet and put it in a well known kill zone and wory more about how sharp your knife is, and how far you have to pack the animal out. What more is there to think about? Not much is the answer.