Elk Hunters ?

[crash0ride]

Sure I could use a 3006 where I hunt, but then I'd have to limit myself to about 500-600 yards and that would not be good where I typically find those spikes across the canyon.

When you typically only get 1 chance at elk, you try to capitalize on it, whether its 50 yards running through the timber or 800 yards broadside, I want 1 rifle that can handle both tasks, the 3006 im afraid is not up to the latter, which is what the magnum is for.

Notice I said the women use 270s and 3006s with great success, there not shooting over 300-400 yards either.

Depends on how and where one hunts as always.

270 and 30-06's are for women lol? what's that saying "people with big guns have a small dick" ?

At the end of the day bullet placement is by far the most important factor in killing power. Use whatever makes you happy.

 

[crash0ride]

Crash,
You are correct. Any rifle in the hands of a competent marksman is deadly, given bullet placement and other factors considered. Sadly not everyone is that good so there will always be margin for error.

I own a 30-06 and have killed a lot of game with it, all Whitetail Deer. Yes it will kill Elk, hands down. But I believe it has it's limitations too.

When I consider Elk Hunting in the High Country with difficult terrain, shooting 300-500 yds. I typically want some horsepower in my rifle selection to take that large Herd Bull down, quickly. After all you may only get one shot.

I find my 300 Ultra Mag has the velocity at 300 yds that the 30-06 has at Muzzle with a 180 grain bullet. Take a look at the foot pounds of energy comparing the two at that distance too.

Which rifle would you prefer considering the ballistics? Now I will say too not everyone can handle magnum rifles and be comfortable and accurate. Then shoot whatever gun you are most accurate with and use a premium bullet like the Partition, AccuBond or E-Tip.

Don

I prefer hunting with lever actions but it all depends on the type of hunting I'm doing.

With a .30 cal magnum you're kind of limited to using 180gr or lighter bullets to gain a major advantage over an 06. You need a larger barrel for the extra powder and most hunters like a smaller rifle especially at 10k. Also you're using 20 or more grains of powder. $$$

 

[jmad_81]

I believe he was saying the women in his camp, not all women. I know a few that shoot a 338 WM as good as any guy.

My grandpa has taken ove 50 elk in his life. Almost all of them were with a 130gr bullet of some sort. I remember him telling me one time that he only wished he had a bigger gun once. He had shot a big seven point bull, it ran around the ridge, dead on its feet only to have some other hunter shoot him twice more. My grandpa lost the biggest bull of his life because the elk ran off a ways with a good kill shot on him. I'm a firm beliver that a bigger gun prevents this situation more often than a smaller gun will. Smaller guns will kill elk (I have heard stories of people using a .22 short), but the biggest gun you can shoot well, and with confidence will do it better.

Every hunter has their own style, and what works great for one guy might not be ideal for the other.

But the only reason I really believe all this "bigger gun" stuff is because it makes me feel better about my little shween :roll:

 

[crash0ride]

I believe he was saying the women in his camp, not all women. I know a few that shoot a 338 WM as good as any guy.

My grandpa has taken ove 50 elk in his life. Almost all of them were with a 130gr bullet of some sort. I remember him telling me one time that he only wished he had a bigger gun once. He had shot a big seven point bull, it ran around the ridge, dead on its feet only to have some other hunter shoot him twice more. My grandpa lost the biggest bull of his life because the elk ran off a ways with a good kill shot on him. I'm a firm beliver that a bigger gun prevents this situation more often than a smaller gun will. Smaller guns will kill elk (I have heard stories of people using a .22 short), but the biggest gun you can shoot well, and with confidence will do it better.

Every hunter has their own style, and what works great for one guy might not be ideal for the other.

But the only reason I really believe all this "bigger gun" stuff is because it makes me feel better about my little shween :roll:

Like I said I just think the 30-06 is the best all-around rifle for hunting elk. It's fairly cheap to reload and ammo is available anywhere with a decent price tag.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

270 and 30-06's are for women lol? what's that saying "people with big guns have a small dick" ?

Crash:
Apparently you forgot what Forum you are on. If you wish to behave in this manner, go over to 24 hour campflamers or the various other shooting sites where personal insults and potty mouths are the norm. This type of behavior will not gain you accpetance in this community.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I didn't say the 270 and 3006 were "for women" I said thats what the women in "our" camp use, since most women dont like and cant shoot magnums very well. I said use the biggest you can shoot good, this usually limits women to a 270-3006, 280 etc. Men are a little tougher, bigger, know how to shoot so can handle a magnum a bit better. Magnum for elk just makes sense if you can handle and shoot one.

But yah, you wouldn't catch me hunting elk with either (especially the latter since i cant stand the 06) unless it was the last rifle on the planet, I gotta have at least 2 big guns ya know :lol:

 

[crash0ride]

I didn't say the 270 and 3006 were "for women" I said thats what the women in "our" camp use, since most women dont like and cant shoot magnums very well. I said use the biggest you can shoot good, this usually limits women to a 270-3006, 280 etc. Men are a little tougher, bigger, know how to shoot so can handle a magnum a bit better. Magnum for elk just makes sense if you can handle and shoot one.

But yah, you wouldn't catch me hunting elk with either (especially the latter since i cant stand the 06) unless it was the last rifle on the planet, I gotta have at least 2 big guns ya know :lol:

Which magnum and bullet do you use for elk?

 

[Oldtrader3]

I didn't say the 270 and 3006 were "for women" I said thats what the women in "our" camp use, since most women dont like and cant shoot magnums very well. I said use the biggest you can shoot good, this usually limits women to a 270-3006, 280 etc. Men are a little tougher, bigger, know how to shoot so can handle a magnum a bit better. Magnum for elk just makes sense if you can handle and shoot one.

But yah, you wouldn't catch me hunting elk with either (especially the latter since i cant stand the 06) unless it was the last rifle on the planet, I gotta have at least 2 big guns ya know :lol:

Which magnum and bullet do you use for elk?

I just can't wait to see where he will take this exchange next (not!)?

 

[SJB358]

I just can't wait to see where he will take this exchange next (not!)?

You know everyone is getting a little spun up during the heat of Summer just waiting for the Fall. Tons of time to yack about what works best during this time of the year! Scotty

 

[str8meat]

i have the experince with 7mm stw, 300 win mag, and 338 win mag. elk are tough and it stinks following one. elk calibers should start at 7 mm MAG and go up leave the small stuff alone. 270's 280's all the wsm's i think are too light with the exception of the 325 wsm. you need knock down power i have had 2 differnt cows un off after being shot from 80 and 200 yards with a 338 wm. and 230 gr bullets. both were shot in the shoulders and boh had massive internal damage. they are tough hands. dont go into the woods unprepared and undergunned. elk can never be killed too quickly.

 

[257 Ackley]

i have the experince with 7mm stw, 300 win mag, and 338 win mag. elk are tough and it stinks following one. elk calibers should start at 7 mm MAG and go up leave the small stuff alone. 270's 280's all the wsm's i think are too light with the exception of the 325 wsm. you need knock down power i have had 2 differnt cows un off after being shot from 80 and 200 yards with a 338 wm. and 230 gr bullets. both were shot in the shoulders and boh had massive internal damage. they are tough hands. dont go into the woods unprepared and undergunned. elk can never be killed too quickly.

Please explain to me how a 7RM out-performs a 300 WSM...I am running along side a 300 WM with my WSM, bullet for bullet. I am starting to wonder if the elk in Washington and Oregon are made out of something different than the ones I have hunted in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana?? I have taken 3 elk with a 7mm08, have witnessed 2 taken with a 25-06 and numerous with a 270. Most of the people I hunt with do use 30 caliber magnums but am starting to think the Rocky Mountain Elk I have hunted must be some lesser breed that fall over when they hear a rifle shot :?

 

[DrMike]

Joel,

The farther west you travel, the tougher the elk can be. Same holds for the farther north you go. We have to sneak up on elk here and aim for the hoof. If you can hit them in the left front hoof with at least 250 grains of lead, they fold like a cheap pocket knife. Most of us are compelled to carry 458 Winchesters of heavier because we don't want to see our bullets bouncing off the hide of these tough elk. Hope this helps clarify the situation. :shock:

 

[257 Ackley]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[str8meat]

i understand the frustrations i have started with my statements. use what ya want i really dont care. my mother in law killed a 5 pt. bull that hardly bled and took 2 hrs to find shot in the lungs with a 300 WSM. that was in idaho. her other bulls were killed with an 06. both 6x6's. every elk is different which means you will get tons of different reactions to bullets and calibers. uless you shoot em with a 50 bmg. then i have to think that will yeild the best results for a bang flop everytime. let the debate carry on, i'll have my 338 rum with 225 ab's this fall. that what i like to hunt elk with and enjoy shooting. good luck to all

 

[257 Ackley]

Joel,

The farther west you travel, the tougher the elk can be. Same holds for the farther north you go. We have to sneak up on elk here and aim for the hoof. If you can hit them in the left front hoof with at least 250 grains of lead, they fold like a cheap pocket knife. Most of us are compelled to carry 458 Winchesters of heavier because we don't want to see our bullets bouncing off the hide of these tough elk. Hope this helps clarify the situation. :shock:

This explains why Brian needed to ensure the 200 grain AB in the 300 RUM would penetrate 1/2 inch ballistic steel... :wink:

 

[DrMike]

Joel,

Just some of the secrets of elk physiology that has never been communicated to the hunting fraternity at large. People think elk bugle! Well, they've been known to hide behind half-inch steel and wolf whistle to good looking cows wandering by. It can be most disconcerting, and terribly distracting, for the serious elk hunter to hear these whistles when they are unaware of the mating call of amorous elk. There is much to be learned, Grasshopper.

 

[257 Ackley]

Joel,

Just some of the secrets of elk physiology that has never been communicated to the hunting fraternity at large. People think elk bugle! Well, they've been known to hide behind half-inch steel and wolf whistle to good looking cows wandering by. It can be most disconcerting, and terribly distracting, for the serious elk hunter to hear these whistles when they are unaware of the mating call of amorous elk. There is much to be learned, Grasshopper.

:lol: Teach me oh wise one!!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Joel,

The farther west you travel, the tougher the elk can be. Same holds for the farther north you go. We have to sneak up on elk here and aim for the hoof. If you can hit them in the left front hoof with at least 250 grains of lead, they fold like a cheap pocket knife. Most of us are compelled to carry 458 Winchesters of heavier because we don't want to see our bullets bouncing off the hide of these tough elk. Hope this helps clarify the situation. :shock:

Dr. Mike, I thought that technique is used because you can not see well enough to know which end to shoot at over 20 yards and have to find the glow off their nail polish (on the cows) and shoot what you can see!

 

[DrMike]

All right, Oldtrader3, you've compelled me to confess--I hunt mostly by braille. If I feel teeth, I hurriedly look for the other end, knowing that I've perfected the Texas heart shot (always carry enough rifle to push through to the vitals, kiddies). I do look for the gleam of nail polish, but there are some strange bulls inhabiting the woods, and occasionally they require thinning.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Ive killed elk with 7STW (1), .308 BAER (1), .358STA (4), .375-.358STA (3), .416 Rem. (4), and about a dozen with .50 or .54 cal muzzleloaders. I've also witness about the same amount killed by others with calibers ranging from the 25-05 to .416's. It's hard to drop a elk at the shot with smaller calibers unless you hit bones or the spine. I have dropped most of the elk I've shot with my .375 and .416 on the spot with heart/lung shots and about half with my .358. I don't mean they stand there and get sick and then fall over, I mean collapse upon impact and dont get back up. I've only witnessed 1 shot with a sub .338 caliber collapse with a heart/lung shot and that was with a .270win. and 130 ballistic tips but it also blew a softball size hole in it's rib cage and shredded the lungs with bone and bullet fragments.

I think there are tons of calibers that will kill elk but, like it's been said, you can never kill a elk too dead. I personally dont like tracking them or potential losing one so I use the biggest caliber I can comfortably shoot.