Wanting a new ELK rifle-300 WSM or 325 WSM

[FOTIS]

You can do a lot worse than a 180 at 3k!

 

[DrMike]

If I only had a 300WSM, I could hunt everything available in North America without being overly concerned. Perhaps it would be boring, but the cartridge is capable of taking any game available on this continent.

 

[wildgene]

...I own both & have killed elk seriously dead w/ both. Ballistically speaking, pretty much a wash w/ a slight advantage to the .300 WSM 180gr. vs. the .325 200gr., but w/ a higher BC 220gr., which I sure Nosler will start making just a soon as Scotty buys a .325 WSM, it comes into its own. The .325 is more esoteric & a hoot to shoot, neither seem to be particularly particular about loading. It would probably depend more on the rifles available to me than the caliber, between the two...

(200yd. "Zero" check, 300WSM/ .325WSM)

 

[Anonymous]

There's very few ballistics equations that 180gr AB @ 3000fps won't solve....

I've got a closet full of rifles....but when something needs to die the .300WSM gets the nod.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

A true "Elk Rifle" start at 8mm.
Anything smaller is just a deer rifle you take elk hunting.

 

[wildgene]

A true "Elk Rifle" start at 8mm.
Anything smaller is just a deer rifle you take elk hunting.

...I see lots of "True Elk Hunters" go thru the Cody range before getting packed into the backcountry. Despite muzzle brakes, recoil reducers, "Long Range optics", "Custom Loads", a large majority of them would be better served w/ a smaller caliber/ cartridge...

...the largest caliber you can shoot well is a better gauge than the "minimum caliber" approach...

 

[BK]

If I only had a 300WSM, I could hunt everything available in North America without being overly concerned. Perhaps it would be boring, but the cartridge is capable of taking any game available on this continent.

I pretty much see a .300 WSM as a .30-06 +P, and nobody has said that an '06 is not adequate.

Now a .270, on the other hand... (I'm going to go now before I start channeling Elmer Keith...)

 

[wildgene]

If I only had a 300WSM, I could hunt everything available in North America without being overly concerned. Perhaps it would be boring, but the cartridge is capable of taking any game available on this continent.

I pretty much see a .300 WSM as a .30-06 +P, and nobody has said that an '06 is not adequate.

Now a .270, on the other hand... (I'm going to go now before I start channeling Elmer Keith...)

I'd say more like a .300 WM Lite, doesn't give up much to the .300 WM @ a manageable recoil level in a lighter, handier rifle...

 

[Anonymous]

Don't know about you guys, but my .300WSM will hang with the .300WM with bullets under 200grains with ease, only after that the .300WM pulls away marginally.

But personally, I don't see the need for 200gr and up in the .30cals with modern bullets at all. If I feel like I need a heavier bullet, I probably also feel the need for a bigger bore as well- which is pretty rare.

I've heard a lot of folks talk about elk rifles being 8mm/.338/whatever and up. Don't know too much about elk but I've seen a lot of big bull caribou, moose, Interior grizzly bears and a even couple of bison handily tipped over with .308 bullets at a variety of weights and speeds.

An elk guiding acquaintance of mine reports that a good shot with a battered .270 is better off than almost anyone else when it comes to killing elk.

 

[DrMike]

Hodgeman, you are correct. The newer premium bullets are game changers when compared to what was available even a few years back. Consequently, the 300WSM will get the job done if the shooter puts the bullet where it needs to be.

 

[Teknys]

As far as Elk rifles .... I have a 270WSM that has 4 elk to it's credit with 4 shots using 150PT or 140AB. I think the proper bullet in the proper place makes it an "Elk Caliber". :wink:

 

[Ridgerunner665]

An elk guiding acquaintance of mine reports that a good shot with a battered .270 is better off than almost anyone else when it comes to killing elk.

I've never hunted elk either...but have been talking to outfitters lately...when asked about guns most answered with something along the lines of "30-06, 270, 280 is about as good as it gets".

As to 300 vs 325...I say 300, gets the same work done with less recoil.

 

[Anonymous]

. The newer premium bullets are game changers when compared to what was available even a few years back..

I think that the newer bullets are making a lot of the smaller bores more effective. I mean the .257 and 25-06 with a TSX/Etip/monometal will zip through both shoulders on some mighty big critters.

I've been using the 180AB exclusively for 6 years and have yet to recover a single bullet.

I think when it comes to bullets- we are living in the salad days...just so many great choices out there.

Not too many years ago I would have said the .270 stopped at good sized whitetail or mule deer. Nowadays- I'd take the right shot at a moose or elk without so much as batting an eye. A friend of mine hunts exclusively with a .270- 4 moose and 4 big bull caribou with 8 cartridges in 4 years. 140ABs in Federal ammo.

 

[DrMike]

My 270WSM loaded with 130 grain E-Tips has taken two elk and two moose in the past two years. Not bad for such a tiny bullet. I've recovered one bullet, from the elk I toppled last fall.

 

[wildgene]

An elk guiding acquaintance of mine reports that a good shot with a battered .270 is better off than almost anyone else when it comes to killing elk.

I've never hunted elk either...but have been talking to outfitters lately...when asked about guns most answered with something along the lines of "30-06, 270, 280 is about as good as it gets".

As to 300 vs 325...I say 300, gets the same work done with less recoil.

...my Tikka T3 .300WSM w/180grs definifitely has more "felt recoil" than my Mod. 70 .325 WSM, w/220gr. but it's a pound lighter, same rifle/ same weight I don't think you could tell the difference. Neither are unmanageable, both give very good performance @ a much more tolerable level than their full magnum counterparts more efficiently...

 

[BK]

Yeah, my Kimber .325 recoils very similarly to my Featherweight '06, despite weighing significantly less...

 

[DrMike]

I am unable to distinguish the difference in recoil between the 300WSM and the 325WSM loaded with similar weight bullets. Candidly, the difference in felt recoil between a 180 grain and a 200 grain bullet in the two rifles is identical. I am shooting either cartridge in a Featherweight.