Well, TRIC wanted a 120 gr bullet. I would opt for a bigger bullet myself, I was just playing by the rules. My line of thinking on this one is if you are going to use a light for critter bullet weight, you might as well use a tough, light for caliber bullet that will retain most of its weight. It doesn't have the SD that a .257 120 PT does, but with the 90% weight retention I would think that it would still go plenty deep into an elk.
What if?
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C.Smith
Handloader
- Oct 11, 2006
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That makes a lot of sense to me.
Corey
Corey
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
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TRIC":3kdnilte said:
Why would you do that?
There are much better choices for elk.
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TRIC
Beginner
- Dec 14, 2005
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A_S, you are correct, there are much, much better choices available. I was'nt trying to advocate "less than caliber" hunting techniques. I was interested in others thoughts, plus or minus, on the issue. As the posts have shown, there are others here that have used the 25 series of cartridges with success on elk. Currently, my go-to rifle for elk season is my Ruger M77 338 WinMag. I carry that rifle almost exclusively during elk season. My 270 and '06 get carried, but not as much as my Ruger. Would I use any of the various 25's on an elk hunt? Well, the information I received here says that it is doable, but only in the right situation. I hunt elk in Washington state. Spike only, unless a large bull tag is drawn. During normal elk season a 25 may work. If I should ever draw a large bull tag, my 338 is ready and willing.
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
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Tric, I was just wondering if you had a specific purpose such as low recoil for a young hunter, or hunting a small property. Sounds like you already have two of my favorite elk guns.
Growing up in Elk country I've picked healed over .243 partitions out of elk I've killed with a bigger gun. In addition we got to hear the stories every year from all the kids who hit something Elk hunting with their .243's and let it get away. Yes in a controlled enviroment a 120gr bullet would work. If I HAD to pick a 120gr bullet for elk , I would consider an Etip, but I prefer something in the 150-225gr range for elk.
Growing up in Elk country I've picked healed over .243 partitions out of elk I've killed with a bigger gun. In addition we got to hear the stories every year from all the kids who hit something Elk hunting with their .243's and let it get away. Yes in a controlled enviroment a 120gr bullet would work. If I HAD to pick a 120gr bullet for elk , I would consider an Etip, but I prefer something in the 150-225gr range for elk.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
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Shot my only elk, a 6x6 bull, with a 175 gr Nosler Partition from a 7mm Rem mag. It worked great, and I was hunting with a smaller rifle than my very experienced elk hunting buddy recommended. He likes the .300 magnums and often hunts closer quarters with a .358 Win BLR.
Last year I was carrying the Ruger Number One in .375 H&H - just for the heck of it... :grin: Figured a 260 gr AccuBond would likely work as well on elk as it did on black bear. Never did get a shot at an elk though, so was unable to prove that theory. Perhaps this year... Saw a dandy 6x6 bull last year, during mule deer season doggone it!
If I was carrying my .25-06 with 115 gr Noslers loaded, or my son's .257 Weatherby with the same bullets and came across a legal opportunity for a clean shot at an elk, I'd take it. Was kind of surprised with the number of guys here locally who routinely use the .25-06 for both mule deer and elk. Mostly though, we get to hunt spike bulls and cows here in eastern Washington with the branch antler permits being fairly tough to obtain by draw.
Regards, Guy
Last year I was carrying the Ruger Number One in .375 H&H - just for the heck of it... :grin: Figured a 260 gr AccuBond would likely work as well on elk as it did on black bear. Never did get a shot at an elk though, so was unable to prove that theory. Perhaps this year... Saw a dandy 6x6 bull last year, during mule deer season doggone it!
If I was carrying my .25-06 with 115 gr Noslers loaded, or my son's .257 Weatherby with the same bullets and came across a legal opportunity for a clean shot at an elk, I'd take it. Was kind of surprised with the number of guys here locally who routinely use the .25-06 for both mule deer and elk. Mostly though, we get to hunt spike bulls and cows here in eastern Washington with the branch antler permits being fairly tough to obtain by draw.
Regards, Guy
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- #28
TRIC
Beginner
- Dec 14, 2005
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Guy, I have seen several elk taken with the 7mm mag. Good round. All my elk chasing is in the Oak Creek area. Been hunting there for over 40 years. Love that country.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
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That is mighty fine country. I like it a lot down there outside of Yakima. Generally I'm down there fly fishing the Naches or the Yakima though, not hunting.
Wandered into the middle of a large elk herd while hiking Government Meadows with my sons several years ago. Huge bull with the herd, could have taken him easily with a rifle... Dang that was neat. The ground was a little damp, and my boys and I hadn't made any noise at all padding along the trail. The elk never really figured out that we were there. Got real close to a few of them, but of course it was archery season and we were just camping and hiking, not hunting.
Regards, Guy
Wandered into the middle of a large elk herd while hiking Government Meadows with my sons several years ago. Huge bull with the herd, could have taken him easily with a rifle... Dang that was neat. The ground was a little damp, and my boys and I hadn't made any noise at all padding along the trail. The elk never really figured out that we were there. Got real close to a few of them, but of course it was archery season and we were just camping and hiking, not hunting.
Regards, Guy
filmjunkie4ever
Handloader
- May 4, 2011
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I can add nothing to what has been said here other than my vote that yes the 24-25 cals are a bit light for elk as a general rule but with good Nosler bullets and good marksmanship, I have no problem with it.
I have a 25-06 for that very reason, it is the smallest gun i feel safe shooting at anything here in Oregon with. And I shoot the 120 Partitions on top of 49 grains of IMR4350 getting round about 2975-3000 fps out of my old Remington 700 with a 24" barrel.
It has uncanny killing power because of that bullet and its precision accuracy. Like I said not my first choice but there are definately much worse choices out there.
I have a 25-06 for that very reason, it is the smallest gun i feel safe shooting at anything here in Oregon with. And I shoot the 120 Partitions on top of 49 grains of IMR4350 getting round about 2975-3000 fps out of my old Remington 700 with a 24" barrel.
It has uncanny killing power because of that bullet and its precision accuracy. Like I said not my first choice but there are definately much worse choices out there.
boolit":2755o0y5 said:
Boolit, check out the numbers on the 257WBY (120gr PT) compared to your 270 Win (130gr PT), I think you will be surprised. Granted, you will have less frontal area, but penetration should be very high with long sleek bullet. I think Mr. O'Connor preached for a long time about how perfect the 270 was for mountain game with a 130gr PT. The 257WBY beats it on about all fronts. Scotty
boolit":348xpgl3 said:
Well, the 270 Win runs the 130gr 3060FPS (Advertised) with 2700FT LBS muzzle energy (advertised)
The 257WBY runs a 120gr PT at 3200FPS (Advertsised) with 2900FT LBS muzzle energy (advertised)
Again, it isn't the absolute energy that kills, but with comparable bullets (BC and SD) , the 257 is going to beat the 270 Win pretty much all across the board. Scotty
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
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Beretz, Weatherby get their advertised velocities out of a 26" barrel.
Put a 26" barrel on a .270 Win and you can run 150gr bullet at 3000 fps all day long.
150gr bullet at 3000 fps gives you 3000 foot pounds of energy.
In the same length barrel, 130gr partitions will shoot at 3200.
In any event, the .270 shoots a heavier bullet with a (slightly) larger frontal area a equal velocities.
I'm not saying you can't kill an elk with a .257 WBY, and for the limitiations set in the initial question, your proposed solotion is probably on of the best. I just don't like chasing wounded elk so I belive the bar should be set as high as possible.
Put a 26" barrel on a .270 Win and you can run 150gr bullet at 3000 fps all day long.
150gr bullet at 3000 fps gives you 3000 foot pounds of energy.
In the same length barrel, 130gr partitions will shoot at 3200.
In any event, the .270 shoots a heavier bullet with a (slightly) larger frontal area a equal velocities.
I'm not saying you can't kill an elk with a .257 WBY, and for the limitiations set in the initial question, your proposed solotion is probably on of the best. I just don't like chasing wounded elk so I belive the bar should be set as high as possible.
- Oct 30, 2004
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Guy Miner":1tpudo0e said:
I totally agree.
- Oct 30, 2004
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I doubt any big game animal can tell the difference. Just my opinion. :wink:
Antelope_Sniper":2ijsx2j6 said:
Totally agree but if a 257Wby or 25-06 is what I had and couldn't buy another I would not stay home. I believe the same as you AS. I like the heavier calibers shooting big bullets but I know they don't fit some folks out there.
Boolit I wasn't meaning to demean the 270 one bit. Just saying they are about the same. Granted most 270's are 22-24" barrels and most of the 257's are 24-26" barrels. No real huge difference for the most part to me. I will be slinging a 338 or Whelen come this Fall and Im only hunting spikes. I would use a 375 if I had one! I do think the smaller cartridges work well though if used like they should be. Scotty
