ELK Rifle, best calibre

end result has all been the same, bloody hands and meat in the cooler. Hard to beat a 300wm with a 180gr Accubond, seems to just flat out work from spitting distance on out
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You'd really have to struggle to find any hunting situation that couldn't be handled with that combo.
 
When hunting meant walking, the 303, 30-30 and 30-06 filled a lot of freezers. Now it seems more like drive by shooting with fancy pick-ups and magnum rifles. Making sure the Moose and Elk are "magnum dead" turned out to be a great sales pitch.
 
Not drive by shooting; simply less room to hunt, scarcer resources, less time and having to take more shots that are your last chance. For many people, they may get 3 days to hunt.
To think you are going to ramble around for weeks and come across an elk at 30m is a luxury many cannot obtain.
Get a shot at your trophy at 250 yds standing next to the darkest bush and I would want a rifle that can shoot accurately and with authority. Yes, a 300 mag with 180s does fill that role well.
 
gerard488 said:
When hunting meant walking, the 303, 30-30 and 30-06 filled a lot of freezers. Now it seems more like drive by shooting with fancy pick-ups and magnum rifles. Making sure the Moose and Elk are "magnum dead" turned out to be a great sales pitch.
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I didn't shoot an elk or moose this year. Do you think I should buy a fancier pick-up truck? :p
 
norskie said:
back in the cup n core days guys wanted heavy bullets with large sectional density to penetrate the big stuff. I think better bullets change that a little.

I've killed elk with calibres ranging from 25-06(120 grain partitions) to the 300 weatherby.

I agree with others - the choice of calibre is less important than some other considerations. How are you with recoil? I know my 300 wby can loosen your fillings if you are not hanging on. I shoot it enough to be competent, but don't enjoy it at the range.

I have a couple friends who shoot smaller calibres - and for them I am much more confident they put a smaller bullet in the kill zone, rather than spray an pray with a uber magnum like a cat crapping razor blades....

All that said I own a 308 Norma mag, a 30-338 and a 300 wby, so you know what I favour lol.
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The Above is +1.....

my choice for Calibre though is if I was just a bloke who booked a Elk hunt, id buy a 300 win mag (wsm?)..... git er done.
if I was a bit of a Gun Nut id be looking at something a little different, just because.. they will all get it done.

Id like a 35 Whelen because im a Whelen kind of guy, get in closer an thump em in the engine room..

Id go with a 7rm if I wanted reasonably light-to-carry rifle for all round use, close to far

If I was a 'Elk hunter' on a daily basis, id proberly load up the 308 with 180 Accubonds


:)

WL
 
notsorichguy said:
Power windows are a necessity in a hunting truck.


How else can you get a proper shooting rest from the drivers seat?
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Exactly. I find the newer truck darn annoying though when you hold the button to lower the window too long and the window unexpectedly keeps going down. When dialing in for the final firing solution.
 
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Anything from a 260 to a 375 mag will work fine for elk, and not really be under- or over-powered. I'd be comfortable with modern lever-gun rounds too. The only thing that will vary based on your choice is the distance from which you can confidently place a killing shot. From my safe, I could pick 308, 30-06, or 375 Ruger today and be happy.

Pick a chambering you like in a rifle you love and enjoy hunting.
 
sask378 said:
Exactly. I find the newer truck darn annoying though when you hold the button to lower the window too long and the window unexpectedly keeps going down. When dialing in for the final firing solution.
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This is why manual crank windows are actually better; you have more fine control over your elevation adjustment. You do need to allow for compression of the pool noodle though... blue ones seem best.
 
Kudu said:
280 Remington - it will do anything that you need it to do - load it with a half decent monotholic like a GMX or a 160grain TSX and you will knock over anything in Canada!
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That would be my first choice. I'm loading the TTSX. Bit there's just something about the .284 diameter bullet that is an attention getter.
280 Rem is my ctg of choice, however the last two elk (cows)I shot were with my 7WSM. I'd like to try my 308 with a 200gr cast boolit as this is what used to harvest a cow moose this year.
 
Silverado said:
This is why manual crank windows are actually better; you have more fine control over your elevation adjustment. You do need to allow for compression of the pool noodle though... blue ones seem best.
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Is your manual crank door window handle calibrated in MOA or mRAD? I've recently switched to mRAD with a FFP scope.
 
As I age, I find I'm sticking with whatever I can fire from a bench comfortably. Putting a box downrange to check POI and being able to walk away without a flinch afterwards is a good thing for confidence. I don't have the time to shoot a lot anymore so that is important to me. Love a good .30-06, there's nothing it won't knock down around these parts.
 
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