New Elk Hunter: Flatter Trajectory: Does it matter & What Caliber?

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Thanks for that! I actually read that a little while back and had it bookmarked. Can't agree more that windage will be an issue! I'll either have help from more experienced guys I'm with and/or if I can't feel confident with being able to accurately determine potential windspeed then common sense says I won't be taking a shot, but I will enjoy the time out in the country looking at these magnificent animals! So it's a win-win either way in my view. :)

Also, thanks to a bunch of you for posting some fantastic information thus far. I feel I'm getting closer to a decision... Kind of...
 
Vengeance78 said:
Thanks for that! I actually read that a little while back and had it bookmarked. Can't agree more that windage will be an issue! I'll either have help from more experienced guys I'm with and/or if I can't feel confident with being able to accurately determine potential windspeed then common sense says I won't be taking a shot, but I will enjoy the time out in the country looking at these magnificent animals! So it's a win-win either way in my view. :)

Also, thanks to a bunch of you for posting some fantastic information thus far. I feel I'm getting closer to a decision... Kind of...
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Good I'm glad you have put sum thout into dealing with the wind and your going with guy's that are experience
Why not go to the range With them and try their rifles befor you put your money down on a new rifle
 
We will be going out later this month, but the issue is that one shoots a 30-06 (only gun he uses) and the other is taking a 270 wsm (also uses 30-06 and 308). So I only get to test 2 calibers (308 non-issue in terms of it being a bit less recoil than 30-06).

Another friend has a 7mm RM but the issue with that is that it's like an 18 lb rifle... So too heavy for offhand shooting as he uses it for shooting only from its bipod... He took a muley last year at 450-ish yards with it though. Made good jerky! :)

I'd really like to get a chance to shoot some of the .300 magnums and even a 7mm RM. Anyone around Calgary have any of these that would like to go shooting? Heck, even if you'd lend me them I'd go shooting by myself! Although I understand the issues with wanting to let an unknown person borrow your rifle!

carverk said:
Good I'm glad you have put sum thout into dealing with the wind and your going with guy that are experience
Why not go to the range With them and try their rifles befor you put your money down on a new rifle
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Here's a question for felt recoil that someone may be able to answer or give some insight on. I can shoot a 12ga 1-1/8oz target load at 1200 fps, where chuckhawks.com says the felt recoil is 23 ft-lbs for this type of load. My gun is a Benelli SBE II with advertised recoil reduction of 48%, so perhaps that damps the felt recoil down to what, maybe 11.5ft-lb? No idea here but I would say I barely even felt the recoil. Anyone shoot the SBE II with this type of load and if so, what rifle caliber (ammo you used) would you say it might be comparable to?
 
Ok elk hunter here I have taken many elk out past 400+
380,560,650,400 in our area average shots are 300-500
all day long as some shooters have pointed out . Heavy recoiling rifles make me flinch
as I get older and wiser I have tooled down from my 7 mm mag to a 264 on stariods
my little 264 has very little recoil I have put a break on it all in the name of accuracy
at 500 yards I'm repeatly 2.5 inch group and 4-7 inch at 1000
i shoot and practise bi weekly and have been for a few years now .
Measure check , recheck validate elevation temp pressure and wind I have a chart for different conditions
so yes it can be done and comfortably
but nature throws all sorts at you in the field .
depending on your optics your ability to shoot consistent tight groups in the field
my magnum dose not give this accuracy that I want .
my flinch not the rifle .
 
I bet if you picked up sum ammo and asked at your local gun range or ask on here The guys will help you out
I would all so think about why you're more experience hunting partners are using the rifles that ther using
It's a bit late to start thinking about long range hunting if your going to work your way upto it think about geting a varemet rifle and go hunting coyotes this winter
Most coyote hunters are really good at long range hunting because of the time thy put in the Field
 
Good questions to ask them! One of them, as it turns out is new to hunting and found a .30-06 for a good price so bought it! The other .30-06 owner just likes it the gun as he has used it for years but has only ever hunted deer and not at very long ranges it seems. The WSM owner has hunted elk up in 360 and likes the flatter trajectory of this caliber for the territory.

As of today, I'm leaning towards a 7mm RM as my buddy has one for hunting as well as the ~20 lb beast I mentioned before. He said for him the recoil isn't bad and he reloads, so that might help as well in finding a good load for the gun. Hopefully, we'll get out this week and I'll see if I agree with him or not.

Great idea to go varmit hunting as well. Is there any particular caliber you'd suggest?

carverk said:
I bet if you picked up sum ammo and asked at your local gun range or ask on here The guys will help you out
I would all so think about why you're more experience hunting partners are using the rifles that ther using
It's a bit late to start thinking about long range hunting if your going to work your way upto it think about geting a varemet rifle and go hunting coyotes this winter
Most coyote hunters are really good at long range hunting because of the time thy put in the Field
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223 is economical to shoot a 243 is more versatile and you can reach a long ways it's all a matter of what you want to do
Getting out and trying your hunting partners 7mm is a grait plan
 
6.5x284 round, less recoil competitive to 600yrds with a 7mm rem mag, past that less your looking at drift hits hard. Best part I shoot 100 rounds and it dont hurt no flinch, I take out my magnums after 20 I start flinching.
 
Interesting. Not familiar with this caliber. Is it easy to find factory loads for and is this for varmit hunting or elk? If elk, could you tell me the ballistics on a couple of premium hunting ammo out to 500 yards as I'm not having much luck finding anything so far...

Thanks!


JMedical said:
6.5x284 round, less recoil competitive to 600yrds with a 7mm rem mag, past that less your looking at drift hits hard. Best part I shoot 100 rounds and it dont hurt no flinch, I take out my magnums after 20 I start flinching.
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Vengeance78 said:
Interesting. Not familiar with this caliber. Is it easy to find factory loads for and is this for varmit hunting or elk? If elk, could you tell me the ballistics on a couple of premium hunting ammo out to 500 yards as I'm not having much luck finding anything so far...

Thanks!
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It will work for both elk and Coyotes Depending on bullet you use
Vary low recoil and extremely accurate and fun to shoot
 
there's a REASON you haven't heard of the 6.5 x284= it's a WILDCAT not available otc at your local hunting store let alone a big box- ie canadian tire- wholesale, cabelas etc - it's a 6.5 mm bullet on top of a 284 Winchester case- go this route and you or your friends have to get a press involved, custom dies, and have to be AVID handloaders- the 284 is NOT a common case to begin with( it's basically Winchester's version of a short 7mm) same length as the 308, but fatter ( ie you only get 4 in a magazine instead of 5) factory loads are non- existant afaik
I believe you're going to be into NEXT season before you finally settle on what to carry - by that time the rest of us have our animals in the freezer-even though you have the recommended answer and from authors with PROVEN track records
 
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if your looking for the perfect rifle, caliber combination You will never be happy
Just go get a rifle you can afford get sum ammo and cleaning kit and. spend more time shooting and getting to know your rifle
I just made a deal on EE for a used 30-06 barrel for my T/C encore for hunting Alberta Elk but I have more realistic expectation and a singl shot suit my style of hunting
 
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Thanks for all the input, and information! I haven't quite decided what I'll go with yet, but I think I'm just going to look for one of these calibers here on the EE and just grab it and go shooting as has been suggested!

Cheers all!
 
of course you know what's going to happen - the op is going to show up at some big box store or gunshop, ask for an "elk " rifle, and some pimply faced kid who's never even seen an elk is going to sell him a bolt ,probably in 308 or 06 and a box of "shells" and maybe a 4x or 3x9 scope- all because he's desperate and it's WHAT THEY HAVE ON HAND- granted, it's not a terribly bad choice, and will get the job done, but the first 5 years he'll be lucky to even see an elk- and get a good pair of binocs and a good knife-that way you 'dn't have to use your scope for spotting
all the really good "elk " rifles were gone in may along with the ammo- but if you do get a 30, get a t least 180 180 grains moving at 2600 fps
 
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In my opinion, I'd say that for the OP, a 270 Win would be the best choice for a first rifle. Shoots flatter than a 308 or 3006 with more energy imparted at 500 yards than either the 308 and 3006. Also, almost every store I've seen in the middle of nowhere stocks ammo for it... Most of the other cartridges I've seen mentioned other than 308 or 3006 are kinda hit and miss in the small town ufa, coop, general hardware store, or home hardware... Ammo availability helps when you forget your boxes of bullets on the kitchen counter at home, and realize it when you get to the place you're hunting...
 
.270 Win........................practice so that you can do your part...............................choose a good bullet...............................you are good to go.
 
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