What is OVERKILL for Elk?

R

Redlich

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If one elk was killed every time a "what's the best elk cartridge?" thread was made on the internet, the species would have been extinct years ago. However... I still find threads like that fun and enjoy hearing how different people's opinions are! :)

This one is a bit of a twist. What would you say is the threshold of what you'd consider overkill for elk?

I'm not too experienced with the animal personally, I've been on one elk hunt so far, and it was unsuccessful. Hopefully next year. My take on what's overkill, for what it's worth, is the 338 win mag. I know many people think that the 338wm is the "king of elk cartridges" and such, but I have a hard time understanding why when the recoil of it is almost equal to a 375H+H, and people have been harvesting the animal with 30-06, 8x57, 308's and 270's for decades. If the animal was 20 yards in front of me and charging, yes I'd want a 338wm, but from what I understand it's usually a flight response from them more than fight anyways.

So that's my answer, I think the 338 win mag is overkill, anything one step down in recoil is probably about right. What do you think?

Red

(remember, it's a fun thread! :) )
 
I think it is perfectly possible to rationalize the idea of a .338 Win. for elk, although the .30-06 is absolutely adequate for elk hunting too. I think anything more than the .338 is just not necessary, although the word "overkill" is IMO inappropriate. There is just no need in any circumstances to tolerate the expense, the heavy rifles and/or recoil, to hunt elk with more powerful cartridges.

I work on the premise that once you have "enough gun", there are no advantages to using more gun, but there are always some disadvantages.
 
IMO, I probably wouldn't use anything under a 300wm for elk. I have been elk hunting, you put allot of time and $$ into it. If you don't get that "perfect shot" you want that bullet to reach the vital's, and if he's 200-350yrds (or what ever) and it's not that broadside shot and it's the only chance you may get??? Again IMO, I would want a good quality 200-230gr bullet out of a magnum....

I don't think there is such thing as overkill in these situations.


Kevin.
 
howitzer sounds good to me if it weren't for all the meat loss... at least it'd let plenty of light into the animal, assuring a fast kill!
 
I'm not sure I believe in the concept of being overgunned. An animal can be underkilled but not overkilled. A shooter can be overgunned, but thats a another thing altogether.

Haveing said that calibers over .375 tend to give up more in trajectory and shootability than they gain in killing power. Thats fine on animals that make any gun look small, but not worth it on something scrawny as an elk.

I'll go with the "overkill" theshold beginning where the shooter's limit ends.
 
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Elk can soak up lead like no other north american game.

Shoot the biggest caliber you can comfortably and accurately IMO

.270 makes em dead....but faced with a frontal shot or quartering towards shot ill take a 450 grain cast bullet over a 150 grain soft point any day of the week.

Overkill? no such thing....like Dogleg said.....you cant make an Elk TOO dead....but you can lose em in the bush in a hurry

We need an Underkill thread now....and maybe a bear defense thread in the rimfire section :kickInTheNuts:
 
i don't think there is such a thing, but there is a point of diminishing returns and even regression. probably anything past the 375 and recoil and/or trajectory become problems.
 
I am not really sure what you are asking; total energy or calibre?

I will assume energy, because 45-70, 444, 9.3x whatever, even 35Rem are all "bigger calibres" but generally less energy than a 338WM.

I will echo what others have already stated: there is no such thing as "too dead". There are very few cartridges that are going to cause extensive damage to an elk when hit properly, so even 50BMG is fine IMO.

I think the issue is more about "Is there any point in beating the hell out of yourself with a uber-mag rifle for elk?"

Then the answer is simple: no.
 
If you can't shoot the gun due to excessive recoil, then you have a case of overkill. Maybe not for the elk, but certainly for the shooter.

I know guys who flinch when shooting a 308, others soak up 458s with ease. Me, I would a use 280 as it carries enough energy over distances I am comfortable shooting and I shoot it accurately with ease.
 
Define overkill. Cuz I don't know how you could kill an elk deader than dead.


Pudelpointer said:
I
I think the issue is more about "Is there any point in beating the hell out of yourself with a uber-mag rifle for elk?"

Then the answer is simple: no.
Click to expand...


Sooo, how many shots is it going to take for you to kill that elk anyway? I've yet to notice any recoil while my game is in my sights. Uber-mag or any other "lesser" cartridge.....
 
An 8ft spear is getting a bit too much, 6ft is about ideal when tipped with the proper blade.

Wouldn't be sporting if you were too far away.;)

As for overkill with a rifle. If there is two halves when you arrive at the kill site, you may have too much gun!
 
sunray said:
Any cartridge with 'magnum' in its name.
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See, that's where I am... However, if I were paying for a hunt (travel, lodgings, food for a week or more, a guide, etc) then I might want something more, but I really don't think one would need more than a 7mm Rem Mag or a .300WM. That being said, I don't own either and have taken my share of game with my trusty .30-06.
 
Bore size of 100mm and above ... In other words, if somebody tries to take a potshot at an elk using an old-school BP cannon loaded with grapeshot, yeah, that might be overkill ... Strictly on waste of perfectly good meat kind of grounds.
 
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