.25-06 for Elk?

Rembo said:
I'd go after elk with a 25-06....a hit thru the ribs with a good bullet will kill them as dead as a 375 will....
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Really...? Lots of talk about Moose...a 30-30 will kill a moose easily...Moose are "Pussycats"....and not hard to kill

This thread is about Elk and they are alot tougher than Moose...A 25-06 is light in my opinion and what if a shot at a big bull comes up at 3-400 yards? Are you willing to pass up a shot at a monster because the calibre your carrying might be a little "thin"...?

I would be more inclined to go with 30-06 min and 7 or 30 magnum preferred...

You might only get that one chance at a lifetime at a biggie...no need to intentionally handicap yourself...;)
 
I dream of owning a 25-06 rifle, not because of my experience but mainly because of the kudos it gets as a do all calibre. Heck if I wasn't so broke I would try and trade me sks for one, just got no cash to sweeten the deal!
 
I love the 25 06. I load 120 grain Speers, and anything that it points at is DRT. Pleasant to shoot, efficient and effective. I have turned a few onto the 25, and they sold their magnums and use it for moose and elk. Put it where it is suppose to go, and it works.
 
Squibloads said:
Moose are "Pussycats"....and not hard to kill

This thread is about Elk and they are alot tougher than Moose..
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An elk's vital area (lungs/heart) are no tougher than that of a moose, or any other big game, as a matter of fact...On a 200-300yd boiler room hit with either a 300WSM, or 25-06 will end with the same result...


Squibloads said:
Are you willing to pass up a shot at a monster because the calibre your carrying might be a little "thin"...?
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I have done just that(a few times)...Not because the cal I had in hand was a bit ''thin'', but because it was a risky (bad) shot..Would have been passed on no matter what I had in hand..


Squibloads said:
You might only get that one chance at a lifetime at a biggie...no need to intentionally handicap yourself...;)
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Would you take a risky shot, on a monster because you are carrying a big stick???
 
of-course it will kill elk,far from ideal though IMO. Its like asking will my ford ranger pull my 7000lb boat,yup but not the best tool for the job
 
An elk's vital area (lungs/heart) are no tougher than that of a moose, or any other big game, as a matter of fact...On a 200-300yd boiler room hit with either a 300WSM, or 25-06 will end with the same result...
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Elk will travel a LONG way where as a Moose folds up like a cheap tent....why not use a 25-35 then for elk and save on the recoil?

I have done just that(a few times)...Not because the cal I had in hand was a bit ''thin'', but because it was a risky (bad) shot..Would have been passed on no matter what I had in hand..
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Then you have no business shooting at that range if the shot is "Risky" to you...We are implying that the person is competent to make such a shot...

Would you take a risky shot, on a monster because you are carrying a big stick???
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If I could not hit a Elk properly at 3-400 yards then I would be at the range practicing, till I could....

Use the right tool for right job...;)
 
Squibloads said:
Elk will travel a LONG way where as a Moose folds up like a cheap tent...
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Shot many moose? I have taken 6 with a 25-06, and couple with both the 7.62X39, and 280, one with a 308, and a few with 30-06/300Win Mag....Only one folded like the cheap tent you speak of..The rest went from a few yards, to close to 100...Though I have yet to take an elk, if I were a betting man I would be willing to bet an elk wouldn't travel any further with lungs of mush....

Squibloads said:
Then you have no business shooting at that range if the shot is "Risky" to you...We are implying that the person is competent to make such a shot...
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Range isn't the only factor of a risky shot...Range is the easiest factor IMO...This quote of yours anwered my last question of ''would you take a risky shot if you carried a big stick''..From what you said, of couse you would...


Squibloads said:
If I could not hit a Elk properly at 3-400 yards then I would be at the range practicing, till I could....

Use the right tool for right job...;)
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If I don't have a clear shot @ the vitals, I dont shoot...No matter what I carry reguardless of range..

Having restrain to do this, is the right tool..
 
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Elk of both ###es are super-tough and hard to kill. Other stuff, not so much. I love my 25-06 for caribou ("fold like a cheap tent" -- to steal an appropriate quote from an earlier poster) and of course deer, but I do not pack anything less than my 30-06 and 180 NP's for elk.
 
captonion said:
Would you take a risky shot, on a monster because you are carrying a big stick???
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Yes I would. Mostly because it would no longer be a risky shot. There are shots that I will take with my 338 win mag loaded with 250 Partitions that I would not take with my 270 win. I do not know how you could argue this point. There is always a point where you should not longer be attempting a shot. I would not shoot an Elk broadside at over 300 yards with my 270, but would not hesitate with the 338.

to each their own.

G
 
g-manz35 said:
I do not know how you could argue this point. There is always a point where you should not longer be attempting a shot.
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That is my point...

Restraint no matter what you carry...


g-manz35 said:
Yes I would. Mostly because it would no longer be a risky shot.
I would not shoot an Elk broadside at over 300 yards with my 270, but would not hesitate with the 338.
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Same here! But yardage isn't the only thing to consider when you evaluate to take the shot,or not..There is also shot angle, The angle at which the animal is standing in relation to the hunter. Knowing which angles offer the most effective—and least effective—shots is an essential part of being a responsible hunter. In a nut shell!

There are far too many (say it aint so) that think because they carry a big stick, they can take any shot offered..Not saying it about you personally, but there are many out there...

This is where restraint comes in...All I am saying is if you have that, a 25-06 can be a perfectly efficient round for taking elk, as is the 338...

Never did I say the 25-06 was the be all end all cartrige for big game, nor did I slag any other cal..The OP's question was ''What are your guys thoughts on this cartridge for larger elk sized game 250-300yds?'' I gave that with a little advice..No more no less...
 
captonion said:
Shot many moose? I have taken 6 with a 25-06, and couple with a 280, one with a 308, and a few with 30-06/300Win Mag....Only one folded like the cheap tent you speak of..The rest went from a few yards, to close to 100...Though I have yet to take an elk, if I were a betting man I would be willing to bet an elk wouldn't travel any further with lungs of mush....
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Well I have killed a half dozen Moose (2 with a 25-06) and more than a dozen Elk - and the Elk is by far and away a tougher animal. They just seem to have a stronger will to live.
As a side note - the 25-06 rocked both bull Moose alot quicker than the 4 Elk I have watched it down. Then again - the other 4 shot with 30 cal magnums did the same vs. the Elk


Range isn't the only factor of a risky shot...Range is the easiest factor IMO...This quote of yours anwered my last question of ''would you take a risky shot if you carried a big stick''..From what you said, of couse you would...
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Range is an easy factor.

That being said, some folks are more proficient at taking game at 400 than others at 150. It's a combination of practice, knowing your rifle and whether you get buck fever and a few other variables. Knowing your limits with your firearm choice is the key IMHO



If I don't have a clear shot @ the vitals, I dont shoot...No matter what I carry reguardless of range..

Having restrain to do this, is the right tool..
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You got it
 
What would you guys think is an appropriate type of firearm for ELK defense?? Bears are easy to kill compared to these hoofed devils.
I have seen with my own eyes alot of stories about "elk travelling great distances after they get shot. They must be tough as nails........."

Another way to think of it is "ELK often get SHOT at great distances", therefore , even the .300 win mag is quite tame at 4 5 hundred yards.

Just take your shot as CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET. My old man couldn't stress it enough.
STALK STALK STALK. Make your .25-06 into a 30 cal by closing the distance.

Elk are like deer, moose, and bear. Hit them right (with a 25 or 30 cal) and they go down. Hit them marginally, from a distance of 3-5 hundred yards (as they are often hit) and they get to have a last waltz in the forest before they go down. Simple.

Moose often fold like a cheap tent, cause I hit their bigger target from 50 yards to 100 usually, so bang flop. How many guys hit elk from 50? Elk sure dont come to call like moose do.
 
g-manz35 said:
Yes I would. Mostly because it would no longer be a risky shot. There are shots that I will take with my 338 win mag loaded with 250 Partitions that I would not take with my 270 win. I do not know how you could argue this point. There is always a point where you should not longer be attempting a shot. I would not shoot an Elk broadside at over 300 yards with my 270, but would not hesitate with the 338.

to each their own.

G
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The 270 is perfectly capable of taking an elk @ 300 yards with the right shot placement. It's a mental game with the 338.
 
Why is it that the 243, 25/06, 6.5x55, 270 etc are fine for women and kids to use and then when a big tough man is using one all of a sudden it becomes WAY too small and you have to go to a monster magnum that most don't put the time or effort (recoil and price) into to become a better shot? People have been taking elk and the like since time began with the very ineffective bow and arrow... and thats a longbow or recurve! Gasp not a compound. Just my two cents.
Practice, shot placement and a good bullet = dead animal
I would use a 6mm Rem and a 100gr Partition and up and not worry
 
lots of elk have been killed with 243's and 270's with vanilla soft point bullets. I've seen a 6x6 bull that dressed out at 600 lbs fall to a 100gr Partition from a 6mm through the heart after a 75 yard blood trail. A 25-06 will work just fine, I'd hedge the bet in my favor and load a premium bullet like a Barnes 100gr TTSX or Nosler's 100gr eTip or 110gr Accubond. Put the bullet where it counts
 
I've seen my share of moose and elk hit with bullets. I'd say on average the elk went down harder and quicker than the moose have and I'm talking mature bull elk, not cows or raghorn spikers
 
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