bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
General rule of thumb : If you gotta ask, it's marginal at best.
.25-06 for Elk?
- Thread starter Ar180shooter
- Start date
General rule of thumb : If you gotta ask, it's marginal at best.
I have never shot a spike.
I have never shot a cow either - but y wife has take a couple.
And for what it is worth - the Shiras sized Moose in our parts are much easier to kill than a Elk in my experience. Moose seem to "hump up" or outright fall over. I have never had a properly hit Moose go more than a few yards regardless of cailbre. I can't say the same for Elk.
I remember reading a journal article a few years ago when they did a cull slaughter in Jackson Hole Wyoming. They butchered a whack of Elk and in the process found a few that had been double lunged that had indeed survived the ordeal.
But what do I know.
As to the original poster - practice as much as you can, use a good bullet and some common sense and you will be fine with a 25-06. And as my old man used to say - that rifle is a repeater....
There seems to be some difference of opinion regarding how tough a moose is vs an Elk.
I have been privileged to live long enough in this fair land to take a good sized number of both species, and both ###es of those species.
As one poster already stated, a shot through the lungs brings them down in fairly short order. The entry hole size is not as important as the location of that hole.
I do not believe for one second that any Elk would survive a double lung shot with an expanding bullet of any diameter that did it's job.
No expansion, or FMJ bullet....maybe, but a big maybe, even then.
I have shot more Moose than Elk. The numbers do not matter, but well into double digits in both cases.
My personal experience leads me to believe that Elk usually go a bit farther after a lethal shot than do Moose.
Regardless, it is almost always less than 100 yards with good shot placement.
I had a 6x6 Bull Elk make it 85 yards after being whacked through both lungs with a 300 Win Mag. Another, smaller bull went 60 yards after a similar shot with a 30-06.
Even a cow Elk I shot from about 75 yards, directly broadside through both lungs, made an 80 yard dash before collapsing. [308 Norma Mag, 180 Partition, bullet recovered]
Moose seem to not figure out that they are dead, and will often stand around for 20-30 seconds after a shot through the boiler room, then try to move off and just keel over.
The only moose I ever had trouble with was my fault. [first shot a bit too far back]
It was a good sized cow, and she made it about 200 yards before she called it quits.
A better shot with my '06 would have had better results, I am certain.
I shot one moose with my 6mm Remington and the 100 Partition...DRT.
Another with the 257 Bob and the 120 partition, also DRT
I have shot 8 moose with the 7x57, none required a second shot.
3 or 4 with the 6.5x55 and 140 Partitions, none went 30 feet.
Sure, I'm opinionated. But, I base my opinions in this case on solid experience.
As I said before, the 25-06 will do the job. Just put a good bullet in the right place!
Regards, Eagleye.
I have been privileged to live long enough in this fair land to take a good sized number of both species, and both ###es of those species.
As one poster already stated, a shot through the lungs brings them down in fairly short order. The entry hole size is not as important as the location of that hole.
I do not believe for one second that any Elk would survive a double lung shot with an expanding bullet of any diameter that did it's job.
No expansion, or FMJ bullet....maybe, but a big maybe, even then.
I have shot more Moose than Elk. The numbers do not matter, but well into double digits in both cases.
My personal experience leads me to believe that Elk usually go a bit farther after a lethal shot than do Moose.
Regardless, it is almost always less than 100 yards with good shot placement.
I had a 6x6 Bull Elk make it 85 yards after being whacked through both lungs with a 300 Win Mag. Another, smaller bull went 60 yards after a similar shot with a 30-06.
Even a cow Elk I shot from about 75 yards, directly broadside through both lungs, made an 80 yard dash before collapsing. [308 Norma Mag, 180 Partition, bullet recovered]
Moose seem to not figure out that they are dead, and will often stand around for 20-30 seconds after a shot through the boiler room, then try to move off and just keel over.
The only moose I ever had trouble with was my fault. [first shot a bit too far back]
It was a good sized cow, and she made it about 200 yards before she called it quits.
A better shot with my '06 would have had better results, I am certain.
I shot one moose with my 6mm Remington and the 100 Partition...DRT.
Another with the 257 Bob and the 120 partition, also DRT
I have shot 8 moose with the 7x57, none required a second shot.
3 or 4 with the 6.5x55 and 140 Partitions, none went 30 feet.
Sure, I'm opinionated. But, I base my opinions in this case on solid experience.
As I said before, the 25-06 will do the job. Just put a good bullet in the right place!
Regards, Eagleye.
Several summers ago an Island Elk got poached and left for dead near Lens Main road out past Lake Cowichan... IIRC well over a dozen .22 LR rim fire was used. 
So they are not friggen bullet proof as it was very dead...but not ethical by any means IMHO.
I don't know enough about the 25/06 but I trust the folks that know how to use them and know their limits. Personally I'd go with a bigger caliber.
So they are not friggen bullet proof as it was very dead...but not ethical by any means IMHO.
I don't know enough about the 25/06 but I trust the folks that know how to use them and know their limits. Personally I'd go with a bigger caliber.
Agreed. I certainly believe your experience, and agree with your suggestion. I will try to find the article that talked about the double lung survivor - I admit anything that has been double lunged that I have experience with has expired.
Elmer Keith writes in his different books of 3 separate bull elk he had taken with lung scarring consistent with healed smaller caliber bullet traces through the lungs. I found it difficult to buy, but there is more and more evidence as the years go by.
elk
Another bullet not mentioned is the Hornady 120 grain hollowpoint (thats right a hollow point) . Hornady designed it for larger animals 30+ years ago and it works - I believe Ted has had some experience with it as well but my memory might be playing tricks on me - also usually VERY accurate.
I'd practice a lot, take the 25/06 and not lose a moment's sleep
Another bullet not mentioned is the Hornady 120 grain hollowpoint (thats right a hollow point) . Hornady designed it for larger animals 30+ years ago and it works - I believe Ted has had some experience with it as well but my memory might be playing tricks on me - also usually VERY accurate.
I'd practice a lot, take the 25/06 and not lose a moment's sleep
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How would he know it was consistent with a small caliber wound? He wouldn't!
I have seen a big bear (in the 500lb range) shot in the lungs with a 22mag that didn't go a couple hundred yards...Also a cow moose taken in the same way with a single shot from a 22mag..
I don't see an elks lungs being any tougher than that of any other animal...
You can believe what ever you choose I was just quoting Elmer. I personally have never seen it, I'm saying there is more than one article from reliable sources to lend creedance to this possibility.
If an elk were shot low in the back of the lungs, at extended range where the bullet may not upset much, do you still think it would be impossible for it to survive?
I will at least allow the possibility of such an event happening.
If an elk were shot low in the back of the lungs, at extended range where the bullet may not upset much, do you still think it would be impossible for it to survive?
I will at least allow the possibility of such an event happening.
If it came from a biologist or veterinary scientist, I would say it was reliable...From a hunter, not so much!
With any cal I might add, or any big game animal for that matter..If possible at all!
I've sliced my hand open on a broadhead someone lodged in a whitetails chest while field dressing. The wounds had completely healed. The arrow hit the leg bone and angled thru the leg muscle (hamstring/tricep part of front leg don't know the exact name) and into the chest thru the ribs. The lung revealed a large portion deflated and greyish dark in colour. The deer after being shot with another arrow had gone 40-50 yards. Not double lunged but was perfectly healthy and healed with a broadhead havin 2 blades remaining still inside the chest cavity. Animals can do amazing things. I can believe a bullet could do much the same As to what's tougher I've never shot a moose or elk but I'd say the amount of adrenaline dumped in the body at the time of the shot is a major factor. If they were alert and on guard I'm sure they'd react tougher then a lazy uncaring animal. All the moose I've wandered into seem to be uncaring. Elk from all reports seem to be more alert. I've shot 40 deer and the ones running in and alert pushed the furthest after being shot. That is a person assumption but proves true with deer
My thoughts as well.double lungs
Old Elmer , while having a tremendous amount of knowledge, also was known to get a little carried away with his 'facts' on smaller calibers (see also 270 Winchester and Elmer hated Jack O'Connor ) so I'd likely call BS as well
Old Elmer , while having a tremendous amount of knowledge, also was known to get a little carried away with his 'facts' on smaller calibers (see also 270 Winchester and Elmer hated Jack O'Connor
) so I'd likely call BS as wellOld Elmer , while having a tremendous amount of knowledge, also was known to get a little carried away with his 'facts' on smaller calibers (see also 270 Winchester and Elmer hated Jack O'Connor
I have several friends who knew Elmer quite well, and apparently the last person to call BS to his face ended up looking down the business end of a 4" Mod 29 Smith, with Skeeter Skelton and Bill Jordan backing him!!
I'm well aware of his relationship with O'connor and his "love" for the 270, or anything smaller than .338 for that matter.
I do believe it is called a matter of honor when you call a man a liar. There doesn't seem to be much honor left though. I probably wouldn't pull a gun but you'd sure as hell wished you'd chose your words more carefully if you called me a liar to my face, like I said it's a matter of honor.
You are right it is ......also on the other side of the table. My grandpa used to say " do you think I am that stupid " which would apply . Another way to put it would be that I am somewhat of a BS er myself but its always good to get together with an expert.
Not calling you a liar ....probably wouldn't have called Elmer one either BUT if he pointed a finger at me and told me that he had seen elk double lunged by a 270 and recover I would have asked for specifics ....and expressed my doubt
One of Elmer's statements also was to the effect that the 270 (which I have rarely hunted with - so its not personal ) was NOT adquate for deer sized animals and would probably make a good 'coyote' round .
