.25-06 for Elk?

It seems to me some of you dont shoot many elk and at least not in western Canada.
You all know not all opportunities for a shot are ideal, and i wonder how many pass up shots that do not allow penetration of a .25/06 bullet. For example a decent six point bull is facing directly towards you, spins around and runs straight away...or standing with its rump facing you at 200 meters, looking back...no heart- lung shots there.

I have taken some of those shots but not with a .25/06. Facing you a heart- aimed shot would not have the penetration needed, and in my 33 years as a wildlife biologist i have seen a lot of terribly shot up carcasses from the likes of those shooting elk taking poor shots and/or using an inadequate caliber. Not everyone has the patience or skills to wait for the ight chance, and fewer yet are willing to pass on poor shot opportunities.

Not every elk stands broadside waiting for you. Use a .30/06 with 180 gr Speers at least.

Over the years most difficult shots i risked were taken with a decent rest and were head or neck shots. I would guess less than half allowed the broadside heart- lung shots.

Started taking an elk a year in 1958....am still doing so, and have only taken one with a .243 the rest were either .30/06 with 180 gr Speers or 7mm Rem mag with 160 gr Speers.
 
Ar180shooter said:
Well... That got out of control... Remind me not to ask questions here anymore...
Click to expand...

Which may well be related to my low number of posts for my years on the forum.:rolleyes: I did think you originally had a good question though.

However, I still do agree with those who want a 30-06 for an elk job.:nest: Then:popCorn:
 
blwebster said:
It seems to me some of you dont shoot many elk and at least not in western Canada.
You all know not all opportunities for a shot are ideal, and i wonder how many pass up shots that do not allow penetration of a .25/06 bullet. For example a decent six point bull is facing directly towards you, spins around and runs straight away...or standing with its rump facing you at 200 meters, looking back...no heart- lung shots there.

I have taken some of those shots but not with a .25/06. Facing you a heart- aimed shot would not have the penetration needed, and in my 33 years as a wildlife biologist i have seen a lot of terribly shot up carcasses from the likes of those shooting elk taking poor shots and/or using an inadequate caliber. Not everyone has the patience or skills to wait for the ight chance, and fewer yet are willing to pass on poor shot opportunities.

Not every elk stands broadside waiting for you. Use a .30/06 with 180 gr Speers at least.

Over the years most difficult shots i risked were taken with a decent rest and were head or neck shots. I would guess less than half allowed the broadside heart- lung shots.

Started taking an elk a year in 1958....am still doing so, and have only taken one with a .243 the rest were either .30/06 with 180 gr Speers or 7mm Rem mag with 160 gr Speers.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't shoot elk with Speers out of a .25-06 either. Partitions, TSX's, Swifts and the ilk sure. And I wouldn't shoot an elk in the ass with any caliber unless it was wounded or you were eating it. Just sayin.
 
Nobody said anything about trying to kill an elk by shooting it in the ass guys.

Behind the ear or upper neck more like it, but still would not want a .25 cal. In my hands.
 
.25-06 for Elk

A plain simple strait foreward answer from this old guy is NO!

Sure, .22 center fire calibres has killed game, but in fairness to the quary and sportmanship, any game deserves to be killed ASAP and for the sake of the meat destruction, any .25 calibre bullet imo on elk sized game is a no-no.

Francis Sell, a great writer of western elk hunting said tha the .348 Winchester lever was THE rifle for elk. Check his book "Andvanced Hunting on Deer and Elk Trails" is a true classic.

Why not at least a .30-'06 or my favourite, the .338 WM?

For what it is worth!
 
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
Click to expand...

:agree: x 10!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom