400 Yard Elk cartridge . what's your Pick

Joel said:
How do you get set up for a shot like that? Sitting/prone off a ruck, or?
Click to expand...

Both in the same field, same spot a few years apart sitting in a shelter belt of trees in the middle of the field.
Has been a very productive spot for me over the years. Even for whitetails.
 
Spruster said:
nice ...so which one do you grab and why on your next elk hunt . Is there diff areas or maybe the gun it self
Click to expand...

I generally grab the 270 (rem 7600) out of habit. Love that rifle and know exactly how it shoots. The 338 ( A- bolt)I had just bought it before the hunt and after some shooting at home decided to try it on an elk. Worked great but haven’t hunted with it since.
Not sure what I might try on my next elk hunt.
 
Royzo said:
Both in the same field, same spot a few years apart sitting in a shelter belt of trees in the middle of the field.
Has been a very productive spot for me over the years. Even for whitetails.
Click to expand...

Heck of a spot you have going there :)
 
Killed elk with .270 at 400 yards, .280 at 200 yards and .300wsm 405 meters. The .300 kills so much better. It’s all about shot placement no matter what you’re shooting.

For elk I like having a versatile scope in the 4-12 range. Currently set up with aa 4-14.

Elk are my favourite critters. I’ve taken plenty myself and watched as friends have taken there’s. I’d stick with magnums if you can, .30cal too.
 
Spruster said:
what were u using in the 308 at that time
Click to expand...

That one was 165gr accubond handloads.
I have also killed a bull at 400yds w the 308 and 168 etip.. it was a quick get it done kind of shot and I hit it in the neck and broke the spine...any bullet would have done the same.
Another bull at 300 w the etip broke both shoulders and stopped just under the hide. Had to put another into it from closer as it was still up and moving although not very quickly..
I found out the hard way those Etips require bone hits to be really effective in a 308 as velocities are just not there for great expansion...
 
Last edited:
Buckmastr said:
Didn’t Chuck shoot an elk at 550 yards with a 270? I think it was just a baby though…
Click to expand...

560 with 130 ttsx launched around 3100 from my recollection, about 2000 fps impact, exited, drt, and the bull was a biggun, lr duplex in a 6x36? Let’s see how my memory is. :)

Imagine that, a .242 sd bullet of appropriate construction and impact velocity for game intended works no sweat. Most everything we consider in this game will knock elk over at 400 yards. You don’t have to burn near the powder you used too with modern high bc/sd bullets now to do it so there’s even more options.
 
Well I guess I’ll add my two cents…..

I’ve shot plenty of elk in the last 20 years….Dogleg can attest to this.
I’ve see elk shot with sub par calibers (in my opinion) .243 win up to .270 win. Definitely not suitable for elk. Just not heavily enough for elk. Bullets not getting to the other side of out the other side. Sure they work but bigger is always better….

I’ve shot elk / moose / bison with .30-06 /.300 win/338 win / .338 lapua / 338 rum / 340 bee/ 30-378 bee / .375 hh / .375 bee / 416 rigby….. always use enough gun. Lol. I always like the heavy hitters ( current elk rifle is a Mark V in .338-378 Bee) with good bullets as most can guess are the Barnes / Swift variety. I’m guessing there will be lots of haters, but the op asked what we all shoot.

I’ve also batted cleanup for a lot of sub par rounds where the smaller guns just couldn’t put em down…..
 
30/06 for quite a few years, now- 708, 260/6.5CM, 308. Something in that range. I care far more about the rifle & scope, than the cartridge.
 
A set of good legs ,close the distance, or the patience to wait for a better opportunity is my best offer...we're too caught up with shooting distance
 
cjdawe said:
A set of good legs ,close the distance, or the patience to wait for a better opportunity is my best offer...we're too caught up with shooting distance
Click to expand...

I like to be 30 yards or less. Guess growing up using archery equipment installs the getting in close aspect. Plus hunting in Ontario you don't often get a chance for a long shot

That said I almost bought a 340wby for a long range rifle however I have no use for it. Yet
 
Prefer to call Elk in close don't necessarily need long range capability however above tree line a long range shot opportunity might present itself my .416's do just fine all bases covered come what may.
 
I have taken 2 dozen elk over the years, and 20 of these I recorded data on:10 different cartridges and a crossbow; 30% with non magnums
Various terrain types; thick brush to large open fields
Some were rifle I had at the time, some were rifle I chose to hunt that season with, others were just the rifle I chose to hunt with that day. There were some where I was primarily hunting other game or with another weapon and used what I had on hand when the opportunity presented itself.
270 Wby @ 100 yards
7mm Rem Mag @ 120 yards
6.5x55 @ 370 yards (was out after deer when opportunity for a cow elk presented itself - would not choose this cartridge for elk at this range again)
35 Whelen @ 60 yards
338 Win Mag (2) @ 180 and 5 yards
7MM STW (5) @ 475, 258, 90, 150 and 180 yards
358 Win (3) @ 60, 87 and 90 yards (all back up on archery hunts where couldn't get a shot within bow range)
300 WSM (3) @ 70, 242, and 175 yards
376 Steyr @ 150 yards
Crossbow @ 34 yards
280 Rem @ 120 yards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom