Bull elk / rifle / cartridge / bullet

I'd probably use a .308Win, .30-06 SPRG, a .338 WM, or a .375H&H. Likely with a light for caliber TTSX bullet like 150 grain in .30, 210 grain in .338 and 250 grain in .375. Would go for a bit of speed over bullet weight considering the mono-metals, and keep it under 300 yards. A little heavier if Swift A-Frames or bonded bullets, and a little heavier if Nosler Partitions.

 
Ever try the Barnes LRX in the 30 cals, Philty? I wonder how they do?

I like watching Newberg get it done with a 308 :)
 
I’ve been hunting elk for 50 years now and even managed to bag a few.
Some of the things I’ve learned are:
(1) No matter what gun/bullet/caliber you use ,no two elk are the same nor are any two situations the same when you pull the trigger.
(2) I’ve driven a 180 grain from a 300 Win Mag through a 5 point bulls lungs at 25 yards and had him look at me and try to keep chasing the hot cow he was after.
(3) The only elk I ever dropped in his tracks with a rifle fell to a 117 grain Sierra out of a 25-06.Range was about 120 yards and bullet never exited. Behind the shoulder into the lungs.Go figure.
(4) When you pull the trigger and that elk runs DO NOT ASSUME YOU MISSED.
Two years ago I hammered my last bull with a 338 Win Mag and a 250 grain Sierra in November snow. It ran and never showed a drop of blood until about 200 yards. Then it stumbled and showed a few drops of blood in the snow. Another 50 yards in it was piled up stone dead.

Soooo based on my somewhat limited experience one might conclude the best elk rifle/ caliber is what you have in your hands when you and the elk cross paths.
BTW knock on wood I have missed elk but never yet lost one I’ve drawn blood on.
That includes a couple bow kills.
Hope this helps.
 
Correction to previous post.
Not a 250 grain Sierra. Bullet was a 240 grain Northfork.
Memory slipping with old age.
 
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DOUGLAS D said:
I’ve been hunting elk for 50 years now and even managed to bag a few.
Some of the things I’ve learned are:
(1) No matter what gun/bullet/caliber you use ,no two elk are the same nor are any two situations the same when you pull the trigger.
(2) I’ve driven a 180 grain from a 300 Win Mag through a 5 point bulls lungs at 25 yards and had him look at me and try to keep chasing the hot cow he was after.
(3) The only elk I ever dropped in his tracks with a rifle fell to a 117 grain Sierra out of a 25-06.Range was about 120 yards and bullet never exited. Behind the shoulder into the lungs.Go figure.
(4) When you pull the trigger and that elk runs DO NOT ASSUME YOU MISSED.
Two years ago I hammered my last bull with a 338 Win Mag and a 250 grain Sierra in November snow. It ran and never showed a drop of blood until about 200 yards. Then it stumbled and showed a few drops of blood in the snow. Another 50 yards in it was piled up stone dead.

Soooo based on my somewhat limited experience one might conclude the best elk rifle/ caliber is what you have in your hands when you and the elk cross paths.
BTW knock on wood I have missed elk but never yet lost one I’ve drawn blood on.
That includes a couple bow kills.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Great post. Love point (3). When the construction, sd and impact velocity all coincide perfectly for game intended you get spectacular results. Most are over done on that formula for at least a couple of those parameters to handle more shot angles and what ifs (insurance). That combo is well set up to do the most amount of work over the distance needed in that critter broadside back of the shoulders and will look like an overachiever. Usually gets folks asking more questions when that happens. Then make that shot with a 'proper' elk set up and it runs 200 yards and wonder why the 25-06 worked so much better for same shot? Terminal ballistics is still such a subjective topic but you can make it a lot more objective if you want. You provided more info than just a 117 from a 25-06 at 120 yards...reduce that to the right numbers and it clears things right up. Most will only hear 117 from 25-06 and 120 yards though. ;)
 
For years I used a .30-06 with various bullet types (mostly core-lokts) with good results.

This year I have a new 7mm Rem mag and I'm thinking of using Federal 155gr Terminal Ascent ammo. This should be a good rifle/ammo combo.
 
What?! A lowly 30-06 and regular cup and core bullets slaying the magical, bullet resistant nigh-unkillable elk?!? How can this be
 
256 gr out of a 9.3 x 63. Good, old school PPU round nose soft point. Perfect Elk round in brush or on open ground. All you need.
 
Considerably more than you need! But not jellifying as much moose as a 30-06 did was nice lol. No noticable killing advantage at all, but it has "old school cool" and Africa vibes haha.

Probs much more apparent on way bigger animals.

Def. found it more versatile and interesting than say 45/70 and pretty easy shooting for what it gives you but thats 100% personal. Nifty cartridge for pretending to walk in the tall grass :) And never hurts to be a wee bit overgunned haha.
 
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Don’t want to turn this into a bear defence thread but…,you’ve just dropped your 6x6 on a side hill by Grande Cache and you set about field dressing it.
You’re proud of your 6.5 Creedmore performance but..,,damn here comes that boar grizzly.
Bet you wished you’d brought the 338 or the 340.
Hell the 416 might have been better!!

Pick your caliber for where you hunt.
 
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