ELK Rifle, best calibre

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roche1982

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Looking at getting a gun for Elk hunting next year. May also use it for Moose. So far I have been looking at the 7mm REM and the .338 WM. Any suggestions. Probably looking at something like an XCRII or something that can handle the elements
 
I was having a look at the Remington site and it looks like that rifle is only chambered in the 257 Weatherby RMEF. The 338 would be a good option - if your intention is to hunt elk, and moose over a number of years to come. The 7 mmRM is a good option too - and will do a lot. I would consider the 300 WM and It's a real performer out to 600 yards and possibly more. Lots of options and it would be good to visit a gun shop and look around. If you can step up to a Sako 85 you will be quite happy with one and are keepers for sure. It all depends on your budget.
 
Best elk calibre=One that goes bang....

Seriously, all the big cal hype is fine to fill a void in your gun cabinet. My ol venerable 270 soundly thumped this years 6 point. So in the end, a calibre and rifle combination that you can shoot accurately without hesitation or flinch will serve you well. Nothing against the 338..a fine round...but it may be one you need to have 9pounds or more on the shoulder to manage...and you'll feel all of this weight on a 10k treck into the hinterlands.
My 2c.
 
You know, I've had really good luck with the 7mm RM. I convinced my friend of this and he too is now a convert. Between the two of us we can account for things from as small as Sitka Blacktail (well, I guess a racoon doesn't count) to Bison and most NA big in between (including Elk) with the 7mm RM and 175gr Partitions. The combo just works.

Having said that I also have used and like the .338 WM...and the .300 WM. Nothing wrong with either of those either.
 
I would look at the .300 win mag (or .300 wsm)

Great selection of ammo in the win mag and very good selection in the short mag.. ample energy, flat trajectory and quite effective on elk in my experience.

There are plenty of grizz where I look for elk in Northern BC.. something else you might consider depending on where you are hunting.

If this would be a dedicated elk / moose rifle and you have other rifles for smaller game, .338 win mag is worth a look.

Shot placement is always the most important factor and your sensitivity to recoil may dictate the best choice.. no point in a bigger weapon that you don't enjoy shooting and consequently aim poorly.

For heavy game and assuming you can handle some recoil, the bias should be bigger not smaller IMO.
 
I wish I could find the article that had a listing of what calibers guys used in the 40's or 50's (?). Anyway, a lot of guys used the 300 Savage and 30-30's, most of the guns were not what I thought would be appropriate for Elk. Then again, I've never hunted Elk, just dream of the day I can afford the hunt.
 
Highbeta said:
I would look at the .300 win mag (or .300 wsm)

Great selection of ammo in the win mag and very good selection in the short mag.. ample energy, flat trajectory and quite effective on elk in my experience.

There are plenty of grizz where I look for elk in Northern BC.. something else you might consider depending on where you are hunting.

If this would be a dedicated elk / moose rifle and you have other rifles for smaller game, .338 win mag is worth a look.

Shot placement is always the most important factor and your sensitivity to recoil may dictate the best choice.. no point in a bigger weapon that you don't enjoy shooting and consequently aim poorly.

For heavy game and assuming you can handle some recoil, the bias should be bigger not smaller IMO.
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It would be a dedicated Elk/Moose rifle. I have a 30-06 for Deer. I am not very recoil sensitive, so they .338 is not a big deal for me. I like that its easier to find 7mm ammo, I have a hard time finding .338 around here
 
rral22 said:
My intentional "elk rifle" is my .300 Win. Mag.
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Ditto. Whatever shoots a heavy enough bullet (ie more than 150gr, and more like 175gr minimum) and that you can quickly shoulder is the one to carry.

Aim for the double brown line and hammer low in the chest!
 
280 Remington - it will do anything that you need it to do - load it with a half decent monotholic like a GMX or a 160grain TSX and you will knock over anything in Canada!
 
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roche1982 said:
It would be a dedicated Elk/Moose rifle. I have a 30-06 for Deer. I am not very recoil sensitive, so they .338 is not a big deal for me. I like that its easier to find 7mm ammo, I have a hard time finding .338 around here
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In this case, I definitely wouldn't be looking at a 7mm since the only thing it offers over the 06 is better retained energy at long range IMO. I think the bigger frontal area of the 06 easily offsets the small bump in energy of the 7mm at close ranges.

Do you know how far you will be shooting? Although .338WM ammo is a little harder to come by, I don't think it would be difficult to secure a couple of boxes per year with some planning!

Since you already have an 06, I would skip direct to the .338 and take a real step up in power.
 
Ive witnessed or been around about two dozen elk kills, most of them heavy mature bulls.

Cartridges used :
  • 243 Win 85gr Barnes TSX
  • 6mm Rem 100gr Nosler Partition
  • 7mm-08 Rem 140gr Barnes TSX
  • 7mm-08 Rem 140gr Federal Fusion
  • 280 Ackley 145gr Barnes LRX
  • 308 Win 150gr Nosler Accubond
  • 30-06 165gr Nosler Accubond
  • 300 Win Mag 168gr Barnes TSX
  • 300 Win Mag 168gr Barnes TTSX
  • 300 Win Mag 180gr Nosler Accubond
  • 8mm Rem Mag 200gr Barnes TSX
  • 338-06 225gr Nosler Accubond

end result has all been the same, bloody hands and meat in the cooler. Hard to beat a 300wm with a 180gr Accubond, seems to just flat out work from spitting distance on out
 
Elk, Moose, deer and bear have all been taken with my 270WSM throwing 130grain "Thin Skin" Winchester XP3 or Ballistic Silver Tip ammo. I don't change my cartridge and I sure don't change my gun. ALL have been very ethically harvested. None of the above noted game has suffered in terms of what I consider "Suffer".

My 270WSM has been with me since 2002, and it will continue to take game for my son, and hopefully my sons' son.
 
Took my 7x7 elk this year with a 260 rem shooting 120gr GMX at 2815 fps. hit him in the lungs from a good broadside shot and he went down 25 yards from where I hit him. also seen 3 more get knocked down 1 with a 300 mag, 2 with a 257 weatherby. The gun doesn't have to be a cannon you just gotta hit him in the boiler room!!!
 
7mm RM, .300 WM (or Weatherby, RUM etc) and .338 WM...I've seen all of these work very well on Elk.
I'm also sure the 30-06, 7x57, 270, 280 etc, etc would work just fine with a good bullet and proper bullet placement at an appropriate range.
 
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