what caliber for elk

There is a big difference between a mature rut-crazed bull and a dry cow. Having said that, a regular .270 Win is a great cartridge. Less recoil than a WSM (in the same rifle) and the game will never know the difference. Even lighter, but with a 120gr Partition or a TSX just as usefull, is the .25-06 which will kick even less. That means you will shoot much better and have more confidence. And that means you will have better shot placement. And that is what will kill the elk.
 
how far will your shots be.
you could start at the 250-3000 and go up from there. The places I have hunted elk a long shot is 300 yards. I used a 308 with 150gr bullet- my last elk was shot with my 338 win mag with 225gr bullet at 157 yards (ranged with a range finder). Since then I have moved to smaller calibers because of a shoulder injury. I now am using a 257 Roberts with 120gr Partition, and will soon be reloading 100-110gr bullets for it.
 
My personal preference is a fast 338.

That you consider the 270WSM to have significant recoil suggests to me that you don't shoot very much.
A larger caliber would be a disaster for you. Shoot more (a lot more) then move up when you are a bit more comfortable.

The Barnes TSX is your best hunting Friend.
 
270WSM is a great round for your part of the country.

Recoil only is noticed at the range. There are a few options:

1) Wear a PAST Recoil Shield on your shoulder ($30-$40).
2) Install a Pachmayr Recoil Pad on your rifle ($40).
I suspect you are not a reloader so creating a light load may not be an option for you.

In the field recoil is not felt at all. Practice and have fun!
 
westerner said:
i have a .270 WSM and i think it has plenty of kick. i was wondering if there is another caliber that would work for elk and deer that does not have as much kick and is easy to reload for.
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As other suggested for the calibre that you have that you might put a recoil pad on the but, or buy one that you can strap to your shoulder to cushion the recoil. Then go to the range and practice. The more you shoot it in practice, it will be like working out. The more you do it the better condition you end up being in and the recoil won't feel as bad.

You could also drop down to a .270 win. With the right bullet, powder load and practice it should be doable. Shot placement is more critical and shooting within your capabilities. Lots of people hunt moose with .270's, so an elk should be possible if you get within 200 yds and hit the vitals.
 
stick to a 30 cal min, throw bricks downrange, no need for a magnum there crap. go for the 30-06 or 308 or 7.62 54r or 7.5 swiss or 303. If u want to go heavier get the ultimate, 35 whelen.
 
Put a good recoil pad on it and you should be fine. I have a Browning Abolt 300WSM and used to shoot a box (20) through it and that would be all I could take. Put a Sims pad on a couple weeks ago and took it out today and after around 30 rounds through it and 30 through my 270WSM I felt nothing. A good recoil pad makes a huge difference.
 
westerner said:
i have a .270 WSM and i think it has plenty of kick. i was wondering if there is another caliber that would work for elk and deer that does not have as much kick and is easy to reload for.
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My 17 year old so just dropped his first elk a few weeks ago with my weatherby 3006.Both our last two elks were shot with 165 grain hornandy light mag 3006's with one bullet each!
 
Elliott said:
As other suggested for the calibre that you have that you might put a recoil pad on the but, or buy one that you can strap to your shoulder to cushion the recoil. Then go to the range and practice. The more you shoot it in practice, it will be like working out. The more you do it the better condition you end up being in and the recoil won't feel as bad.

You could also drop down to a .270 win. With the right bullet, powder load and practice it should be doable. Shot placement is more critical and shooting within your capabilities. Lots of people hunt moose with .270's, so an elk should be possible if you get within 200 yds and hit the vitals.
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If you are from a rural area and ammo availability/variety is limited like here then I would go with a 30-06 minimum as there should be heavy enough bullets around for Moose/Elk. I was in our gunshop yesterday and a guy came in panicked because he was still waiting on Nosler Partition .270 bullets that he ordered weeks ago...nothing yet. You want a well designed bullet if you are going to hunt Moose/Elk with a standard .270.
 
Keep your 270WSM, spend about $160.00 bucks on it and have a muzzle brake put on it. My 300WM loaded right up with 208 A-Max recoils about the same as my 94 30-30. The guys on the benches beside you will hate it but you'll love it. Practice lots with it then take it off for hunting. When you pull the trigger on a game animal your not going to feel the recoil anyway.
 
Find a manageable recoil and practice often, you cannot make a well placed shot if your flinching. Ability to take an animal is not about the power but more about placement, My first moose was takin with a 20 gag slug from an old cooey single. Bang drop.
 
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