Eh I'm not gonna let Joe Biden influence my caliber choice. I like the other points made though.
Printable View
Eh I'm not gonna let Joe Biden influence my caliber choice. I like the other points made though.
I have a 270 WBY and no problem for Elk, I don't think a regular 270 Win is bad either. I have seen and used 30-06 and 308s for them. Bullet construction is probably the most critical. I am partial to barnes bullets.
I believe firmly in ethical hunting and fast kills. The worst thing I see and continue to see is wounded animals. It happens, but people take shots they shouldn't at distances they shouldn't and/or use a caliber/projectile that is not built for elk. I've hunted elk since I was 14 and started with a 30.06. When I was 15 I moved up to a 338 Win Mag that I am very comfortable with out to 500yds for a hunting shot. I use a 200 gr. Barnes X Bullet that does wonders on elk. I knocks them down hard and fast. Guys use a 243 and yes it's legal I just don't believe it's sustainable for an ethical kill. However, it depends on your ranges.
Most often where I hunt you can glass out to a mile so you need to be capable with further shots. I think anything from a 270 up is good for elk with a well constructed bullet that is bonded or known to hold together. HITS count the most over everything else. 338 is big for deer but I would use it if I had a combo tag.
Bullet performance and where it pokes the hole in the beast are all you need to think about.
I took my last deer with a 155 gr solid going 2800fps from my little .308. It DRT’d that deer from about 290 yds.
you guys have this all wrong...minimum caliber regs say 50bmg, optimal is a 20mm...
I somehow get the impression you actually believe all that...Quote:
Originally Posted by rustycrusty
I've been using a .300 WSM in a Tikka T3 for awhile now. Mostly because I like the ballistics at the longer ranges which are possible in the areas I usually hunt. I would be tempted to replace it with a 6.5 cartridge as I like the bullets in 6.5 a lot but this little Tikka is extraordinarily accurate and does not lose zero.
You saying I need to finish my 1.75" cannon? It's smoothbore though, gotta figure out a way to get accuracy up to minute of elk.Quote:
Originally Posted by buckshotbarlow
The perfect caliber has a lot to with with what you can shoot comfortably. It doesn't do any good to shoot a .300 win mag or .338 if you always flinch and don't hit where you are aiming. Shot placement is more important than a .284 vs. .308 dia projectile. I have used everything from my .257 weatherby, 7mm rem mag, .270 weatherby, .300 weatherby and my 30-378 to take elk with. The common factor between all these rifles is the bullet, I shoot nosler accubond in every one of these. Bullet chose in relation to the game being taken is paramount.
I've got a FN SPR in 300 WSM that I plan on using for antelope in December. I'm shooting a 178gr Amax with 64gr of IMR 4350 at a muzzle velocity of 3081. I've got high hopes for it but really want to see how the Amax really reacts on soft targets.