.303 British for elk or deer

[DD977GM2]

You are hilarious. They love when your hunting also, they know they can have a few more days!!!

I think there are a lot of deer and elk that will sleep safely knowing you are out hunting them.

[Troublco]

The one shot elk thing is a rare occurance on elk.... well placed or not.
Shooting at distance reduces this even more.
Be prepared to shoot again as soon as you've fired on elk.
I've only seen about 500 elk killed. Only a small handful required one shot. Many even with excellent placement required at least two.

As for antelope, long shots are not always the case. In some areas where they are poached and truck hunted getting within a 1/2 mile is pretty close. In other less hunted areas 50-100 yard shots are the norm.

The 303 should be fine. If you can hit a pie plate at the distance you plan to shoot, in a cross wind, you should be good to go.
Spend some time at a butcher during antelope season and you will see how abused these antelope are when hunted. Many, many with poor shots from very long distances; requiring sometimes 3,4 or 5 shots to finally take down. There are also a lot shot with Uber Magnum Cannons destroying a lot of meat.

Have respect for what you plan to hunt. Shoot at distances you can reliably hit your target.
I'm not trying to address anyone in particular, just passing on what I've seen.

The last two Elk I saw killed, were both one shot kills. Mine was a 325 yard shot right in the breadbasket, bowled it off its feet (which surprised me considering it was a .308), it popped back up, ran about 600 yards, and dropped like a rock. The second was my hunting buddy, his dropped where it stood on the side of a hill. I don't doubt that some require a follow-up shot, but most of my Elk, Deer, and Antelope were one shot kills. I've never needed more than one followup. And I haven't seen too many that needed more than one shot, two max, provided you do just what Osprey said above, shoot at distances you have been able to hit at consistently to insure proper shot placement.

A .303 is plenty for any of those, all you have to do is provide proper shot placement. Same with .30-06, .308, 8mm Mauser, and 7.62x54R.

Speaking about Antelope specifically, my favorite cartridges are .308, .264 Win Mag, or 6.5 Grendel.

[theGinsue]

The one shot elk thing is a rare occurance on elk.... well placed or not.
Shooting at distance reduces this even more.
Be prepared to shoot again as soon as you've fired on elk.
I've only seen about 500 elk killed. Only a small handful required one shot. Many even with excellent placement required at least two.

As for antelope, long shots are not always the case. In some areas where they are poached and truck hunted getting within a 1/2 mile is pretty close. In other less hunted areas 50-100 yard shots are the norm.

The 303 should be fine. If you can hit a pie plate at the distance you plan to shoot, in a cross wind, you should be good to go.
Spend some time at a butcher during antelope season and you will see how abused these antelope are when hunted. Many, many with poor shots from very long distances; requiring sometimes 3,4 or 5 shots to finally take down. There are also a lot shot with Uber Magnum Cannons destroying a lot of meat.

Have respect for what you plan to hunt. Shoot at distances you can reliably hit your target.
I'm not trying to address anyone in particular, just passing on what I've seen.

Are very good information.

I'll definitely throw in a +1 to the elk requiring more than 1 well placed shot. While you CAN do it, it isn't the norm. In fact, I've only had a couple of people tell me they dropped their elk (and it stayed down) with one shot.

The one thing I'd like to add is this: If/when you go to take a second shot, make sure that you are shooting at the SAME animal you shot at the first time. I've read and hear multiple stories of folks who shot an animal, injured or killed it with that first shot, it moved while the shooter was re-acquiring sight picture (lost from the recoil), they saw another animal that looked the same - but wasn't and shot that animal as well. Very bad ju-ju!

[cowboykjohnson]

The one shot elk thing is a rare occurance on elk.... well placed or not.
Shooting at distance reduces this even more.
Be prepared to shoot again as soon as you've fired on elk.
I've only seen about 500 elk killed. Only a small handful required one shot. Many even with excellent placement required at least two.


Have respect for what you plan to hunt. Shoot at distances you can reliably hit your target.
I'm not trying to address anyone in particular, just passing on what I've seen.

+1

I use a .300 Win mag and my last bull was 400+ off and it took 3 shots, 2 destroyed the lungs and he was still running... the last one was a spine shot that pilled him up. He was going to die, but that tuff critter could have ran a long long way... even with out lungs!

[ronaldrwl]

How can I put this. You should only attempt a shot you are very confident in making. Hunters don't like to harm or wound animals. They intend to kill them fast and as painlessly as possible. Don't use them as target practice. Hunting without a scope is fine as long as you are confident in the shot.
My 2 cents

[Mtn.man]

Inuits have killed everything from small critters to polar bears with 303, so go for it.

And as far as 2 shots for elk i have killed 12 with 1 shot and only 4 with 2 so ????

[Colorado Osprey]

I was not trying to start any arguments or say you cant do it.
I am just stating that stats show it is not the average for a 1 shot kill on an elk.

I have done the one shot kill too; Statistically I am about 50:50 on the one shot kill.... but it is not the norm.

I have also seen an elk absorb 7 not so well placed shots from a 300 Win Mag as well.(was not me shooting!- I was begging to be let to take a head shot to finish the poor animal)

[bullpup]

.303 will be enough for elk. As far as iron sights, I've hunted elk with a Savage 99 in .300 and never had a problem, but I knew my limits. No shots over 200 yards. Also, I grew up with the mantra for elk, "keep shooting until it falls over." Now this means good shots, not just spraying and praying. My dad always made us practice quick follow up shots when we were younger before we could go elk hunting. Just my two cents.
BP

[Irving]

I was always taught to just knee-cap Elks. Can't run with no legs.

[cowboykjohnson]

I was always taught to just knee-cap Elks. Can't run with no legs.

I watched an elk jump an 8 foot fence with a back leg that was broken and just hanging there useless.... don't know how he broke it, but thats impressive to see.