Caliber for elk

[TDYRanger]

$37 a box. Priced 180gr 300 Weatherby Magnums lately? That's cheap. I really need to start reloading my own.

holy cow that's giving away Weatherby ammo. where did you see that?

[chris42]

If you enjoy tracking wounded animals, use a smaller caliber and aim for the heart /lungs.
If you like meat in your freezer or a mount on your wall, use a larger caliber (.30 at least) and a quality bullet and aim for a high shoulder shot. Drops 'em dead in their tracks every time.

I've seen texas sized deer (I'm in Texas : ) ) run for almost a mile after being shot with a 7mm weatherby mag. Good shot placement, excellent bullet performance.

I've dropped both of the deer I've shot with my 16" .223 remington.

Nothing magical about .30 caliber. I'd bet lots of money that no one here could tell the difference between the wounds of a 30-06 and a 270.

If you can bow hunt an elk. . . . There really isn't much you can't use. Just use the right bullet. Learn how to shoot. Not just once a years come deer season.

Granted, I'll take my 7 mag to hunt elk. . . . but I just like sore shoulders.

[eadgbe194]

I didn't see it mentioned already, but the law in CO says:

1.CENTERFIRE RIFLES
a. Must be minimum of .24 caliber (6 mm).
b. Must have a minimum 16-inch barrel and be at least 26
inches long.
c. If semiautomatic, they can hold a maximum of six rounds in
the magazine and chamber combined.
d. Must use expanding bullets that weigh minimum 70 grains
for deer, pronghorn and bear, 85 grains for elk and moose,
and have an impact energy (at 100 yards) of 1,000-. pounds
as rated by manufacturer.

[streetglideok]

There is no such thing as too big a caliber for elk, but there is plenty of calibers too small for them. Anything that reliably puts the meat in the freezer, and I do not mean using a 223 and popping the critter in the neck. If your shot is off a little, well, you just wounded an animal, and showed a lack of respect towards hunting. Plenty of calibers will kill elk reliably. 45/70 with good loads will drop them at less then 100yard with authority. 375H&H will put them down at nominal hunting ranges.

The most important thing is to pick a gun you will shoot, and shoot alot, and accurately.

[glennski]

Caliber aside, shot placement is in my opinion the number 1 most ethical thing to take into account. If you can't make a good shot, don't.

[CO Hugh]

270 Wby

[20X11]

280 (7mm) remington or larger. You can load 175gr bullets in a 280 rem and have proper energy retention out to almost 300 yds. Longer shots to 400 yards will need a Magnum round (270 mag or larger) to get the energy retention. The 190 - 220 gr bullets in a 300 magnum (wby or win) will let you stretch out over 500 yds with proper energy. (If you are skilled enough to make that shot).
For black timber hunting(150 yds or less) a 35cal or larger lever gun round will do well.

[katodevil]

alot of variables, terrain you are hunting, distance you are comfortable shooting etc etc

[bogie]

12 gauge slugs

Sorry I'm from the midwest where rifles kill amish.

[mcsurveyer1361]

12 gauge slugs

Sorry I'm from the midwest where rifles kill amish.

thats funny. the good news is the amish wont come looking for you. But seriously I see they asked if anyone has any first hand accounts of using a mosin on an elk. I also curious to here if anyone has