Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 30-06 didn't impress me.

Quote by a friend once that has hunted elk frequently. His go to rifle is a 7 mag. He's not a long range guy, so he's not shooting the 7 mag for 700 yard shots. Not sure what his hunting partner was using in 30-06 that didn't impress him, but got me to wondering what frequent elk hunters think about a 30-06 and what would "impress" you?

$hitty shot placement, even $hittier bullets or likely, a combo of both. Same ol' same ol' repeated day in and day out here on the fire.

It's no secret around here that any mid-sized round, the -06 being king of, is perfectly adequate for elk.

Not impressed? Maybe 30mm HEDP from an Apache is more his style...

No matter what cartridge you mention you can find some counter leaner who claims to have had a bad experience with it.

Case in point. Several years ago I was in one of the popular gun stores in the area and some guy was berating the 375 H&H as a moose rifle. Apparently his son had allegedly shot one in the neck at 20 yards and the moose got away. "Give me a 338, that 375 H&H ain't no good for moose", was his statement.

I couldn't leave it alone. I asked if we could look at this objectively. He seemed perplexed. I related that the 375 H&H had been used quite successfully all over the globe to take every big game animal known to man. To which he replied, "that don't mean its any good for moose." Hard to argue with logic like that.

I went on to say that if the 375 failed it really could only be one of two things, either bullet failure or shooter failure and since modern bullets in a 375 H&H are as close to fool proof as one can get, I would guess the latter rather than the former. The guy stuck to his belief. His parting statement was, "None of that don't change nothin. The 375 H&H ain't worth a s**t for moose." Once again, it's hard to argue with that kind of logic.

I know my story is about the 375 H&H but I've heard guys tell their failure stories with a dozen different rounds.

The 30-06 has been impressing elk and elk hunters for over a hundred years.

It certainly has. I'm one of those elk hunters and a bunch of elk have found my 30:06 deadly impressive. Today, there are many excellent cartridges/bullets that work great in elk hunting, but don't quite see how any knoweldgeable elk hunter would deem the 30:06 as deficient.

I hope my 30-06 impresses me in Montana in late Oct.

I have shot only one Elk a Cow with the 06 using the Nosler 165 gr Partition and it went right down. Magnum wouldn't have performed any better

You could shoot a thousand elk and I doubt you will see any great difference between a 7 Rem Mag and a 30/06 in terms of how they kill.

Amen and hallelujah!!!!

Thanks. I'm considering a 30-06 and was thinking something a little heavier than 165 gr. I know it will work. I think I've seen pics of an elephant Craig Boddington took with 220 gr solids in a 30-06.

24 elk have fallen to my 06 in the last 32 years. I've never lost one.

165 gr?

I agree.....the 30-06 isn't impressive

But to quote an old friend up north....

Headstones do kill.....bullets do

150's at just under 3k and 180's at just under 2800

Yep.....unimpressed

But they work quite well

A 30-06 with a 180gr Partition would impress a lot of elk, both large and small.
Sometimes people need to bad mouth a cartridge in order to prove their selection is better.

Remember standing at a gun counter several years ago and this guy was bad mouthing the 7mmRem to the sales man. Wanted a 7STW for his wife because she had shot an elk with the 7mm and it had just walked away. His wife probably weighed about 100 lbs soaking wet. She just stood there silently with a doe in the headlights look. I almost said a 7-08 would be better but just held my tongue.

One guy who used to post on the Campfire said he'd taken "almost 10 elk," whatever that means, but switched from the .30-06 to the .300 Winchester Magnum because ALL the elk he shot with the .30-06 went over 100 yards before falling. The elk he'd taken with the .300 (almost 5?) went less than 50. I said that was odd, because I'd used the .30-06 on more elk than any other cartridge, and none of them had traveled more than 50 yards--including my largest bull in both body and antlers.

165, 180, and 200gr. partition impress elk very well. The old speer grandslams also work very well. Friends use the 165gr. grandslam for years in the 06, and they work flawlessly.

Sure glad we ate those elk shot with the 270 and 7-08 before they got out of the freezer.

Your friend hasn't seen a .30-06 in the right hands used very much....


and an awful lot of folks who have " hunted elk frequently" haven't....

John, can I "almost kill an elk" from my recliner and does it count? powdr

I wouldn't mind an elk or deer for that matter to run a mile or two after I shoot them....

Just as long as it's toward the truck/canp

It is funny. My 30 06 ( 30 Goverment ) if u B hip. Buddies Make fun of the 7 mag. Claim it kicks harder outta the back end more than the barrel. I wouldn't want to stand in front of either of em. Nor do I think the elk do. Very silly.

That would be ideal...

I will be using my 30-06 this year. 180 grain Nosler A/B should do the trick.
So wish me luck.

I had a guy once tell me,he shot at a deer that was so close the the arrow didnt have enough distance to speed up.I tried to explain the physics behind his flawed logic.Nope...lol

Through the years, I have killed and seen killed by clients a semi-truck load of elk with the 30/06. Distances ranged from 50 to 400 yards. Anyone that says the 30-06 isn't a good Elk caliber hasn't killed many elk.

Flip side to the story in a way... I shot 243 on deer for years. Had a lot of em fall where they stood. Rest didn't run far. Then moved up to a 300 wtby, for larger game, but what the heck, lets use it on same deer. Never dropped one. Most ran as far if not farther, generally farther. Not sure why but it was evident. and bullet wise ran 180 nosler solid base vs 105 speers in the 243, and a few 180 partitions...

06 would have some limitations but inside that wouldn't bother me in the least on an elk or a moose.

now you know your 30 Government won't kill Elk as well as your 30-06

About the ONLY reason to choose a 300 over an 06' for elk and it's a pretty slim one at that, although I must say I have noticed a difference on elk-sized game (specifically kudu) between the two:
3006:
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2705.5 2.423 2925.1 0.000 0.0 ***
100 1.9 1.9 0.6 0.6 2543.4 2.278 2585.0 0.114 20.1 19.2
200 -0.0 -0.0 2.5 1.2 2386.9 2.138 2276.8 0.236 41.6 19.8
300 -8.0 -2.6 5.9 1.9 2236.0 2.003 1998.0 0.366 64.4 20.5
400 -23.1 -5.5 10.8 2.6 2090.5 1.872 1746.4 0.505 88.8 21.2

300 Weatherby:

200 -0.0 -0.0 2.0 1.0 2850.3 2.553 3246.5 0.199 34.9 16.7
300 -5.4 -1.7 4.6 1.5 2682.8 2.403 2876.2 0.307 54.0 17.2
400 -15.7 -3.7 8.5 2.0 2521.5 2.258 2540.7 0.422 74.3 17.7

A 180gr TTSX or E-Tip at 2,800fps seems like plenty of gun for nearly anything smaller than a grown steer.

I used a 270 on elk for years with excellent results, then switched to a 300 WSM for another 10 or 12 years. However, when I added it up, I'd never shot one with either rifle that couldn't have been taken equally well with a 30-06. So, I switched to a 30-06 last year. I've only shot 1 deer with it so far but it's a pound lighter than the 300 WSM and that counts for a lot.

I have no problem with the 06... Used one for 10 years.. Still have two and use one every now and then..

When comparing the .300's to the 06 and sighting in at 200 yards they look close.. But the 06 is higher at 100 yards to get the 200 yards zero.. Put the .300 at equal elevation, and the diff. is even greater at long range.
It may not be important to some, but it seems the really big bucks are just a bit smarter.. I like that edge..
Even with jorgeI's figures.. the .300 out classes the 06 at 400 by 10 inches. That is a lot.. If you never need it then it is unimportant.. I don't always hunt in areas that range is needed, but when I do, it is nice to have that edge..

This is precisely why I'm taking a 300 on my first elk hunt. Love my 06's but I need an edge!

Best of luck!!!

I imagine there will be several .30 Govt 1906's in our elk camp this October.

Well, ok,,,, it's not really a camp. Since we stay in the guest house there on the ranch. Nontheless 06's will be present!

The vast majority have been with 180 gr Partitions. I changed from a Ruger M77 tang safety to a Tikka T3 a few years ago and am now shooting the Barnes TSX at 180 grains. It shoots better in that rifle than the 165 gr TSX or I would be using it.

All things being equal, you all are right...but put a bullet with a decent B/C in either chamber and the margin tightens, at least within sane ranges.

Nothing at all wrong with the 300 Wby...it's a killer no doubt but after killing elk with my 6mm Rem, .25-06 and 6.5x284, I really don't want to put up with the heavy recoil of my 340 Wby and 300 Win anymore.

I am taking my 300 H&H this year though, just because.

My personal 30/06 has been a loaner rifle in South Africa for more then 2 decades. I'll bet off the top of my head a dozen guys or their wives and kids from this website have used it.

It's killed easily over 1000 big game animals, many pushing or exceeding the 1000lb mark

There has never been a struggle or a disaster with this choice. There have been bad shots! I will defer to the resolution of that many successful hunts by a wide range of hunters skills.

There are plenty of other cartridges with equal performance or better. However I still believe after 25 years hunting the biggest game on earth that the 30/06 is the base line of successful hunting cartridges.

Thinking about the H&H myself !

Old son did bust a nice 6x6 with his old Eddystone in 300 H&H last October. Big bodied bastid too!!!

In nearly 50 years of hunting elk, I can only think of a couple times when a 400 yd shot couldn't be cut to 300 or less with a bit of stalking.

jorgeI -

THis is your data but a little easier to read. Hope you don't mind.

Rock Chuck, you comment on cutting the range is valid,sometimes.. But for about 15 years I hunted a steep mountain after work.. I could drive up to my spot glass the mountain, and wait for the elk. Sometimes they came out once a season, sometimes a couple times.. But all the years I hunted it, they did show at least once. The shot always came as the sun dropped behind the mountain.. Time was short.. I had a big rock and couple small trees as kind of a bench rest.. Getting to this spot was easy, but any farther, put the elk out of sight, or put me in their line of sight.. As near as I can tell the elk were around 400 yards, always standing feeding.. After a couple kills I found if I put the crosshairs on the top of the shoulder, I would hit the vitals.. It worked on about 15 elk.. stalking is sometimes a good answer, other times impossible.. In those days elk meat was important to a balanced budget.. Today, not so much.. I would not bother with them at all, but my wife and the kids like elk venison..

Not at all, thanks!

Taking my .300 H&H this year. I like to think of it as a .30-06 improved but without that silly sharp shoulder.

I think the OP's buddy was probably using the 55gr. accelerator...

I started out with a 30-06 when I was 12, used it for a long time, tried many other cartridges including the 300 WM, 300 WBY, and 300 WSM. Didn't notice much of a difference between any of them, so I also went full circle and am back to the good ol tried and true 30-06. If I want to step up in power during an elk hunt, I pull out the 338 win mag. I have seen that cartridge stop them a tad better than the good ol 06, but the difference is only marginal...

The H&H is THE elk cartridge!

Yeah, the 375 H&H...

.375 H&H no good for elk.

Proof positive:

Hmmm, what impresses me is people that kill 4-5 elks or claim frenquently hunted elk and then claim wealth of elk hunting knowledge.

I have put miles on my feet every season for the past 29 years chasing elk in the thick, open steep, thick steep, and sometimes open kinda flat, did I mention steep?

I know a few things and areas well but I am schooled every year in elk season. Ether due to Duh, you knew better dufus or Oh,I see now

I have a limited elk cartridge usage, my .280 rem which I have killed the most elk with Was tied with my 338 win till I got tired of packing the extra weight of a heavier rifle. About five years ago I blended the calibers with a trim M-77 in the 7MM rem mag, a wonderful thing.

The things I did notice was if I hit an elk high in the lungs, regardless of caliber, seldom was there a blood trail. But always a dead elk within 50-ish give/take yards. Then with a lower hit say heart/lung hit or mid-brisket head-on the ol' 338 did seem to make a blood trail sooner before walking up on the dead elk, if it managed to move.

I have a slew of uncles, cousins, friends that use the 06' and claim the same findings I have. Some of which many more miles and years and elk under there belt than me.

Guy in camp went from 06 to 300 RUM last year.
Opening morning missed elk walking 50 yards broad side.

Proving was exactly?

I would say the guy can't shoot.....anything.

I don't believe in this "A guy can't shoot a 300 but he can shoot a light 30/06" stuff. Not for anyone who does any degree of practice shooting that is.

Bob, you obviously knew where I was going with it and yes I believe too much gun 'might' have been the problem.
Also I doubt the elk could tell if he got shot by 180 Gr. going 2700 or 3200 fps

Dre I hear you...I just get tired of the "no one can shoot magnums" stuff on here. So I sympathize with the 300 hunters who get indirectly maligned, and constantly reminded how poorly they shoot.

Personally I have not used one in years.This does not mean I can't.....

Good to remember that bullets slow down. Much as I like the 30/06, a couple decades of killing animals with 300 magnums remind me they hold an undeniable edge at distance.

Interesting that the OP's friend uses a 7 mm mag, while disparaging the 06. Every elk hunt I've ever been on...every one, I've heard stories about what a sorry round the 7mm mag is. It's getting to be a funny little game for me to wait and see how long it takes to hear someone bash the round. I usually don't have to wait long.

I'm sure either round would perform just fine for elk, even though I've never used either...unless the shooter suffers from excessive operator headspace.

I've heard it too and it's mostly horshidt. Invariably the perp has limited experience with anything,has seen bad shooting and/or lousy bullets used, or both.

Or you get the..."I've met a lot of 7 mag users who were lousy shots and hunters, or were city slickers or ego maniacs, so I hate the 7 rem mag".......

Now that's what I call real experience......

I will admit to loathing the 30-06 the first 20 years of my hunting career. It did nothing well, especially nothing my 7 Maggie couldn't do as well or better. The other reason is likely twofold. First, I bought a 280 in 1982 and began killing deer on a regular basis in every conceivable circumstance - far, close, tight cover, tough shots - I thought the 280 and 284 bullets were magic. They are buts that's not the point Second my Dad and every other bubba shot one, mostly Rem 760 with a couple clips in the pocket. I called them the Pennsylvania machine gun. I even owned a 270 in a 760 for a while in the 1980s. I didn't care that it did things Good, it did nothing really well.

It wasn't until I started elk hunting in far flung western mountains that I saw the beauty of the 06. I began that adventure with 9lb 338 and discovered dragging that thing up to 11,000 feet sucked. I then bought one of the first Kimber MT in 300 WSM and re- learned physics the hard way. Recoil sucked from that rifle with full power loads. I sold it and went through several other 300 magnums in search of nirvana. Along the way I started killing a few elk and saw a bunch more shot with various artillery. They all died with a decent shot from a decent bullet - and even died with 'regular' bullets from 'regular' cartridges. I revisited the ole 30-06 and found a 180 Partition can be pushed within 100 feet of my 300 WSM and could be built in a 7lb rifle with tolerable recoil. For mountain hunting, this is close to nirvana. I tried several 7 mags in 7lb rifles and found burning 70+ grain s of powder under a 160 Partition had more recoil than I cared for.

So just finished loading some test loads for my Kimber MT 30-06 for my two elk hunts this fall. I suspect the 180 Partition at 2800+ will work adequately. My 270 or 300 WSM would shoot a bit flatter, but I have alot of confidence in my choice after watching it in action over the past 40 years.

Two elk with a .30-06/165g North Fork SS, both straight down.

Another I shot with a .30-06/150g AccuBond was on the ground for good before I recovered from the recoil.

What load are you gents using in your 06s to get 2800 fps? Right now I have a VERY accurate load with 180 Partitions or Interlocks using 58gr of H-4350 in my Browning Safari.

As much as I love my .300 Win and .340 Wby, and their effectiveness on elk with any reasonable bullet, I was more than a little impressed with my 6.5x284 on this Wyoming bull last fall. Shot was 125-150 yards or so, so not real far and with the dreaded 140 AMAX.


He took 1 step and collapsed hard, almost like he had someone help push him down. He's the only bull I have killed with that round/bullet so I plan to do more "research" this fall with an extra cow tag. It won't be taking a bull this year though since my 300 H&H and 200 grain old style grand slams are begging me to go.

I'd be a fool to deny the effectiveness of my .340 Wby on elk though...with a variety of bullets. This was just a cow, but she was a lead cow which are about as tough as bulls IMO. 350 or so yards and she took 3 chest shots, though she didn't take single step and was dead after the first one. I think this time I was using 200 grain accubonds, but may have been 225 grainers.


Those two rounds straddle the 30-06, proving to me that all is well in the world of elk hunting rounds.

Tell your friend to get some 200 gr Partitions and a jug of RL-22, learn to shoot, then prepare to be impressed.

Jorge, where are you going for your elk hunt? I assume it is this year?

Don't let me or anyone else let you change your mind concerning your .300 Wby, if that's what your heart is set on. It'll straight up knock an elk's dick in the dirt.

That's why I rebored a 338 to 358 Norma. Those 338s simply kick too much and waay underperform on the front end.

The load you posted has done 2800 in several 24" 30-06 for me. 58-59-60 of Hunter will, 59 IMR 4955 did last weekend for me. Re17 will as well but I don't recall the cbarge at the moment (55 gr?). In fact my current Kimber runs closer to 2900 with book charges of 4955, re17. I backed it down 2 grains from suggested max. When I reach 2850 in an 06 with a 180 I take the charge down a grain regardless if it's at book .ax or not. "Fast" barrels are a myth.......

Never had any problems with my 30-06 on elk, in fact I like the 30-06 very much

I would have to say, easy on this now, the 30-06 is the minimum caliber to b e used for a decent b ull. Only reason why is MOST, not all, MOST do not shoot enough to be that effective and do not learn there limitations. I feel, from my experience with hunting parties, the 30-06, using a premium bullet from the average hunter who might see the range twice a year, should be kept at 300/350 yards. Otherwise, I feel if your shooting this 30-06 at 450 plus at a quarter shot, using standard bullets, you might want to not shoot as a near shot is not good.

Using the good magnum calibers with faster speed and pounds using the same or larger bullets, will take a quarter shot and kill that elk much faster due to wound channels all the through. Just my humble opinion.

It is funny how I have hunted Elk in Colorado for decades and maybe talked to a few hunters afield, out of hundreds over the years, and the few had a 30-06. The rest had magnum rifles. Then on most forums and most discussions, I read nothing but the opposite, 30-06, 270, 25-06 being the choices. Hmmm, seems something is missing. Just telling it straight, unless your a range shooter often, experienced hunter and use good bullets, those calibers should be used for deer. Just remember before you butcher me here, my ideas if limitations and such using the lighter calibers.

True. Most elk hunters, like most deer hunters only get out a couple times a year. These do not fall into the realm of serious hunters and shooters, which make up a distinct minority. That minority is passionate about what they do,they practice regularly with whatever weapon they choose so as to insure humane kills, and simply put, they live to hunt.
You will find a LOT of them on forums like this, and many have discovered that it really doesn't take an uber-magnum and Hubble scope to kill elk. It just takes ability and a proper bullet.Hence all the faith espoused in the .30-06....

I can't imagine a better elk cartridge than the 340 Weatherby in the right hands (not that I've killed any elk with one - but I have taken 'a few' moose with it and many other rifles). That said, I've also seen it used poorly (in my hands even ) a couple of times on much smaller caribou, where an unknowing person might have suggested the need for something bigger. I personally think good, broadrange moose killing begins with 30-06, but it's a lot more than I ordinarily choose for caribou.

Roulon Jones' place:
Idaho Broadmouth Canyon Ranch

It's always fun to AGONIZE as to rifle/caliber/bullet combo. The 300 weatherby is a 1957 vintage Weatherby on an early FN Mauser action, 24" barrel and 180 TTSXs3240 fps. I also have a Model (pre-war) 70 in 300 H&H that loves the same bullet (3000 fps) but especially the 200 gr Partition, (2820 fps)although not as flat shooting as the 180 . The OTHER rifle is a Model 70 338 w 210 TTSXs2900 fps that is also very accurate. I always take two rifles, so probably both 300s.

Maybe because myBrowning has a 22" barrel? no matter though, for a thin contour it holds half inch all day long.

57 gr. of H4350 gives me 2,850 fps with a 180 gr Hornady from a 24" barrel. I wouldn't recommend jumping in at that charge weight in your rifle. Might want to work up to it.

With Sierra 165 gr SBT's or PT's, I can load 59gr of H4350 and they shoot great. However, with Sierra 165 gr HP's, the pressure skyrockets. My max load with HP's is 55 gr. Any more and the bolt starts sticking.

I've tried 58 H-4350, but 56gr works much better in my rifle and more accurate.

I've killed all my elk with a 300 Weatherby or a 7mm Remington/Weatherby mag but I have seen a boatload of elk and mule deer killed with a 30-06!

Nice. I've spent some time in that country. Should be a good hunt, especially on their private land where you can avoid the crowds.

Flinch much??

It is indeed undeniable, but it has also been said that the 30-06 can kill further out than most of us are capable of shooting.. I also get tired of hearing people can't shoot "magnums" accurately. It is true for some, maybe quite a few, but not all... Little hint for the naysayers...

We'll never know what it was. But I have to be honest.
I missed my first elk ever about the 60 yards with 30/06.

Details man, we need details.

There are a lot of guys at my range that shoot magnums quite well. I've also seen people that can't shoot a .308 well. Don't know it they could shoot ANYTHING well.

Shortly after I built my .338WM (2011) I took it to the range with a .30-06. Both rifles has stainless Ruger MKII actions with the semi-skeletonized stocks. After checking the scope settings at 100 I moved to the long range where I put clay pigeons up on the 600-yard berm. Starting with the .338WM I busted a pigeon with both rifles using a combined total of 5 shots. (IIRC it was 3 and 2 shots respectively.)

For 20+ years all I had for a big game rifle was a 7mm RM and I was too dumb to know I couldn't shoot it. My longest shot ever on big game was at a cow elk at 487 yards with the .338WM. She was some good eating.

My most brutal loads are for my Marlin .45-70, 460g hardcast at 1812fps for about 50 ft-lbs recoil. I call them my 'Rhino Blaster' loads for a reason. They are no fun to shoot but they will print 3 into 1.9" at 50 yards with the factory irons, which is as well as I can do with those sights regardless of the load.

When people say people can't shoot magnums well they usually neglect to mention WHICH magnums -and there is a big difference. My 7mm Rm loads have recoil similar to a .30-06 - some have slightly more, others less depending on the actual loads being compared. A .264 Win Mag has recoil in the same range as a .308 Win or .270 Win.

Granted, if plinking with full-house loads I'd much rather shoot a .30-06 than my .338WM. Or, even more so, my .243W or a .223. But like you and Bob I get tired of hearing how people can't shoot magnums well. Some do, some don't.

I am gonna sight in my 3003 1895 takedown with the climbing Lyman today! None of that new fangled 30 government stuff going on around here today. However there is this pesky 308 Norma 1903 with an fx-3 on it......

I agree. We should start a new thread describing how our buddies have missed shots at 50 yards. I have one buddy in particular that used to get buck fever so bad that I saw him miss a nice buck at 50 yards. He Fumbled around managed to fire off 5 shots and not even a bullet scrape on the lucky buck. He was using a .223 rem. Hardly a magnum cartridge huh...

Another buddy that I've hunted with since I was 10 years old was quite comical one day. We were hunting jackrabbits in Nevada and using pistols. I had my Smith 29-2 and he was using a borrowed colt python. Hey we were kids and passing the time away in a fun manner. Anyway, we busted a few jacks and they flew out in front of us. We were in full pursuit. My buddy with the python raised above his head, running full speed to my left. And I mean full speed, we both ran the 100 in about 11 seconds flat back in those days. He trips over a big sage, fires the pistol straight in the air and yells, "I got him!!". I slowed down to watch, so I saw everything that happened and later asked, how did you get him if you fired straight in the air?? But since this is an elk forum, I can almost relate to Dre's buddy missing an elk at 50 yards. I said almost. This is because your first one is always different:

I remember my "first". I heard a loud commotion in the manzanita to my right. Sounded like small saplings being snapped in half, so I wait patiently (more like shaking in my boots) to see if this big creature was going to come out. I stood there next to a big fir tree and waited. All of a sudden, I hear this loud snort, and a big crash. Out comes this horse with long spikes. He ran for the first 30 yards and then stops and turns back to look at me. As if he's saying ok, this is your chance, I'm not going to be here all day! I raised my rifle and fired 1 shot. At the shot he dropped, but I hit him high in the shoulder. A couple things I learned that day: Elk are big animals, my rifle didn't need to be sighted in 3" high at 100 yards, and the mighty 338 thumps the hell out of elk. One thing that didn't come to mind was: Hell I could have been more accurate with a 308. That's bullschidt, horeseschidt, and otherwise overplayed here at the fire. The one thought that did come to mind was, "hell, I could have killed that sucker with a 308". No need for a magnum at 80 yards, but it for damn sure wasn't a detriment to my shooting, accuracy or the placement of the bullet.

It wasn't a miss because I never shot but I sure blew a close archery shot at a big bull one time. I was moving along a trail above the bottom of a brushy draw. It was full of cattle and they can make a lot of racket. I came to a patch of timber and I could hear the cattle crashing around it there. As I moved through it, one of the cows sprouted large antlers as he departed the far side of the trees. He'd been right in the middle of the cows.

I like when a guy is ready for a new rifle because what he was using last year just wasn't getting it done. Usually get a good deal.

I can't say the .30-06 impresses me either. It's more like a standard of performance by which everything else gets judged.

My go to rifle for elk, after bow season leaves me empty handed, has been a .338 Win Mag. Mines pretty well worn, is as accurate as the operator, and will bring home elk even when going lengthwise through one. I am usually in dark timber so long shots are nearly unheard-of. My favorite bullet so far has been the 250gr Woodliegh Weld-Core. But I'm probably going to be doing a lot of research for years to come before I commit to what's best.

Here is what some one said about the 06. Not sure who it was but I copied it for my signature