#4867696 - 01/27/11 06:40 AM
How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
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Campfire Ranger
Registered: 01/16/09
Posts: 1905
Loc: Front Range, Co
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How much energy is generally required to kill an elk with any given caliber? What is the cut off to stop shooting at an elk and expect it to die when hit in the heart and lungs?
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Time spent hunting is not deducted from one's lifetime.
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#4867717 - 01/27/11 06:49 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: DayPacker]
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Campfire Kahuna
Registered: 01/18/06
Posts: 15720
Loc: Virginia
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I believe that 1,500 foot pounds of energy delivered at the target is traditionally considered minimal. I read this in P.O. Ackley's writings, but this was before the wide-spread use of modern controlled-expansion bullets.
Of course, folks have used 243 Winchesters and 30-30's and been successful - can only guess at the wounded game rate.
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#4867739 - 01/27/11 06:55 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: djs]
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Campfire Regular
Registered: 09/15/05
Posts: 1114
Loc: Northerner
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I'm no expert, but I've seen plenty of long range videos showing elk dropping in their tracks from the little 6.5x284.
Then again, they probably don't publish their wounded/lost footage.
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#4867749 - 01/27/11 06:57 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: wadevb1]
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Campfire Guide
Registered: 12/28/03
Posts: 3657
Loc: zip code 59602
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If you are 3 miles from the truck, it's 20 below and uphill over talus slope to the truck, it takes a bunch of energy
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#4867763 - 01/27/11 07:01 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: Royce]
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Campfire Kahuna
Registered: 02/15/02
Posts: 18793
Loc: Kpt.,TN , Montgomery, Co, VA
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I believe energy is irrelevant , you put a hole through both lungs and let the air out and they won't go far regardless of cal or energy.
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To Make a Conservative Angry, Lie to Him. To Make a Liberal Angry, Tell Him the Truth. 
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#4867851 - 01/27/11 07:27 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: bea175]
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Campfire Guide
Registered: 12/28/03
Posts: 3657
Loc: zip code 59602
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This is one of those questions that has no answer- It's similar to asking "How much gas does it takes to get to the grocery store" without knowing where the person lives, what he drives or which grocery store he goes to.
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#4867865 - 01/27/11 07:33 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: Royce]
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Campfire Guide
Registered: 11/09/05
Posts: 3970
Loc: johnstown, NY/Bloomfield CT
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I think its velocity not energy that is the key metric. You need enough to expand your bullet when it hits. If you carry enough velocity/energy to expand a hunting bullet you likely have enough for a broadside shot on most animals. Some bullets may require a little less but I would say a good bullet in a reasonable caliber at 2000fps should kill most things hit well.
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#4867874 - 01/27/11 07:37 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: Royce]
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Campfire 'Bwana
Registered: 04/20/04
Posts: 13801
Loc: Southern Oregon USA
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I managed to drop a 650 lb, 11 yr old cow elk, with a 165 grain 30 cal Ballistic tip, at 175yds that left the muzzle at 2250 fps.
destroyed both lungs, cut the esophagus and blew up the upper half of its liver.
it was at a dead run and made it another 60 yds or so, and then collapsed.
don't think we were dealing with big energy figures there..
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"To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." —Theodore Roosevelt"
"why do I carry a 45? Because they didn't make a 46.."
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#4867895 - 01/27/11 07:42 AM
Re: How much energy is needed to kill an elk down range?
[Re: noKnees]
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Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 06/30/06
Posts: 8278
Loc: Colorado
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I think its velocity not energy that is the key metric. You need enough to expand your bullet when it hits. If you carry enough velocity/energy to expand a hunting bullet you likely have enough for a broadside shot on most animals. Some bullets may require a little less but I would say a good bullet in a reasonable caliber at 2000fps should kill most things hit well. Good concept for centerfires but doesn't apply to 400-grain .50-caliber bullets from muzzleloaders at around 1500-1600 MV, with well under 1,000 ft.-lbs at reasonable ranges.
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