Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 7 X 57 for Elk?

It's my first hunt. Logic tells me that I should take my .338 that I really like---225 TSX at 2,800+ My dilema is that I just had Classic Rifle put together a 7X57 for me built around a 160 gr that really shoots and would love to give it a try. If there are other 7X57 Elk hunters out there I would love to hear from you.

7x57 Winchester Featherweight loaded with 160 grain Nosler Partition. Works every time.

Just think of how many elephants legendary ivory hunter K J Bell killed with a 7x57 Mauser & also a 6.5x55 Swede.
Definately would not be MY 1st choice for Elepants, though!

If my wife would let me I'd rock her 700 Mountain in 7x57 all day long. But, it is "her" rifle and I only get to put loads together for it.

Where are you hunting?

BBG,

Take the 7x57 if that's what you want to take. I assure you no elk will walk away from a 160 Partition.

Dave

That cartridge/bullet combination will be successful if you do your part.

Anything smaller than a 30 cal mag will bounce off. I am pretty sure I read that in a John Barsness article somewhere?

Besides, any cartridge that old can't possible work.

I believe my Dad dropped 5 elk with his 7x57 over the years, with 1 shot each. If memory serves, he was tossing 175 grain NPT's from the muzzle.

I have a 7x57 that has really taken a liking to 154 grain Hornady SP's. The way it has performed on hogs, black bear, & Dall sheep has me looking to book an elk hunt for that rifle.

If you don't get an elk dead with the setup you've described, it won't be the fault of the rifle or the bullet.

FC

Half the fun of a hunt is using the rifle you are attached to. I wouldn't have any problem using a 7X57mm with 160 grain Noslers. Follow your desire on this. Makes for good memories.
Bob

BBG, if you want to, go for it. I have a single shot in 7x57R and though I've taken all my elk with a 340 and one with an '06, I know you can do it with that round and If you are like me a good deal of the enjoyment is hunting with something that doesn't make you wince when you look at it. Enjoy it. The 7x57 is certainly elk capable and you probably don't even need a premium bullet in the 7. Pick your shots carefully and keep the range reasonable--only you know what that is. And, not a bad idea to have the 338 ride along on the trip.

Wow, I'm surprised not a single discouraging word here. It's hard to mention elk hunting without all the internet experts telling you that nothing less than a .300 of some sort is suitable.
That 7x57 will serve you well. While I have never owned one, my daughter and I have used her 7-08 to shoot a half-dozen elk. It worked just dandy, from a 20 yard bull I shot on my last hunt, to a 250 yard shot she made several years ago...
and most of the hunters I guided over a long carreer in the hunting business shot better with standard rounds than those with magnums.

I've seen it work on moose with Speer bullets, so think you would do alright with it on elk!

................Have fun using your new 7x57 on your next elk hunt. And I don`t even own the round.

Perhaps with a 140 gr Nosler Partition, may shoot a little flatter. IMHO

My old 280 has taken a couple of elk with the 160 grain Partition quite well. Full pass throughs and very short tracking jobs, like none. Your 7x57 is in the same class and will easily handle an elk, as long as you do your part.

I wouldn't worry about the rifle. The hardest part in elk hunting is finding them.

You give up very little with a 7x57 with good loads.

In 22 years of hunting elk my longest shot was right at 400 yards, last year. Second longest was 350 and everything else has been under 300. All could have been made just as easily with a 7x57 and a Partition or most any other bullet.

the ole 7x57 is known to out penetrate a lot of calibers - take it - enjoy your hunt and just get within reasonable range , to get a one shot kill

I heard someplace that a 7x57 will work on elk.....

Campfire members excluded. LOL!

I have shot elk with 7-08, 280, and 7 Rem mag. Clearly I would have no trouble carrying a 7x57. But when I got a once-in-a-lifetime bull tag, I carried a .338 Win Mag with 210 TTSX. The shot was only slightly over 100 yards. Any of my 7s would have done fine. But I carried the .338 because I could. And I still shot the bull twice because I could.

I only ever need one shot! If anything else happens I just run at it with a knife

7x57 will work just fine. I'd use a 7-08 on anything in NA but coastal brownies.