Well, I guess it's a hunting we will go with the 7X57, and yes, the .338 get's to go along for the ride. I couldn't imagine that the 7X57 wouldn't get the job done, but I have been know to be wrong. Thanks to all who took the time to respond!
I'm the same way, and not just with elk but anything. In fact I've been informed that I'm very fast on a bolt handle!
That said, while never taking an elk with the 7x57 I have used one on a bunch of big game from 400-1000 pounds in North America and Africa. Only once have I had a problem, and that was due to a defective scope.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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.
I'm a big 338 fan, but that 7x57 with a good 160 gr. bullet will do the trick every time if you do your part...I'd take the good ol 7x57 and shoot in style!!
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
I heard someplace that a 7x57 will work on elk.....
No Tom, turned out it was rumor as the shooter was confused. He shot that bull with a two hundred and seventy seven and after a couple of shots of "lubricating oil" got his "sevens" all mixed up.
For animals referred to as "bull" I keep putting holes in them as long as they are vertical; I stop when then are not. YMMV.
Oh I'm just being facetious, on occasion more than one shot has been required. Though it is the exception rather than the rule.
If its still up I'd shoot again.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
A year and a half ago , I hunted elk for 6 days straight with a ruger .338. Then I decided to lighten my load , emptied half the stuff out of my pack, changed the .338 for my pops 7x57 ruger. I also decided to venture into an area where the locals here avoid do to vertical terrain issues. Well long story short one quick off hand shot at a moving bull @ 150yds and the old ruger 7x57 had yet another notch on its belt. After pondering the situation ,and not having much of anything to pack an elk out by myself in my pack. I sat stared at the 7x57 had a swing of J.D.( only liquid to quench my thirst as I forgot water) and I decided the .338 needed a new owner...........
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
one of my friends fathers has been hunting elk with a 257 Roberts and loads speer 100 gain bullets, my late hunting partner used a 358 win with 250 gain speer bullets for decades, Ive used a 270 win, and a 458 win on hunts, after seeing the results they have gotten, and my experience, I gave up worrying much about the caliber of the rifle I, or anyone else carry being adequate. now my personal experience has shown my my 340 wby and 375 H&H are about IDEAL for my personal elk rifles but its mostly due to both having a flawless record,and my confidence using those rifles, not because that power levels mandatory. After decades of watching Elk being killed,Ive found getting in close and accurately placing the shot seems to be far more critical than caliber used. youll do better spending time concentrating on getting good with your rifle of choice and learning how to find and get in close to elk , than worrying about the caliber of rifle as long as the bullets penetrate and expand well, and your in physical shape to cover a good deal of territory.
George as a Good Christian I was forced to drink the J.D. as it was the ONLY liquid available on the hillside........ Flask seems to never leave my pack........
I have used the 7x57, and still use as my main big Red Deer (almost a medium sized Elk) rifle/cartridge. In a M98 Mauser. Also one of my son�s only Red Deer rifle. We have used it with various bullet types. But now we use prefereably the 160/175 Nosler Partition. Period. My bigest Red Deer in 35 years of hunting them was shoot 2 years ago with my 1935 Mauser 7x57 at around 250 meters with the NP 175 grs, loaded at 2650 fps. Deadly as usual. One shot in the chest in an angle entering at the left shoulder with the exit hole at the back of the ribs. As usual with NP. I NEVER could find a R Deer who can stop that bullet. ANY!! I couldn`t recover a single one of this bullet!! The same with the faboulous H-Mantle 173 grs. I ended my suply of them...But with the Nosler P I am done!
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.
Why not just take the .338 Winchester? I mean, if it's your first hunt - presumably first elk hunt and not first big game hunt - why start things out with trepidation?
If you can honestly shoot the .338 well enough to hit a basketball-diameter target just about every time out to 300-400 yards from field positions, then take it.
If you can't, but can with the 7x57, then take the 7x57.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
You hit the nail on the head!!! This is all about the matter.... By the way, past weekend my son and I got two R Deer (the rutting season is at full right now!!). He used the 7x57 with the NP 175 grs. One shot at 150 meters and another for insurance. The bullets are somewhere in the steppe grasses... I used the .375 H&H just to try the Nosler Accubond 260 grs (2800 f/s). My deer was smaller then my son�s. The shoot was made at 180 meters and the hit was, again, in the center of the shoulder blade. The deer makes a quick run of 50 meters and fell dead. More than my son�s one. His deer fell after three steps. I have seen this happen many times! Is where you hit the animal, with a good bullet to do the work! The trayectory of the AB inside was in diagonal. The bullet ended under the skin. Here are the pictures. The bullet under the skin was at the right of the knife blade. Best Regards,
If you can honestly shoot the .338 well enough to hit a basketball-diameter target just about every time out to 300-400 yards from field positions, then take it.
If you can't, but can with the 7x57, then take the 7x57.
John I wish I could pick our brain for a few hours on loads for 7x57s, I have been up and down and moving around on finding the RIGHT load for the old ruger I have.
I've had no trouble killing elk with my "little" 7x57 Brno Mauser - mostly with 154 gr Hornadys over about 49 grains of IMR 4350. Keep the range reasonable and your bullets in the boiler room and you'll have no trouble either.
You hit the nail on the head!!! This is all about the matter.... By the way, past weekend my son and I got two R Deer (the rutting season is at full right now!!). He used the 7x57 with the NP 175 grs. One shot at 150 meters and another for insurance. The bullets are somewhere in the steppe grasses... I used the .375 H&H just to try the Nosler Accubond 260 grs (2800 f/s). My deer was smaller then my son�s. The shoot was made at 180 meters and the hit was, again, in the center of the shoulder blade. The deer makes a quick run of 50 meters and fell dead. More than my son�s one. His deer fell after three steps. I have seen this happen many times! Is where you hit the animal, with a good bullet to do the work! The trayectory of the AB inside was in diagonal. The bullet ended under the skin. Here are the pictures. The bullet under the skin was at the right of the knife blade. Best Regards,
PH
Yes, a hunt on the pampas would be fun. Patagonia, do you have Brocket deer there, too? How's the lion situation?
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