Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 25 06, or even 257 roberts on elk?

Very well stated!

I use the 100 grain Barnes XLC chronographed at 3,750 in my .257 Weatherby and I have yet to recover one from elk up to 250 yards, even on slightly quartering shots. This load kills all out of proportion to the paper ballistics. and while I still toy with the idea of moving up to the 115 TSX, I am hesitant to screw with success!

I have shot some elk with a .308, a lot more with the .35 Whelen. I like the .35 better. I shot some deer with the .25-06, a lot of deer with the 257 Roberts, but never considered it an elk caliber. A couple of years ago a good friend of my dad's showed up in our elk camp with a .257 and 100 gain ballistic tips. I strongly suggested he use my .35 instead ( I had killed a bull opening morning) he informed me he had killed three moose with that rifle and bullet and it was good enough for him. He left in a huff that night and never returned. My strong opinions cost my dad a friendship. Last year I hunted with a guide in the Yukon whose grandfather hunts moose every year just a couple miles from our elk camp. He's been doing that for more than fifty years. He's shot more than fifty moose. One year, party hunting and "pushing bush" with neighbors, all the moose came past him, and he killed nine for the group. ( these are farmers meat hunting for their family, and some of the finer points of the rules do get bent!) he has never lost a moose. His rifle is a .250 savage. Do I think most people are OK with a .250, .243 or .257 for elk? NO but... being a bit more diplomatic in our campfire opinions might be in order. Depends on the hunter behind the gun!

castnblast-you're right it comes down to the nutt behind the butt.

Mark D

Lubbockdave and others.....

I might be mistake here, but aren't there certain states that require at least a 27 caliber for Elk hunting????

If this is the case, then I wouldn't purchase a 25'06, as this could cause you to have to purchase another gun if a hunting opportunity opened up in a state with that requirement.

I love the 25'06 and a close friend of mine has taken several deer and elk with his. He swears by it...

Although, when I had to make the decision for my wife and kiddos this year, we purchased 3, .270's. For my sons, they really enjoy shooting their 270 on the range with Remington's Reduced Recoil rounds. A lady or kiddo could shoot those all day.

Never heard of anything like that John, which states are you referring to?

Thx

Mark D

Mark,

I have no hard evidence, so if I am off base here, I am open to correction.

My dad owned a 264 Win Mag and was his favorite hunting gun, but one year he put in for a draw in the Mountain West for Elk (back in the early 1970's). To prepare for the hunt, dad purchased a 7mm Mag, because.....as the story goes....the state where he applied required at least a .27 caliber, for which his 264 would not fit the bill.

Maybe this was a great story for Mom, allowing dad to purchase, yet another gun.....hahahahaha

I do not remember which state.

I think Colorado requires at least a .24 caliber with at least 1,000 pounds of energy at 100 or 200 yards.

Oregon requires .24 caliber.

John, I dont have anything on what states may or may not allow, BUT even if they do allow the 25-06, anything to give you an excuse where you just HAVE to have another gun is alright by me.

Taking the 25-06 on elk would be like a goose hunter using a
28 gauge. Some can do it, most can't, I won't, and doubt those that purport the twenty five ever will.

Sorry, don't buy that analogy one bit... apples and oranges.

Okay, how bout this,

"I doubt those that purport the twenty five ever will (use it on elk).

Will any here really put it on the line when it counts and really do it?

All talk?


I have no doubts the 25 can do it but so far this thread has only produced post that say,
I have a friend, I know this guy, my neighbor,

Has anybody here (this thread has over 600 hits) killed a bull elk with the 25-06?
How about a cow elk?

Does the .270 count? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Jayco

NO! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I belive that in PA it's 270 or bigger but I may be wrong. In Colorado a 243 is legal and in some states there are no caliber restrictions at all. You can hunt elk with a 25-20 or 22 Hornet. Just because it's legal doesn't make it a good idea.

I might as well go off the deep end here as to calibers/bullets used.I would rather shoot a 30-06 with 180 grain Nosler/Barnes ot TB's than a .300 Win Mag with Federal Classics.I also would rather shoot a .270 stoked with Noslers/Barnes or Trophy Bonded than an a 30-06 with 150 grain K-Mart specials.

I would take a 25-06 loaded with 120 grain Nolsers over a 270 with bargain basket bullets even if they are 150 grains which suck in my opinion from using them..

Load em all up with Premiums and the bigger the better for large game at odd angles.

Jayco

su-ah yep I have cows/bulls with both the 25/06 and with the 257 Wby.

I've also shot geese with a 28 as well.........grins

I kind of find this stuff interesting as many will grab a 270/130 combo and hit the hill and never once blink. But, if you talk about a 25/06/120 combo they do blink and then some.

There is no practical dif between the two rounds and what one will do the other will as well.

Brad and I know a lot of folk out here in Montana and Wyo. A lot of these people carry 25/06's for their personal anything that moves rifle. If they read this thread about the 25/06 and elk and read all the smack being talked about it they would roll over in laughter and then go to finishing their elk steaks.

Mark D

(by the way SU this is or was not aimed at you or anyone else for either)

Mark, I'm sorry but if your statement is true (many in Montana use the 25-06 for everything including elk - my abbreviation of what I believe you said) something is wrong with the crowd you hang out with In MONTANA. Everyone I know from Montana is more sane. Are you simply a rabble rouser? Or are you and your friends having a nice trip? Vic/

AquariumMD, lets hear all about why a 25-06 or 257 can't kill elk efficiently. So far all we've heard is a lot of chest thumping and pompus lecturing but no actual experience with one on elk.

In defense of the 25'06......

�In the end, the choice of an all-around rifle depends on many factors. If you like a gun, you are much more likely to shoot it and shoot it well, so choose a rifle you like. Also, any experienced rifleman knows that where you hit 'em is much more important than what you hit 'em with, so place your emphasis on skills rather than on the size of the rock.�

Jack Steele, https://www.24hourcampfire.com/the_300_winchester.htm

I wouldn't dare say that Jack is endorsing the 25'06, but he has a great point. I would bet that few would hunt Elk and Moose in Colorado with a .243, but it is totally legal. Can most of us kill Elk and Moose with a .243????....oh yeah....but it would be with an outstanding stalk and a nicely placed shot.

It is also worth saying.....if a fella can squeeze off a heart shot with a 25'06, it is much better than a flench and jerk on a .338 Mag....

Mark, somehow I just knew you had done it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You boys in Montana make it look to easy.

Know a guy in Anaconda who for the past 20 years has used a 220 swift on elk. Can't talk him out of it, he walks the talk.

SU35-you're right a lot of elk hit the turf here each year with the Swifto and the 22/250. I hear it'll work, or should I say I know it to work.

Mark D