When the first few threads of the forum are about .223, .243, and .270, I believe we are obligated by the Cartridge Fairness Doctrine to start threads about the other end of the spectrum....

FC

I have taken two bulls with the 35 Whelen and two with the 375 H&H. Still own the Whelen, a tweaked factory M77 RS. The 375 was a M700 Custom Shop KS Mountain Rifle. It was an incredible shooter and weighing just 7 3/4# scoped was a joy to carry. I have since sold it off. Still regret it. Used a 250 gr Partition and a 225 gr TSX in the Whelen and the 260 gr Partition in the 375.

I've shot two bulls, one spike (70 yards) and one 6pt (45 yards), up close and personal in the timber with my 22" M70 338WM. 210 NP's at a bit over 2,900. Seemed to work just fine!

Too big....338 mag

Too small.....223


Just right...30-06

Not sure if this qualify's or not but I'll submit it anyway. Have used the 338 WM a bit, it was my first 33. I had a 700 Classic in it, what an accurate beast.

Then I went thru a fairly serious .340 stage (wore out 2 tubes). Guys at elk camp called the rig "Thunder".

Next 33 phase was a 338/06 and a rig I call "Fat Bastard" which is a 338 WSM.

Thing I've liked best about the 33's is how dang accurate they are! Easiest bore size to date for me to find accurate rigs in.


Dober

2 raghorn bulls with a 375 H&H, a few with a 340 Wby and 1 with my 450 Marlin. They work every bit as good as my 270, with often less meat damage.

Last November's Bitterroot raghorn via 375 H&H with 260 Partition. Awesome round.

Side note of Gack. I really like the combo or a lightish .270 and lightish 338 or 375 for elk.

Add Talley's and 6x36 w/dotz and get to filling arks...grin

Dober

I had a 338-06 but never killed an elk with it.

The 340 is too much of a good thing for me.

My fave is Dober's "Fat Bastard"... it's a pity Olin never made that one. The RCBS dies could be found on the shelves around here for a number of years.

But it's hard to beat the plain-jane 338 WM... I really think it's the logical "next step" from a 30-06.

It's likely the "ideal" elk cartridge but I just don't want to deal with the recoil anymore.

The 30-06 is the "Everyman's Elk Rifle."

270/338 was my combo for a few years Dober.

I'd take that 300WSM of yours and start on filling em up, if it were me... I wanna be on the list when you sell that bad boy!

The OP was looking for > .338 WM... I have taken a few with the 338-06 as well. Used the 185 gr TSX and 210 gr Partition.

My first 13 were with an 06. I then moved up to the 300 Win Mag for the next herd. Along the way were a couple here and there with a 338-06, 7mm Rem mag, 7mm STW, 7 X57, 300B, and probably at least one more I can't remember. I have always gone back to the 300 Win Mag, as the primary. My partners have typically used 06, 300 Savage, 300B, and 7mm Mag. My next challenge is with a bow, I have had two very close encounters, but choked up.

Thx Tanner, but the rig aint going anywhere. I've been packing it for a decade now, it's the newb in my "battery". If the 300 tube begins to bore me I can have the 338 WSM tube put back on it... Glad you like it.

Dober

Killed one with the .338 win. and 250 grain Noslers..also three with the .340 wea..still have it...many with the .300 win...it is like a .30-06,. only it hits harder, and shoots flatter..some may not need it...but it has taken several elk for me when 06 uses just shook their heads and said too far...

Killed a couple of nice bulls with the .375 H&H and 260 ABs when I was prepping for my first trip to Africa. One bull stood long enough to take a second shot, but neither went more than a couple of steps before flipping over on their backs. Made it easier to start field dressing...

hard to not dig that one. Makes a guy wonder why he's got a safe full of other rigs... But only for a minute or two

Like dog hunter has done, I ran a 338 wm/280 rem combo ten years or so.

Terrain, and the mood I was in depicted what rifle I was gunna carry.

It took a bit, but started to realize when using like construction bullets penetration was VERY close to the same when compared between the two calibers. And all the wapiti, some bear and assorted deer died all the same some dropped, some made it a few yards and keeled over. Shot placement on the animal had more to do with how they died than bullet weight/size/speed...... destruction was more with the 338, but seems they don't die any deader.

My .338 was very accurate also. I mostly ran 225 gr. partitions, then different stiles of 250's for a bit and flirted with some 200/210's. I thought the heavier bullet might have something I was missing when compared to the lighter bullets. A little more recoil seemed to be all the difference there was.

Tried the 300 wm for a bit before the .338 and with full house 180-200 grain loads, I discovered recoil-wize might as well shoot the .338 with 210/225 bullets.

One of the most accurate rifles I ever owned was an M700 338 WM... it would clover-leaf 225 Hdy's all day long at the bench. I never killed a thing with it, but I sure had fun punching paper with it.

Ive used the 338 win mag on a couple elk, I prefer my 340 wby , but certainly don,t see anything wrong with either choice, any difference in performance is minor as the 340 just pushes the same bullets about 200-300fps faster, what I have noticed is that bullet selection has a huge effect on your results, Ive settled on the 250 grain 338 hornady as it gives the type of results I like (deep penetration) but you get a good deal more expansion and noticeably faster kills on mule deer using the 200 grain speers, the 250 hornady zip thru deer and they tend to run a bit before dropping, the 200 speers work great on elk on lung shots but don,t always exit and I like exits


DEER
http://www.speer-bullets.com/ballistics/detail.aspx?id=112


ELK
http://www.hornady.com/store/338-Cal-.338-250-gr-SP-RP/

I took one with a .375-.416 Rem Mag firing Nosler 260 Partition.

Does a 454/45 Colt count as bigger? 350gr cast bullet at 1550fps from the 7.5 inch barrel.



I have killed 3 with the .338 Win Mag and can say it is no .264 Win Mag.

I don't even want to know what the turret for that load looks like

I barely make your criteria but have taken eleven or twelve bulls with the 340 B. I termed it the Green Bean once because of the original color of the Brown Prec stock (it was on its third paint job when I traded it). Thereafter, my friend call it "the Bean". The 340 is a wonderful cartridge but as Mule Deer terms it, I'm kind of a "churner", always trying something different and sending "old friends" down the road.

Also fitting the criteria, I've also killed two cows, one with a 45/70 and one with a 45 Colt in a RRH.

Ha!

That should be my sig line!

I've taken a couple of Elk with the 338 win as well as a couple of Moose, Doll Sheep, Grizzly, and quite a few deer all with the 250 grain Partition

It thumps game pretty good

I've taken two elk with bullet >.338

1. .35 Whelen and a 250gr Hornady
2. .45-70 Government and a 400 gr Speer.

John Burns - cool photo. Was that a hardcast VLD from the revolver?

Guys - I tried, I really did try, to find an elk to shoot with my .375, but simply couldn't find a legal elk while carrying the Number One. Maybe this year?

Marlin 1895 in .45-70, 213 lasered yards.

On the last day of the hunt I was watching a long string of elk in sage country. A gap opened up in the string and a 5x5 stopped in the middle. Just as I was ready to drop the hammer a 6x6 came in and the 5x5 ran off. Lucky day for the 5x5...

A 350g North Fork launched at 2183fps passed through the left front leg, obliterating a section of leg none, obliterated a section of a near rib , shattered a far rib and came to rest under the hide on the off side. The bull just stood there and I was about to trip the trigger one more time when it went over sideways.

Have hunted elk with my Marlin in .375 Win but so far have only taken antelope with it.

I've killed a number of elk with a pair of 375 H&Hs and one with a 416 Rigby. I also shot a moose a few years ago with a 470 NE double, but that's getting off on a tangent....

Three bulls with a 444 Marlin in dark timber.

I killed a cow elk with a 375 H&H. Guided a guy that killed one with a 35 Whelen. My go to elk cartidge is 338-06 as I did not like the recoil of the 338 Win Mag I owned.

I like 338 and bigger diameters for elk. Smaller will certainly kill elk, but I like 338 and above.

Churner...I used to be the textbook definition of a churner, but am changing my ways. Actually a New Year's resolution. I am doing OK, have sold five rifles already this year and working on a few more. Without buying any new ones.

I've killed one bull and several cows with my .358 Win.

A bunch more with two .338 mags.
I liked the .338 a lot, but it was simply more gun than I needed and I like the way my little carbine carries and shoots.

The .358 seems to kill just as well and it's a lot more pleasant to shoot. No slouch at reasonable ranges either. This old gal went down to one hit from a Sierra 225gr bullet at 243 yards.


If I thought the shooting was going to be much further, I'd just use my good ole .270

4 with a 338 RUM

Sorry Brad.

Funny how many didn't answer the actual question.

Just an observation...

.338 WM with 210 or 225 Partitions at @2750fps kills elk very dead with very manageable recoil, esp on a synthetic stock. Worked for me twice.

Does a 54 cal stink stick count? I've taken a cow and 2 bulls with it.

2.....one cow , one bull with a 375 Roy.....260 gr Accus loaded to about 2900


they seemed to die without any problem.....

Since when has that mattered.

Killed one bull at 320 yds with a 338 RUM and 225 gr AB.

I killed two with the .338 win mag. missed a couple also.

YESSS!!!!

Well, a 270 is a bit better, but who's counting....

I did kill one with my 35 Whelen though.......


Casey

How about a lightish .338WM (left) and .30-06 (right)?
22" tubes and Burris FF-II w/ Ballistic Plex on both - and both way more accurate than needed.



They won't win any beauty contests but they are easy to carry.

Bought the .30-06 in April 2010 and replaced the laminate stock.


Built the .338WM from parts in 2011

Spike
9.3x62 with 286 gr Partition.

Alan

Folically Challanged,
I've only taken about 18 elk (not taking the time to do a real count)all with a .375. memtb

1 bull at 350 yds with a 338 RUM loaded with a 210 gr PT at 3200 fps.

JD338

I've used lots of bullets in several calibers, but never tried a cartridge.
Sorry, couldn't help myself.