I was watching the net the other day and a guy was talking about how good the 7mm Remington magnum was a great all around rifle. The guy went on to say the 7mm Remington magnum was a good elk rifle as long as you shoot them behind the shoulder. He stated that if you keep trying to break elk shoulders with a 7mm Remington it would let you down (he preferred a .33 caliber rifle).
Two things he did not mention was bullet type of range.
I have only hunted elk with a .30 caliber magnum rifle and haven’t killed enough to have a opinion but I just can’t see a quality bullet from 150 grains and up not breaking shoulders.
Anyone have a good quality bullet not make it through a elks shoulder?
I was taught shooting the shoulders ruined meat, consequently if given a choice I'm always a armpit shooter.
Rarely has shooting an elk through the shoulder resulted in elk running any more or less than when shot in the armpit.
Two years ago the only shot I had were on a unaware Utah bull and a unaware Colorado bull shoulder shots at about 60 yds with a 270 and 160g Partition in deep timber. First shot on each bull the bullet went plumb through both shoulders of both bulls, and both bulls ran towards me 40 yds or so. I shot each bull in the chest for a second shot as they were headed my direction. And boy those shoulder shots tore up some meat for sure.
If bullets are not penetrating an elk's shoulder that's a bullet issue rather than a cartridge problem.
