Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Minimum Elk Cartridge

MarineHawk, I don't think anyone is telling you that you shouldn't use your .340. No doubt it'll hammer an elk and it sounds like it's the rifle you have the most confidence in so that's ideal.

The OP asked for opinions on minimum elk cartridges, and people are giving them. I haven't read the whole thread and I know it's been said but out of all the stuff that makes elk hunters successfuly, the cartridge they choose is waaaaay down on the list.

Thanks Smokepole. The OP asked about minimums.

I constantly read whimsical stories on here about how PHs in Africa or guides or hunting partners in Alaska or Idaho or wherever have cartoonish stories about monstrously-idiotic hunters who show up with anything more-energetic than a .308 (that's what I generally use for deer) and all the unpreparedness and foolish acts that these people engage in, or fail to engage in, both before, during, and after, the hunt. But guys with a .270 or 30-06 (just by the mere fact that they shoot such a thing) are way more mature; calm; intelligent; strategic; and cool under pressure.

I think it's BS.

I think there's really good hunters/shooters with small cartridges; with medium cartridges; and with larger cartridges. And I think there likely are a fair number of bad ones with all three as well.

I don't think it's cartridge-dependent.

Damn! You are getting old.lol.

I have always enjoyed whacking elk with 160 Partitions from my 7 mags, but that being said, I have seen them killed just as efficiently with .308 and 30-06. The one thing that goes into the equation, when talking about smaller calibers, is that it is much easier to spend lots of rounds practicing with them. I would not hunt elk with my 6.5s, but not because I would feel under-gunned. I am not going to hunt elk with them, as long as I still have my 7 mags, but I am enjoying my magnums less and less on the range.

The more that I shoot my .260 and Creed, the more I like what I see. They seem to kill things way better than what the ballistics indicate. As was stated before, it is all about the bullet and the shot.

Getting......have gotten! memtb

I would shoot one with a 25-06 and a 100gr partition or TTSX without fretting it much. Not sure I would want to go down more than that.

Marine hawk, did you get triggered?
I'm glad you like your 340 bee and if you can shoot it as good as your 308, more power to you.
BTW, is the 340 your minimum for elk? LOL

Is a .45 at 3-5 / 8" COL with a 520 grain bullet too big of a magnum or elephant gun for Elk?

ha!
Let me try this again....this is just MY opinion.
I think 243 is little light but also feel you don't need 416 for elk.
While I do have 9.3 x62 for elk and bigger. I prefer the 06.
I've also seen guys miss a broad side shots with 300 Rums...after they stepped up from the old faithful 06.
So I feel like you should shoot something that you can shoot well and accurate.
And if you cant shoot a 270 win. well, then you should not be in the field or try a different rifle than you can shoot well.

Yes. I need to go to a safe place where there are no anti-big-gun people.

So my .45 is too big of a caliber, being it's larger than a 416?

Lol, At least you’re honest snow flake.
Joking.
Not anti big gun, I just realized elk aren’t bullet proof.
To each his own.
Good luck on your up coming hunt

Is your 45 more powerful than the 416 rigby? You picking up what I’m puttingdown?
We can stir the pot all night long.

Personal minimum is moot cause i'll never use it on elk, 270 Winchester and 150 gr partitions at 2925 fps.

Topic is caliber, not power. Keep up snow flake.

Is my .45 too large?

Can your shoot it well?
If you feel the need to go that big to take down an elk, Then go and enjoy it.
Go Re read my other post if you’re still confused what I’m saying.

DRE
19xx - 20xx

Here Lies a Gelding

Too Metro-Sexual to shoot a magnum

Beloved by all Castrated Males

Lmao.
Note to self...Size queen get triggered easily

There are a few rational people that frequent this site.....that alone is somewhat consoling! Being one of the rational few.....puts you into a small elite group! Memtb

Be sure and tell everyone on here their Marlin 1895 in 45-70 is too big or their 450 Marlin...dumbazz.

And since those 1895's in 45-70 are too big for you, I damn well know a Metro-Sexual like you couldn't carry my 12.75 lb. Shiloh Sharps in 45-110 up and down a mountain.

LOL, talk about snowflakes. The topic is cartridge, not caliber.

You do know the difference, right?