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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,845
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,845 |
The comment about elk being tough to kill, and the .270 needing a perfect broadside shot are interesting. I started my hunting career with a .270 and truth be told if I never used anything else, it would likely have not made any difference other than saving a great many thousands of dollars in custom rifles, reloading, scopes, etc. My first dozen elk were with a .270 and it worked perfectly.
While I have both a .300 and a .338, I have killed more elk with a puny little .308 than anything else. If you can shoot precisely, it is all you need quite often. The only thing the .300 offers me is an extended range which is certainly a feature I will take advantage of at times. December hunts tend to be longer range affairs and the added velocity is welcomed when the shot is an extended one. However, when the shots are in the 400 and under range and the winds are calm, I see no need for a magnum cartridge at all.
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL. The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world. The website is up and running!www.lostriverammocompany.com
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,531
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,531 |
It took me a few years to realize all a magnum gives you is perhaps an additional 50-100 yards, that's about all. A .270 or .30-06 will take 99% of all game in the lower 48 and probably 95% else where.
What goes up must come down, what goes around comes around, there's no free lunch. Trump's comin' back, get over it!
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,137
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,137 |
It took me a few years to realize all a magnum gives you is perhaps an additional 50-100 yards, that's about all. A .270 or .30-06 will take 99% of all game in the lower 48 and probably 95% else where. What 1% of game in the lower 48 will they not take?
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,275
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,275 |
I've always regarded the 270 Win a scaled-down, light-recoiling 300 mag. Similar trajectories and killing power.
Before he died, I corresponded a bit with George Hoffman, Professional African Hunter, and the developer of the 416 Hoffman (which eventually became the 416 Rem Mag). His elk rifle was the 270 Win. All his nearly 50 elk were taken with the cartridge he told me.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,910
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,910 |
Elk aren’t hard to kill, just a wee bit hard to hunt!
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,410
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,410 |
The greatest difference is in bullet development. Larger belted magnums became a thing because 303, .270 and 30/06 factory ammo was inconsistent and loaded down. Handloading was just for a few of the gun nuts and Nosler Partition was expensive and less accurate than the plain old Sierra, Speer and Hornady stuff. I was handloading at this time. Many of my friends moved into the larger chamberings because bullets failed, the larger left larger residual pieces of bullet in and around the vitals. These days are quite different, bullets can be extraordinary and super reliable. I suppose local conditions and tactics might influence things but here on the west slope of the Rockies a .270- .280- 30/06 is ideal , in a light , short and easy to carry version. Enjoy your Sunday
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,943
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,943 |
Yes, it’s about the bullet, not the cartridge.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,735
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,735 |
Elk aren’t hard to kill, just a wee bit hard to hunt! I never had much of any problem "hunting them" WAM; its been in the "finding them to kill them" part that's been rough on me! lol
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 786
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 786 |
In my lifetime I have shot them with several different 7mm's, an 06, (14) muzzleloader, 300 Bee, and 300 WM, out to and past a laser measured 540 yards. To this day I still feel that there is a noticable difference between the 300 WM and the 7's. I will always favor the 300 WM. But I think the old adage, that you should shoot what you can shoot, and with good bullets, you will do well.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,575
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,575 |
I'd spend more time worrying about which bullet than trying to decide between those two rounds.. Either will work just fine, as will a metric ton of other rounds. For elk, I like a really solid bullet that will provide excellent penetration. I've made the mistake of using lighter constructed bullets and learned the hard way.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,910
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,910 |
Elk aren’t hard to kill, just a wee bit hard to hunt! I never had much of any problem "hunting them" WAM; its been in the "finding them to kill them" part that's been rough on me! lol Jim, I think you said it better than I did! Happy Trails
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,735
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,735 |
Twenty years ago I started with 300's on up. As time went on and the tags were consistently filled, I moved to 308's .270's 30-06's and in '19 - the 6.5 CM. As many have said, you need a good bullet in the right place.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 412
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 412 |
Flip a coin. Anyone who'd killed enough elk with BOTH chamberings so as to be a credible resource, is likely to tell you there isn't a statistically significant difference between them. Anyone who has shot them enough to be proficient at distance can tell you the statistically significant difference is the price per round for practicing. The cost per round hunting is not significant compared to the total cost of the hunt.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,778
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,778 |
I'd pick the .338. I'm not terribly recoil-sensitive, but if I'm going to get into the recoil level of those two cartridges, I might as well be throwing the bigger bullet. Plus, there's a warm, fuzzy feeling that comes over you knowing you have a .338 Win. Mag. in the safe sighted-in and ready to go.
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 177
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 177 |
The 416 Rem is well proven. AMAZING!!! on an animal that looks to be every bit of 150lbs. LOL OHHH my, this is some truly humorous stuff here
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,925
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,925 |
The 416 Rem is well proven. AMAZING!!! on an animal that looks to be every bit of 150lbs. LOL OHHH my, this is some truly humorous stuff here Which is solid evidence, that there is no such thing as “too much gun”! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
My vote is "neither". Neither is required for elk, and I've never owned either. Once the powder charges get much above 60 grains, I stop having fun and start flinching involuntarily. If you are wondering if you've got "enough gun" for elk, I suggest looking into the Cheytac rounds, or the Allen Magnums from 7mm, shooting 160gr Accubonds at 3550, or 200gr bullets at 3300, on up to the REALLY ENOUGH versions.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,110
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,110 |
In my experience the .505 Gibbs is an absolute minimum for elk, but only when loaded to the max with monolithic bullets.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,114
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,114 |
In my experience the .505 Gibbs is an absolute minimum for elk, but only when loaded to the max with monolithic bullets. The .505 Gibbs is a good cartridge but,for elk I like the .500 A2 or its little brother the .495 A2.
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
In my experience the .505 Gibbs is an absolute minimum for elk, but only when loaded to the max with monolithic bullets. Maybe, but I'd want to do some penetration tests first.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
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