Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Best Elk Cartridge in the World??

Some good info above by those who obviously btdt.

Here's a couple shots of a well known public land elk unit in CO on the west slope. It has the potential for a chance at a trophy class bull. Some of the late hunts offered for this unit take well over 20yrs to draw. The snow melted and it's late season. If you shoot a bull along this canyon it's about 200-30yds in some spots, not bad. But I was told by several who killed elk here if your bull makes it over the edge there's a good chance you won't recover it. Would you choose a 243 with NPs for this hunt? I sure didn't.



It's easy for some on here to brag in a chest thumping manner about how they used this or that so their opinion trumps all. But their experience might be limited to their local home turf where the elk were killed in less rugged country and/or private land with the benefit of snow.

Just saying the quicker you put a bull down the better if hunting rough country, and save the 243 with good bullets for the easy elk hunts. If you can't shoot a magnum proficiently then man up and admit it, then choose a good 270 or 3006 and learn to shoot it.

The best cartridge for elk is the one you have while elk hunting. That said I’m a fan of 30 caliber cartridges, in my case a bunch of elk have been taken with them. My Wife still uses the 243 Her Dad gave her when She was 14 but she only takes “perfect” shots.

I dont know the mental gymnastics one has to go through to suggest that because one thinks a magnum may be a better mouse trap that they also believe a non magnum won't work. They in fact will work, just not as well and we are talking about what's best here, not what is adequate.
Former board members like Allen Day and BobinNH would tell you flat out that magnums crumpled elk better than standards and both had plenty of experience.

It's just a personal choice of mine, but I feel the same way.

Same kind of terrain in central Colorado.

Pictured below is all part of my land in central Colorado.



That rock is about 600 yds away, and I have a cabin about 150 yards on the other side of it. Some mornings, I walk out onto the rock and spot elk (and/or mule deer) calmly grazing about where I took the pic, and they don’t notice me. Hoping to draw for that unit this year.

Don’t need a light rifle for that one, but might want some long-range knock-down power. For me, that’s my .340. For others, I’m sure what they have could work too. That’s just my preference. All of my neighbors are friendly except for one, who is just a bit weird. I’d rather not have to try to recover a fleeing elk on his property.

From the top of that rock. Some nice mule deer just calmly bedding down below.





I hope they do that when I have a tag.

Wise choice..

A magnum only stretches out the killing distance by a small amount. I've killed elk with many different cartridges including 300wsm, 30-06, 9.3x62mm, 338wm and 300wm. I don't think anything ever killed any better than the good ol 06 spitting 200gr partitions. Most of my elk have been shot at close range and have only taken one step after being hit. The ones that ran the furthest, are the ones shot with the biggest heaviest pill I've used: the 286gr nosler partition in the 9.3x62mm. I actually shot 2 elk with that rifle and both ran further than any other elk I've shot. The 30-06 loaded with 200's and the 338wm have been my favorite elk cartridges. Most cartridges will work just fine, if you put the right bullet in the boiler room. Or lets just say, most cartridges will "crumple" elk when you use the right bullet and put it in the right spot...

They work pretty dramatically at close range too.

My .340 Wby does pretty well at longer ranges:




Just kidding.

ha ha.. That's meat damage right there..

I love the 1980s Cold War gadgets.

I can shoot a 7lb all up 300 WM better than you, yet I still would go with sub 45 grains of powder for elk, anywhere you want to take a pic of.

Kill lots of elk in Alabama??

That's funny if you are questioning John Burns on killing elk... Like someone else always says, "this chidt is never not funnny"...

Keep it simple stupid.
30/06,
168 ttsx if mono or 180 or 200 partitions.

MtnHtr, not sure what you’re trying to show in the pics, but it doesn’t look much/any different than a lot of places we hunt in NM.

There are a bunch of places that if a bull travels to far you’re going to have problems, whether it’s getting into private or dying in a hell hole. The only guaranteed way to stop it is a CNS shot, regardless of cartridge. Bow hunting you deal with it all the time.

Dam glad I’ve never hunted anywhere that someone else claiming my dead bull was a problem.

+1 for Montana.

As many as you.

Both of you missed the point of my post/pics, so much for comprehension? Please re-read. I was simply backing up what Elkmen1 and BWalker posted, some places are gonna be rough and you want to put down a bull asap or risk losing it. Btw the bowhunters and muzzleloaders who hunt this unit go up higher off a main road in the quakies and meadows during the rut where it's much easier. No trails here.