Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting What do you consider minimum cartridge for elk?

I have taken and been in on the taking of around 100 elk. I have seen them shot with everything from a 243 Win to a 375 H&H. I personally consider the 243 to be too light but it did work on some cows. But, I have never seen it used on a mature bull which is a completely different animal than a cow, and the guy that used the 243 was a local rancher. He could wait for the perfect shot and knew where to place that little 100 gr bullet. In my mind I'd say the 6.5x55 Swede and 270 Win are the lightest that I'd suggest. Never seen one shot with any other 6.5 than the Swede which is why I mention it but I'd imagine any of the new 6.5s would be as effective.

For me I like a happy medium in elk since they come in lots of different sizes and shots can be at any range. 7mm Mag is my favorite round and the one I have used the most.

So remove the "mentoring" aspect, make it just two hunters. I suspect that a good percentage of the pairs of hunters would be having a conversation about using the other rifle. The issue I am discussing above is not can it, the issue is about confidence and how confidence changes when you get out at the margins.

With conventional lead core bullets, I’d say .270. With Barnes or other good mono, a fast .257 or .264. 😎

That would explain why so many folks believe .24cal, 25cal, 26cal, cartridges don't kill effectively. Narrow wound channels take longer to kill animals.

why match bullets thread

In all seriousness, go read that thread then re-read it.

Still a lot of opinion just like this thread. Question asked and answered. Take it for what it’s worth. WAM, out.

Ballistics typed on paper is not what always happens in hunting conditions.

What do you think would put an elk down quicker at 100 yards...........
A 220 Swift with with a 55 grain bullet or a 410 grain from a 45-70?

220 Swift energy is 1,004 by the book.
45-70 energy is 895.

I have yet to see a grizzly guide use a 220 Swift, but many carry a 45-70. Yeah I know newer guns can handle potent 45-70 loads, but I have used factory Remington ammo (to old load pressures) in my original 1873 trapdoor to take several elk.

Lb ft of energy is irrelevant

I assume that this was a question, with a dash of sarcasm……if so, my response is a resounding “yes”! memtb

I wouldn't worry too much about a 243 or 25-06 out in the open country in Wyoming and such, since they can travel a bit and usually not end up in some place of hell. Places like Oregon and similar where they can make one leap and its straight down into a nightmare of timber and so damned steeped you have to tie them up to butcher them to keep them from sliding. But hand me a 243, 25-06, whatever and I am still going elk hunting.

I know there are overlap and everyplace has it's own nightmare though.

Haven't killed an elk or seen many killed yet where a good 270 with a decent bullet wouldn't have done the work.

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Haven't killed an elk or seen many killed yet where a good 270 with a decent bullet wouldn't have done the work.

It was a statement. Pretty clearly written too.