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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,936
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
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I’ve seen a few dozen elk killed. With calibers from .224 to magnum 30s. I have never seen a bad result that was due to anything but poor shooting. In no case have I seen any indication that a little bit more diameter, weight, or speed would have made any difference at all in the outcome.
Majority of my experience is with bulls and many if not most of them shot with 270s. Shoot them where it counts with a bullet that will penetrate and don’t sweat the rest. Another well stated post.
Arcus Venator
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Joined: Jun 2013
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2013
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I have killed at least one elk with each of the following rifles:
.243 Winchester .25-06 Remington .270 Winchester 7mm Rem Mag .300 Savage .308 Winchester .30-06 Springfield .300 Win Mag 8mm Rem Mag 338 Lapua Mag
Some were with handloads, others were with factory ammo and at various distances. The bulk of these were taken with my .30-06 Springfield.
I have personally witnessed others kill elk with all of the above cartridges and each of the following rifles:
6mm Remington .250-3000 Savage 6.5 Creedmoor 6.5x284 Norma 6.5 PRC .264 Win Mag 7mm-08 Remington 7x57mm Mauser .30-40 Krag .300 WSM .300 RUM .338 Win Mag .375 H&H Mag .444 Marlin .450 Marlin .45-70 Government
My personal preference is for at least a .270 Winchester minimum, but as I just said, cartridges as small as the .243 will do it given the bullet going into vitals.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,234 Likes: 27
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,234 Likes: 27 |
It’d be pretty cool if folks just mentioned what they used and how they worked rather than hammering one or another about how the other guys choice sucked. As have been said, a lot of stuff works and some people have specific reasons for using what they do.
I guess there’s no fun in that though.
These can be pretty good threads when folks post up what they use, bullets, outcome post shot and let the chips fall where they may. Good post Scotty
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 43
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,670 Likes: 43 |
I’m going to bet that there are more answers to the question than there are elk killed…
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 |
It’d be pretty cool if folks just mentioned what they used and how they worked rather than hammering one or another about how the other guys choice sucked. As have been said, a lot of stuff works and some people have specific reasons for using what they do.
I guess there’s no fun in that though.
These can be pretty good threads when folks post up what they use, bullets, outcome post shot and let the chips fall where they may. +1000
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,014
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,014 |
I’m going to bet that there are more answers to the question than there are elk killed… Yeah and probably the fewer the elk, the more adamant the opinion. ....grin....
I am continually astounded at how quickly people make up their minds on little evidence or none at all. Jack O'Connor
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,441 Likes: 8
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,441 Likes: 8 |
If I cant find grenades then I rig up a sort of a claymore right beside the trail.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
3-7-77
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,148 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,148 Likes: 5 |
I killed my last with a 284 Win which is a 270-class cartridge. That would be as low as I would go generally because I’m from the Midwest and my elk hunting was always limited to 5-7 days and then I’m finished. Rarely have been able to pick my shots.
But like MD I would like something bigger where the grizzly’s tend to be impolite. And for years I carried a 340 Wby with 210-gr TSX’s. Perhaps. Whether falsely or not, it did give me a feeling of reassurance.
As to using the smaller cartridges, I’m sure many have been used to kill elk DRT (does that mean where he finally dropped? 😉). That always reminded me of a comment by Jim Carmichael about “cocktail time calibers (cartridge)” meaning something out of the ordinary enough to yack over a drink later on.
In big, broken and rough country,, use enough cartridge. They deserve it.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,785 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,785 Likes: 2 |
A friend of mine filled his cow tag with a magnum.
A .22 WMR while grouse hunting.
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,490
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,490 |
I have killed at least one elk with each of the following rifles:
.243 Winchester .25-06 Remington .270 Winchester 7mm Rem Mag .300 Savage .308 Winchester .30-06 Springfield .300 Win Mag 8mm Rem Mag 338 Lapua Mag
Some were with handloads, others were with factory ammo and at various distances. The bulk of these were taken with my .30-06 Springfield.
I have personally witnessed others kill elk with all of the above cartridges and each of the following rifles:
6mm Remington .250-3000 Savage 6.5 Creedmoor 6.5x284 Norma 6.5 PRC .264 Win Mag 7mm-08 Remington 7x57mm Mauser .30-40 Krag .300 WSM .300 RUM .338 Win Mag .375 H&H Mag .444 Marlin .450 Marlin .45-70 Government
My personal preference is for at least a .270 Winchester minimum, but as I just said, cartridges as small as the .243 will do it given the bullet going into vitals. You have done a LOT more elk hunting than I have my friend. Thanks for your help with the cow elk in January. 405 yards, 30-06, 178 grain ELD-X. Heck it broke her leg, shattered it really, then went through her heart and she still ran a couple of hundred yards before I could finish her at much shorter range. Wow... I've only taken three, two with the 30-06 and one big bull with a 7mm Rem Mag using the 175 gr Nosler Partition. All worked. That last one was a bit of a stretch, couldn't have done it without you guys. May well look for another Oregon elk, January 2025. Freezer is still pretty full. Regards, Guy
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,933 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,933 Likes: 3 |
Personally, I have slayed elk and mule deer with the following cartridges. Not that it means boo… .30-06 .308 Win 7mm Weatherby .300 Weatherby .35 Whelen
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,360 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,360 Likes: 10 |
Semper Fi
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,490
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,490 |
Thanks! Although 30 years older than the two sturdy fellows in the photo, I wondered why I was having such a hard time getting up the big ridges with them. Had my heart attack a few weeks later... That told me why I had troubles on that hunt. It was a good hunt and the cow has been delicious. I'll be back! Regards, Guy
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,360 Likes: 10
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,360 Likes: 10 |
Glad you’re on the mend buddy. You’ve got some more to do!
Semper Fi
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 482
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 482 |
Thanks! Although 30 years older than the two sturdy fellows in the photo, I wondered why I was having such a hard time getting up the big ridges with them. Had my heart attack a few weeks later... That told me why I had troubles on that hunt. It was a good hunt and the cow has been delicious. I'll be back! Regards, Guy It was a great hunt! Love to have you back anytime!
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 40
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 40 |
For general hunting 100-300 yard shots with confidence that you could make a clean kill in most shot opportunities. 30-30
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,383 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,383 Likes: 1 |
For general hunting 100-300 yard shots with confidence that you could make a clean kill in most shot opportunities. I have used a .308 Winchester, .30-06 and .338 Win mag to do the described tasks. A .308 or .270 Winchester with 150's would make fine minimums. Though I don't shoot one, I have three hunting buddies who have used .270 Winchesters to take many elk.
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 792
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 792 |
Given the right distance, angle, presentation , and a perfect shot , you can kill them with about anything. BUT, that doesn't always happen, in the real world. Neither myself or my partners have ever hunted with anything less than a 270 nor will they. Two years ago my SIL, took several shots to get a big cow down in the middle of a field shooting a 7 mm Mag, sandbagged on the top of his 4 drawer tool cabinet. Not a long shot just a little inside of 300 yards with a 160 AB . After a few days later he put the rifle back on the bench and found a loose mounting screw, which when tightened back up, moved the scope back to dead center. Anything can happen I believe it was Robert Ruark that stated "bring enough gun". My personal minimum, 7 mm AI or .308
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,236 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,236 Likes: 1 |
So, the size of the cartridge had nothing to do with the cow taking several shot to get down, right?
Sounds like that could have happened with any cartridge.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 510
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 510 |
My late Brother was a guide and outfitter/wrangler for fifteen years in Western Wyoming but he made his living working as a driller on gas wells North of Rock Springs/Green River. He showed me an old newspaper article about a guy who’s pickup truck overheated and was steaming and hissing so he pulled over to let it cool down. As the article said he had no idea there were elk near the road but he was wrong and a young bull charged his truck and speared his left front fender then got hung up between the tire and fender. He jumped out the truck on the shotgun side and grabbed a crowbar then beat the hung-up bull to death by breaking its neck. Unfortunately I don’t know what caliber the crowbar was but is was enough and the article said he wasn’t cited and reading between the lines kept the meat. Wow
Rick
Last edited by Woodpecker; 08/11/23.
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