Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game A better question than "What is your favorite elk caliber and load?"

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30-06 was all 165 grain Hornady spire points, nothing fancy, no premium bullets, just good old blue collar working bullets.

The 300's were 200 grain Accubonds until the last of the 300 Wby, I went to Nosler 180 BT...

I think that a 30-06 with 180 Nosler Partitions would work.......well, I guess it wouldn't. I've never shot an elk so I'm sure that it would not work. LOL! For crying out loud, there are volumes written on the subject in books, internet sites, and even TV. I don't think you are going to let out some big secret here on this thread but don't let me spoil the fun. Carry on gentlemen.

I'm about 10 up on KC,same story but most with the .06, 220 gr RN. A few with 50 cal ML, 7 mag,44mag

Eleven bulls, ten with a .340 B with an array of bullets, the last of which was a 210-gr TSX; the other bull with a 30/06 with a 168-gr TSX. Two cows, one with a '95 in 45/70 with a 405-gr hard cast and the other with a 45 Colt and a 325-gr hard cast. I didn't like the hard casts on these animals-- they had 45 cal holes through them and their life was leaking out but they had time to travel some.

I had all drop where they stood with the 340 with the exception of one who ran a tight little circle. The 30/06 bull was cleaned up by my buddy because of a down canyon wind I didn't figure quite right.

I don't recommend the 340 or any magnums for the first time elk hunter who asks but rather one of the 30/06 class of cartridges with a good bullet.

300 wsm 180 tsx
300 win mag 180 accubond
7 mag 160 tsx

lots of good elk rigs out there,hey

I have never missed an elk....

But I have never shot at one either.

As matter of fact, I have never hunted one.

To be quite honest, I have only seen them alive in an enclosure.

I think this qualifies me to comment on the load question.

I had to laugh earlier about someone who actually had more "primary" elk rifles than elk.

I've used
bow
308
7x57
.300 win

They all died quick. The 300 with 200 NPs is my favorite.

I've shot elk with:

70-pound bow, Easton aluminum arrow, Zwickey broadhead
.270 Winchester, 150 Speer Grand Slam and Nosler Partition
.30-06, various 180-200 grain bullets, mostly 200 Partitions
.300 WSM, 180 Nosler E-Tip at 2850 fps
.300 Winchester Magnum, 200-grain Nosler Partition
.300 Weatherby Magnum, 200-grain Nosler Partition

Have also shot a few elk with the .338 Winchester Magnum, but all had been previously shot by somebody else, because I was guiding or "backing up." One really didn't need another shot, since my wife had already put a 150-grain .270 Partition through both lungs. This has always worked, pretty quickly, but the elk was heading downhill, away from a ridge we had to haul it back up.

The only real problem occurred with the 150-grain .270 Grand Slam, an early version (late 1970's) that didn't hold together very well. Later Grand Slams have worked much better.

I'm only slightly better than JohnMoses. Have hunted elk twice. First time saw a cow and calf at about 500 yards going over a ridge. My .270 WCF worked perfectly on that hunt, never left the saddle scabbard. The second time I had better luck, probably saw a dozen bulls, some too far away, some way way too close, some move too fast through the black timber and one my brother in law shot before I could get a clear shot (every man for himself). My .300 H&H worked perfectly on that hunt, it went everywhere I did without a complaint.....

well...I may have shot more cartridges at elk than my buddy JB...thats a "first"

the short list of what Ive killed them with...
.44 mag handgun
.223
.243
7x57
.30-30
.30-06
.300 H&H
.300 Win.


I think thats it...I'll remember more when I hit "submit"

FWIW, my fave...the .300 H&H...

.308 180 gr. Nosler Partition (Federal Premium)

So far so good, 1 shot - 1 elk

wyomings pistol regs are .41 and up.
i pack a 45, shouldered, and shot a spike bull
out of the tent flap at daylight one morning.
50ish yds and i'd been bustin milk jugs with same
pistol at said distance.

What was the Elk from Hell shot with...Be honest.

If I ever make an elk hunt, I may avoid that one.

I've killed elk with:

280 Remington
300 Win Mag
338 Win Mag
338-06
30-06
308 Win
270 Win
270 WSM

The bull from hell was shot with a .30-06...I don't think it was the fault of the cartridge.....



You know its serious when the dew rag is on....

I'd like to take an elk with my 358WSSM but I'm sure I would probably end up taking my .300WSM instead.

The problem with talking about the "best cartridge/gun" is the shooter. Last year I shot all my white tails with a .223 and they dropped right there. The year before I shot my best white tail through the shoulder with 30-06 and it ran off and we only recovered it the next morning.

Seems like there are a thousand variables and the ones that matter most have little to do with the cartridge/gun.

I would love to see Steve Timm's response to this question.

As for me, I am not terribly original:

35 Whelen
.30-06

some with a .308, 180 gr. partition,
a bunch with a .35 Whelen, mostly 250 gr. grand slam
and one each .356/250gr., .270/150gr., 7x64/174gr., and 30-06 180 gr.

280 rem....300, 20 and 25 yds
300 win....75 yds.
.50 muzz....70 yds