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

I'm gonna try hard to be two up after this fall

I'm taking my 7-08 this year....140 grn Accubonds this go-round, my -06 is going too!

.220 Swift
.22/250 Rem.
.243 Win.
.25/06
.257 Weatherby
.270 Win.
.280 Rem.
7mm Rem. Mag.
.308 Win.
.30/06
Stick & String

^^Cartridges I've personally killed elk with. BTW, all bulls, 31 total.

6MM Rem.
25/06 Rem.
6.5X.284
.264 Win. Mag.
.270 Win.
.270 WSM
.270 Weatherby Mag.
.280 Rem.
7MM Rem. Mag
7MM Weatherby Mag.
7MM Dakota
7MM STW
7MM Ultra Mag.
7MM SAUM
.308 Win.
.30/06
.300 WSM
.300 Win. Mag.
.300 Weatherby Mag.
.308 Lazzeroni Warbird
.338 Win. Mag.
.340 Weatherby Mag.
.338 Lapua Mag.
.338/.378 Weatherby
.375 H&H

^^ Cartridges I've seen used to kill elk while guiding, and or hunting with friends and family over the years...I probably forgot a few.

Gee, Pat, you forgot to include a detailed analyisis of each cartridge, the bullets used, range, B&C score of each bull, etc. etc. etc.

Or bullet placement....

I've killed 25+ elk over the years. All with a 30/06 Remington 700. All with 180 grain bullets. Mostly factory loads Remington Core-lokt, a few with Win PP & a couple with 180 Hornady "interlock" handloads.

I've be on the mtn this year with Remington factory loads.

Methinks I touched a nerve - Not sure what levels you're getting at, but the use of the word "another" was meant to reflect an additional personal opinion in regard to those who would give advice on how to do something when they have never really done it on their own. Just because the mechanic let me turn a couple of bolts in doesn't mean that you would want my advice on re-building your engine. YMMV

Dumb statements, off topic,always touch a nerve....

ReRead the title of the thread.....maybe we should rename it for you......"What rifles and loads for Guided vs Unguided elk hunts?"

Connect the dots and tell me what hunting on your own,vs guided(both of which I have done),has to do with the topic of what rifles/cartridges kill elk? The logic escapes me....do the elk somehow die differently when you are unguided?


Personally, I think you just used the thread as a means to take a gratutitous swing at those who hunt "guided",because you think everyone that has to use a guide is a greenhorn....and "real men" don't need to use them.

Talk about "lug nuts"...

Your previous post (page one) placed a negative value judgement on the hunter who uses a guide to go elk hunting, a respond that had nothing to do with the OP's question.

Secondly, why and on what basis would you do so?

Flinch's original question deals with the concept of those who would give advice on a given cartridge for elk when they have never shot it at paper let alone an elk. My comments were simply along the same line, stating that I feel that those who have never hunted elk on their own or shot very few after years of hunting are probably also not those who should be giving advice on how to get the job done. Inexperience in a given area makes the advice that one may have of lesser value than that of those who are experienced. If that's a negative value judgement, so be it.

.300 Wby - 180 grain Barnes X (2 bulls)
.300 Wby - 180 grain AB
Bowtech Guardian - 125 grain Silver Flame

No, your post of 7/2 suggests that, aside from the question, if you've killed elk while guided, somehow you are not eligible to comment on the OP's question; conversely, if somehow you've killed an elk while on your own, you qualify to comment.

I do get what I infer is your meaning though.

Laffin!....Good one John!!

I've killed 9 elk...1 bull, 1 calf and 7 cows.

30-06 165g core-lokt - 7 (believe it or not)
7STW 140g TBBC - 1
30-378 180g TTSX - 1

I have killed 11 Elk, I have used,--

7mm Rem Mag.
300 Wby. Mag.
338 Rum.
300 Win. Mag.
30-06

Bonus: two Moose
7mm Rem Mag
338-06

1 Red Deer
30-06

My elk were all taken with an '06 or a 308. Bullet was the 180-gr. NPT except for one elk which was taken with the 165-gr. Hornady Interbond. I know ... boring. But I figure ya gotta stick with what works.

From someone that's never even seen an elk, much less hunted/killed one, I find it somewhat funny but not surprising that your "big cartridges" on that list top at 7mm RM and 30-06. If/when I go after elk, it'll be with a 308 and/or 30-06 just because....well that's what I can shoot well.

I would like to just hang out with scenar and learn a few things. Quite a few more on here that I would like to do that with too. As far as the guided/unguided thing, well I don't use one but thats only because I can't afford one! I would like too just so I could learn a little from one thats good and willing to teach. I've been lucky that each time I go I find elk, alot of missed oppurtunities also.

Things I've used on elk:
300Win 180 failsafe: one 7X8
300RUM 180 partition: one 6X6
300RUM 200AB: eight 6X6s
25-06 100XBT: one 6X6
7-08 140TSX: one 6X6
arrows: five 6X6s, one 6X7 and one 7X7

I've no idea what my favorite is, maybe an arrow.

I do believe that Ranger1 has a point as I have made similar statements here regarding the experience, of those whom give advice. Many times the advice is direct and to the point stating that this or that will kill them DRT, or never fails. Many here have been hunting big game in a variety of states and circumstances for many years, I am of the opinion that perhaps our advice might be somewhat more appropriate or accurate on a particular topic than one who has done it a couple of times or never. On the forum unless you are a frequent contributor its impossible to determine the depth of the experience of a poster. Hence I believe that his comment is valid. I do not comment on the Africa post because I have not hunted there. But I read and enjoy the comments there. So put me on the side of Ranger1 on his comment.

Wyoming State law
In addition,the Commission authorizes any other cartridge fired from a firearm that has a barrel bore diameter of at least thirty-five hundredths (35/100) of an inch and the cartridge generally delivers at least five hundred (500) pounds of impact at one hundred (100) yards and cartridges used are loaded with a lead, soft or expanding bullet point.


Oh! OK so you shot it illegally.