Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 25 06, or even 257 roberts on elk?

Suppose you have the perfect shot, and make the perfect shot, but in the 1/4 second it takes your bullet to arrive, the elk takes a slight step? You hit 4 inches further back, and nick a leg bone on the way in, richocheting your bullet, with 30% of its weight gone, backwards and missing the lungs. Your elk runs off with no blood trail to become bear fat.

A .338, .45-70, or .300 magnum would have just broken the leg on the way in and dropped the elk in its tracks.

If that was the only caliber I owned, it would be perfect. If it was the largest caliber I owned, it would do an outstanding job (given proper bullet and placement..... always). If I had a larger caliber (with a heavier bullet exhibiting more energy up to 300 yards even though it also has a bit less velocity) that I felt comfortable shooting, I would take that instead.

Sometimes bigger is better (all other factors being maximized).

Good luck on your choice. I have a Sako 25-06 and love it. Everything up to large deer expire, big time. My larger calibers are dedicated to elk/moose and potentially, uninvited "nasty" critters.

Yes, but if you get a shot at a bull elk on a self-guided hunt on public land you'd better take it. Most of the time a shot opportunity lasts only a couple of seconds and getting closer isn't possible. Also if you take a quartering away shot at an elk the bullet will have to penetrate at least two feet through a wet bale of hay to reach the heart/lungs.

I usually hunt with a muzzleloader but when I hunt with a rifle I take a .338WM and shoot 225gr SAFs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In Pennsylvania the minimum require caliber for Elk huning is a "caliber of at least .277" with minimum bullet weight of 130gr"

25-06 will work fine.

It's always funny how a simple question can be argued for weeks on end, pages and pages of BS, about something that is of such minor importance when it comes to hunting and killing an elk.

I think I started a thread like this just for [bleep] and giggles a few years ago.

AMEN Greenie!! 721

Greenhorn �

The original poster has never hunted elk and goes by �lubbockdave�. My guess is that for him hunting elk means a lengthy trip and considerable expenses, including out-of-state licenses and possibly even a guide. A .25-06 is definitely NOT what I would recommend in such circumstances � not when so may more appropriate cartridges are available.

Is the choice of cartridge really �of such minor importance when it comes to hunting and killing an elk�? Granted, there are many more important issues in the world at large or even in the limited context of hunting and killing elk � like finding one. But once one is found, it�s nice to have a rifle in hand that will put it on the ground with authority under a wide variety of circumstances.

Many people hunt elk with a .243 Win, but is it really the best cartridge for the task? I think you would agree that it is not and that, for the same reasons, neither is a .25.

Might as well chime in here. A .25-06 is plenty enough as long as you know how to shoot it. I'd stick with a premium bullet i.e. Barnes TSX, Partition, TBBC.

I'm way more concerned with bullet placement.

I also know some Montana boys who hunt elk with .243, .25-06 etc. The argument that someone from out of state that has spent lot's of money, etc should shoot a bigger gun is pretty specious. Most of the locals I hunt with won't take any chances that they'll get another opportunity(excepting trophy hunter types). The vast majority are like me and are looking to fill the freezer with a nice cow or raghorn. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a big bull but usually only see them in districts where it can be very tough to draw.

Anyhow, if a .25-06 is enough gun for these guys I can't see why some one from out of state can't do the same. Just be sure you can hit a dinner plate sized target 9 out of ten times at a given range whether you are on a rest or shooting off hand. If you can't do that then you don't have any business shooting at elk either at that range. Practice, practice, practice.

I wonder if a guide would rather you have a 25-06 with a TSX in it that you shoot very well, with no flenching, or yiou be in camp with a 300 win mag that scares the bejesus out of you?

one of the guys I hunt ELK with occasionally (GEORGE) has and uses a 257 roberts on ELK loaded with SPEER BULLETS 25CAL 115 GR TROPHY BONDED BEAR CLAW BULLETs most of the time, in his BLR.(I know I load his ammo) it KILLS ELK just fine, but it seldom puts them down at the bullet impact point/location.
theres a big differance between having the ability to deliver a MORTAL WOUND that will soon drop the animal and having the ability to both deliver that MORTAL WOUND and almost instantly shut down the games ability to travel.
that differance is due in most cases to the EXTENT and DEPTH of the DAMAGE that results.
yes shot placement is critical, but having the ability to reach the vitals from almost any angle and at reasonable ranges, under almost all conditions and inflicting damage to a larger area tends to give you a significant advantage, that advantage is the result, of physics,physical factors that favor larger/heavier bullets and more energy on the target than a 257 calibers 115-120 grain bullets deliver.
can you kill ELK with a 257 roberts SURE,IVE SEEN it done several times, once ive even seen an ELK drop within a few feet of the bullets impact, but the differance in the internal damage when dressing out those ELK would make me suggest a larger calibers a better chooice in most hunters hands.
like some others have mentioned, a .277 cal/150 grain bullet is a more senceable MINIMUM, and a 30 cal/165 or larger is even better if you can learn to handle the recoil levels.
what this discussion is really about is the DIRECTION ELK run and REACTION of ELK after being hit, I seriously doubt we would be having this discussion if WOUNDED ELK that could still remain mobile tended to STOMP& GORE hunters untill they resembled bloody hamburger, but because they tend to run AWAY and die with no potential danger to the shooter it appears, its just not as important to some hunters that they get a CLEAN/FAST KILL

Still this is funny. Guys like to argue about what just ain't enough gun and how to have a rifle that just drops them in their tracks. Time is better spent breaking in your boots.

And yes, I once killed a bull elk with a 25-06. They go down hard and die fast if you hit them right. They can run off with a poorly placed shot from a magnum also. Try bowhunting, then you'll appreciate the effectiveness of a centerfire like the 25-06.

Elk can run off with a poorly placed shot from a magnum.

After bowhunting a bit, most hunters would appreciate the effectiveness of a centerfire rifle like the 25-06.

Time is better spent breaking in your boots instead of worrying if you have a big enough rifle.

"Elk can run off with a poorly placed shot from a magnum"

VERY TRUE! but they will run just as far or further "with a poorly placed shot" from any LOWER POWER CARTRIDGEs so whats the point!
accuracy in shot placement and a good understanding of the games anatomy are mandatory, to get good results.. I see a much higher percentage of well hit ELK run a short distance when hit with the smaller calibers than I see of those hit with the heavier calibers, and let me point out its NOT just MAGNUMS that hold the advantage here, a quality 225-250 grain bullet from a 338/06 or 35 whelen OR EVEN A 358 WIN thats basically a necked up 308 win, does a remarkably effective job on ELK, as will a 350-420grain 45/70 bullets when placed correctly

Why is it that people who advocate smaller cartridges always make the assumption that people are so scared of bigger calibers that they can�t shoot them well? Or even well enough?

I suspect most guides would prefer a customer show up at elk camp with a rifle they shoot well, and would be happier if that rifle is a .270 or 7mm or .308 or .30-06 or .338-06 or .358 or 35 Whelen or a number of other cartridges than a .25.

My point has never been that a .25 won�t work, just that there are better choices.

Ah crips Hunter, I'm just stirring the pot to see what surfaces.........LOL

The 25's are very decent Elk rounds....300 yards and in.

But, here in the West I prefer a gun that has the ability to reach out a bit farther. I don't want those shots, but I will not turn down a 450 yard shot (a clean, safe shot), on a 7x7 if there is absolutely no way to get closer. I practice shots out to 500 yards, so I feel comfortable hitting vitals on an Elk.

340 Mag, what's up with the ALL CAPS and the bold? You asked (I think you asked .. even though you didn't have a question mark) what's my point..

Like I said. It's not that big of a deal what cartridge somebody hunts with. There's lots more important things to consider than if you gun "is enough gun". But subjects like this are typical on these internet forums and can run pages and pages long with hundreds of opinionated rantings and arguments.

An arrow is less effective than even a 55grain hollow point out of a 223, yet few seem to spend much time arguing that arrows are a poor choice to use when hunting elk. Bow hunters would much rather argue what weight of arrow or type of broadhead is the best..

In any event THIS is my POINT. This discussion is FUNNY, because it's so typical.

I've noticed that most hunting experts who have the strongest opinions on stuff like this, have the FEWEST sets of BIG ELK RACKS on the wall. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />