.308 for Elk

[Mudshack]

I have hunted whitetails with my .308 Browning BLR since 1986. Now that I live in the mountains of Colorado and I am transitioning to Elk hunting I was planning on moving to a bolt 7prc or 7rem mag but budget will not allow me to do it this year.

So....how many of you hunt elk with a .308?

My plan for this year was to continue to use my .308 but keep shot distance to 300yds. I have downed whitetails at 300 yards with my BLR but with these bigger bodied elk, would you feel comfortable shooting them at 300yds and in?

 

[mountainman406]

.308 with a heavier bullet will be just fine. I've used a 30-06 with 180gr Barnes TTSX handloads on many deer/elk with great results.

 

[180ls1]

100%

 

[Mudshack]

.308 with a heavier bullet will be just fine. I've used a 30-06 with 180gr Barnes TTSX handloads on many deer/elk with great results.

Good point. I have been shooting 165gr Sierra Gamekings for years because my gun loves them and shoots postage stamps at 100yds (MOA).

 

[CoMulies]

Randy Newberg has a weeks worth of footage on YouTube of him dropping bulls with a .308.

 

[nobody]

There isn’t a critter on god’s green earth that’ll walk away from a 168 Amax in front of the diaphragm, as long as it hits above about 1800 FPS.

Don’t overthink it, elk die just like whitetails: holes in vital organs. They’re not bullet proof, they don’t have 6” in impenetrable muscle on top of a titanium skeleton, they’re 50-70% water just like any other mammal. And if you put holes in vital organs they die like everything else.

Welcome to rokslide new guy, I recommend reading through the following thread (yes, every page). Lots of us are hunting larger critters than elk with smaller cartridges than a 308.

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jun 3, 2019

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

---

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...

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• Replies: 10,522
• Forum: Firearms

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[mountainman406]

Good point. I have been shooting 165gr Sierra Gamekings for years because my gun loves them and shoots postage stamps at 100yds (MOA).

Sounds like you have it figured out, I wouldn't hesitate to use that setup on Elk. Yes, they are tough critters but they fall just like the rest with good shot placement.

 

[Geewhiz]

Yes

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Elk in my freezer was taken with a 308 180gr NP.

 

[flathead#2]

.308 would make a fine elk rifle IMO.

 

[doc holiday13]

She'll eat..

If I were you, I'd find out what your ballistics chart looks like for your given ammo. But depending on bullet and velocity you should be safe out to ~500 yards

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Just as important as the caliber is the rifle. You are used to the Browning and you shoot it fine, Shot placement is as important (if not more!) as caliber. I have shot lots of deer, elk and a couple of moose with my 30-06 with my handloads with a 180gr Nosler Partition bullet. I shoot the same bullet with my .300 Wby. Where are you in Colorado? I am near the 4 corners area in the SW.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I have the same rifle. I've taken several elk with 165gr NP. Keep your shots under 300-350 yards and you'll be fine.

 

[Mudshack]

Just as important as the caliber is the rifle. You are used to the Browning and you shoot it fine, Shot placement is as important (if not more!) as caliber. I have shot lots of deer, elk and a couple of moose with my 30-06 with my handloads with a 180gr Nosler Partition bullet. I shoot the same bullet with my .300 Wby. Where are you in Colorado? I am near the 4 corners area in the SW.

I am between the Springs and South Denver.

 

[Mudshack]

I have the same rifle. I've taken several elk with 165gr NP. Keep your shots under 300-350 yards and you'll be fine.

BUENO. What scope are you using? I had a 1986 Bushnell 2.5-8x40 for years. Upgrded to a Vortex Crossfire 3-9x40 with the multi-plex 2 years ago. Not real happy with the HUGE dots!. Would love to have something in the 3-16x with moa lines instead of dots.

 

[waspocrew]

308 has been killing elk for a long time. You’ll be just fine!

 

[Matt5266]

100% it will. Dont feel under gunned with a 308.

 

[dirtshooter]

I killed one with a 6.5 creedmoor so a 308 will be fine lol

 

[PlumberED]

I took my 308 using Federal ammo loaded with 168 Scirocco II to Africa for plains game and did just fine. You will be ok with your present setup. Welcome to Rokslide.

 

[jkoehle1]

308 works fine - it worked fine for a lot of people 30+ years ago with worse bullets.