Best Elk Projectile & Caliber

[treillw]

Forget all the different state regulations and everything. What is the best caliber and bullet brand for elk to shoot at longer ranges? Say 300 yards.
Thanks!

 

[Geewhiz]

Oh boy. You've been around long enough to know that you will get no less than 100 differing opinions.

I'm currently shooting 300 grain berger elite hunters out of a 338 RUM. Also Killed a good number with 140 sierra game kings out of a 270 win and 165 accubonds from a 300 win mag.


"whatever you shoot the best" is what you're going to hear.

 

[Geewhiz]

Forget all the different state regulations and everything. What is the best caliber and bullet brand for elk to shoot at longer ranges? Say 300 yards.
Thanks!

I didn't know elk could shoot guns at longer ranges.

 

[treillw]

I didn't know elk could shoot guns at longer ranges.

You're right. They are much better at shooting close up.

 

[treillw]

Oh boy. You've been around long enough to know that you will get no less than 100 differing opinions.

I'm currently shooting 300 grain berger elite hunters out of a 338 RUM. Also Killed a good number with 140 sierra game kings out of a 270 win and 165 accubonds from a 300 win mag.


"whatever you shoot the best" is what you're going to hear.

I meant muzzleloader. Surely there are less options there.

 

[ElDiablito]

.45 or .50 cal rifle shooting a 300-350 gr bullet. 300 yards is a fairly long way for most off the shelf muzzys on elk. Big lead conicals work fine up close but would be dropping too fast to be useable (ranging errors become huge) at 300 yards so they are out, IMO.

I’d consider a Parker 327 Black Max or Arrowhead 325 or 350 XLD. Or perhaps a Barnes 300 or TC Bonded 300 gr for that range. If 300+, I’d lean towards the Parker and Arrowheads. I killed a big bull last year at just under 300 with a Parker. Worked great.

Is smokeless an option?