Bigger cartridge choice?

[Sean1]

Curious on your opinions. I am contemplating a bigger caliber rifle for elk hunting and other species larger than deer. However not sure it is truly worth it.

I currently have the following
.223 Remington
.243 Winchester
25-06
280 AI
30-06

I usually use my 280 or 30-06 for deer hunting. I took my 280 elk hunting this year with no opportunity to use it.

Would it be worth getting a 300 mag or if I wanted to go bigger would a 338 win be better? Or just continue to use my current ones?

I do have an 8mm Mauser that will hopefully turn into something else in the future

Thank you

 

[keystone112]

If you’re happy with your 280 and 30-06, those will work just fine.

I also have a 338 that I like. I choose my 30-06 for elk this year.

 

[Tmac]

They will all kill elk, where legal. If you are a larger bullet guy, feed your 280ai 175+ or the ‘06 178+ eld/berger style stuff, or 200 accubonds, or …

 

[voltage]

You need a 300PRC

 

[Idahobugler]

Short answer no. A metric ****load of elk have been killed with 280 and 30-06. But for sakes of fun something in 300 wouldn’t be a bad option to own.

 

[7mm-08]

Do you shoot your .280 AI and/or your .30-06 well? Either of those calibers are more than effective on elk. A bunch of highly experienced Alaska guides shoot .30-06's on dangerous bears. Recoil management in those situations comes into play.

 

[Mish-pop]

It's more about the load for the caliber than anything. All will make clean kills for normal hunting ranges. But for states that have minimum requirements for caliber size the last two on your list will perform without a problem.

 

[Sean1]

I will say I am underwhelmed with my 160 accubonds from my 280 on deer. I went to them because I wanted something more substantial than ballistic tips. So far they seem to perform very similar to ballistic tips.

I’m a little concerned they will be too fragile for elk. Maybe I am wrong

 

[Ucsdryder]

I will say I am underwhelmed with my 160 accubonds from my 280 on deer. I went to them because I wanted something more substantial than ballistic tips. So far they seem to perform very similar to ballistic tips.

I’m a little concerned they will be too fragile for elk. Maybe I am wrong

Put some 162eldm in that 280 and fire away!

I’ll never tell someone they shouldn’t buy another rifle though! If you want to buy one, then hell yeah! The 300prc would be a great choice. I’d shoot 225 eldms out of it.

 

[IDVortex]

Even the calibers you're looking at getting do not have enough wallop to drop an elk. You should be looking at a 338.WM minimum to kill a elk ethically.

If I were in your shoes, id load up some eld-m/x and take the 280ai.

 

[IDVortex]

You need a 300PRC

If i wasn't a bitch to bigger calibers, I actually want to mess with a 300prc. I think you could some very sexy and deadly numbers.

 

[roadrunner]

Event he calibers you're looking at getting do not have enough wallop to drop a elk. You should be looking at a 338.WM minimum to kill a elk ethically.

If I was in your shoes, id load up some eld-m/x and take the 280ai.

*an elk
*were in your shoes

Event he calibers?

 

[roadrunner]

If i wasn't a bitch to bigger calibers, I actually want to mess with a 300prc. I think you could some very sexy and deadly numbers.

Were you a couple of shots in before you started typing?

 

[IDVortex]

Were you a couple of shots in before you started typing?

Holy shit. I haven't even had a drink..

 

[IDVortex]

Were you a couple of shots in before you started typing?

I'm blaming fngtony of editing my stuff.

 

[sndmn11]

You need a 300PRC

That's the same caliber as 30-06!

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I have a soft spot for 300WM

 

[Koda_]

Would it be worth getting a 300 mag or if I wanted to go bigger would a 338 win be better? Or just continue to use my current ones?

No. Nobody needs anything bigger than what you have. Get a bigger caliber only if you "want" to but you do not need to, and you wont be gaining anything but recoil if you do.

 

[waspocrew]

No need for another rifle unless you want to burn the cash. I’d go with whichever one you are most comfortable with.

 

[ShakoMako]

300WSM is sexy but maybe too incremental if you have a 30-06 already.

Conventional wisdom here trends to lighter calibers (e.g. 6.5, 6 creed, .223, .243) loaded with heavy for caliber bullets determined by impact velocity. Shootability matters, recoil affects everyone, bullets matter, headstands don’t. I am increasingly on board with this train of thought and see 6.5 creedmoor and .308 win as about as much as I need for as much practice I can afford.