Bigger cartridge choice?

[77TMK]

All of the calibers listed will take an elk inside 300 yards with a TMK or ELDM placed in the chest or low neck. Folks are still using massive cartridges often with bad bullet designs that waste all the extra recoil to make a lame narrow wound channel with pass through.

I would look at what bullets you already have in loads and how each rifle is setup.

 

[TaperPin]

It sounds ridiculous, but larger holes in the muzzle makes a rifle somehow more fun just to pick up, let alone shoot or hunt with. Pick up a 30-06 and 35 Whelen and the Whelen provides more smiles.

A 338 is fun to hunt with, and with rangefinders, reaches out quite a ways. Sneaking through the timber with an elk tag in the pocket, a 338 just feels as close to perfect as a rifle can be.

Even a 338 Federal, 338-06, 358 win, or other larger bore would be fun for anyone to own.

 

[SloppyJ]

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

Try a 160 partition. Problem solved.

 

[roadrunner]

All of the calibers listed will take an elk inside 300 yards with a TMK or ELDM placed in the chest or low neck. Folks are still using massive cartridges often with bad bullet designs that waste all the extra recoil to make a lame narrow wound channel with pass through.

I would look at what bullets you already have in loads and how each rifle is setup.

What happens if the shot is 341 yds? Do you have to pass it up?

 

[77TMK]

What happens if the shot is 341 yds? Do you have to pass it up?

You just curl up in the fetal position and cry until help arrives.

Or just dial a little more with a proper dope chart and rock on.

 

[Koda_]

I can’t see myself taking shots at game beyond 500 yards as I do not have the range to practice beyond that where I live.

Your 280ai easily exceeds 500yds as an elk rifle. Your max range needs to stay above the bullets terminal velocity (at impact) with any bullet you pick, they all have a minimum impact velocity to work. I shoot a 140gn Absolute Hammer in my 280ai and at 500yds is still has 2284fps and 1621ft lbs of energy on impact. The terminal velocity of the Hammers is 1800fps and at 600yds my handload still exceeds that.
The 280ai takes advantage of modern cartridge design efficiency, if you bought a new rifle and cartridge you wont be gaining anything over your 280ai except recoil. With your 280ai you have a rifle and cartridge that exceeds your current ability and hunting range... find a handload that is a tack driver with that rifle and it will be all you need. Spend your new rifle money on handloading a sweet load for it and practice with it out to 500 and you will be way ahead of the game, be a master of one rifle instead of mediocre with several. Trust me your sitting on gold with that 280ai.

 

[Koda_]

What happens if the shot is 341 yds? Do you have to pass it up?

You have to stay above your bullets terminal velocity at impact. If not, yes its best to pass it up or stalk closer.

 

[Bubbadoyle]

Fixed it

Not a big deal, it can just be confusing as to what you’re actually asking. As far as answering your original question I’ll say you don’t need anything bigger than what you have. My father has taken many elk with a .25-06 and many grandfather probably took close to a hundred elk with the good old 257 Roberts. If you pick a properly constructed bullet for the cartridge your shooting then many of the choices you already have will work. There’s zero need for you to invest in something bigger or better but I personally don’t buy firearms strictly for needs, often times it’s more about wants than needs for me.


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[LongWayAround]

@Sean1

If you can practice to 500, your max range on game should be well inside of that distance. Any of the rifles you currently own would be plenty effective to that distance.

Check out the .223, 6mm, and 6.5mm kill threads. You are the limit, not your rifles.

 

[roadrunner]

You just curl up in the fetal position and cry until help arrives.

Or just dial a little more with a proper dope chart and rock on.
View attachment 812208

You put a distance limit on it at 300. Why? Doping your scope won't magically make a TMK work any better...

 

[77TMK]

You put a distance limit on it at 300. Why? Doping your scope won't magically make a TMK work any better...

Because I made it up and assumed the OP doesn’t know how many mils to dial for a 363 yard shot.

 

[roadrunner]

Because I made it up and assumed the OP doesn’t know how many mils to dial for a 363 yard shot.

Maybe...

 

[IChaseCoues]

I've killed quite a few elk with a 7WSM and 160 Accubond from 34 to 537 yards.
The bullet speed from that thing should be nearly identical to your 280.
It works well enough I'm not planning on using anything else and bullet performance is exactly what I want to see at all distances. Large wound channel with the bullet mushroomed against the hide through the back shoulder.

My $0.02 says shoot the 280!

 

[3325]

With the '06 and .280 AI, I believe you have all you need.

I have a .270 Winchester and a .30-06. I've been reasonably successful with them on elk over the years and I would not hesitate to use either on moose if I got the chance. Whenever things turned out substandard it was me, not the caliber or load.

If I were to go up, it would be for dangerous game and then I'm going way up - .375 or better. No 7 mags, 8 ultras, 300 whatevers, three thirty somethings, 35s, etc.

 

[wind gypsy]

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

You are wrong. I’d happily use a 160 ballistic tip on an elk but have only used more fragile bullets in real life.

 

[StupidLightweight]

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

You currently have 5 elk cartridges, 4 of which are legal everywhere. Buying a new rifle chambered in a larger round will make it more difficult to kill elk due to added recoil, ammo costs, etc. Here's how to kill an elk.

First, pick the rifle you shoot the best. Make sure it's legal for elk in the state you're hunting. Choose the right bullet. Spend your money on ammo instead of another rifle.

 

[Dbevans]

You’re fine. I killed an 8.5ft coastal alaskan grizzly at 525 yards with a 6.5cm

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[EastHumboldt]

If you think accubonds are too fragile, try out some partitions. Pretty tough bullet. Midway has em in stock.

 

[ozyclint]

35 Whelan

 

[SwiftShot]

That 280 will do it all. You might be better off taking that gun money and 1 trick out your 280 . Upgrade the stock to something like the MDT Hunter 26 folder if your packing in for your elk hunt. If not , new scooe ect and more ammo. Truthfully your better off spending 500 on ammo and shooting a lot.

That being said, who doesnt want a new rifle. I have way to many and bow hunt everything. If you want bigger that 300 PRC looks interesting. You can go to Brownells and pick up a barreled action and drop it in a nice stock pretty reasonably.