Elk Caliber with Particular Rifle Considerations

[Q_Sertorius]

If you really believe any .22 caliber cartridge is an elk cartridge, I pray you never draw an elk tag. To suggest any .22 as an elk cartridge is beyond responsible, it’s stupid and reckless.

What is the minimum weight and caliber projectile that you think is not stupid and reckless? How fast does it have to be going at impact to responsibly work?

 

[ORJoe]

If you really believe any .22 caliber cartridge is an elk cartridge, I pray you never draw an elk tag. To suggest any .22 as an elk cartridge is beyond responsible, it’s stupid and reckless.

Not just any .22 caliber cartridge is an elk cartridge but there are .22 caliber elk cartridges.
If a .22 caliber rifle can fire a heavy bullet fast enough that it impacts at 1800 fps or more, then it is an elk cartridge out to that range. Obviously .22LR can't do that at any barrel length or range.
Of course, that means thinking about things like bullet selection, barrel length and overall ballistics, which is why it's so offensive to people who's research consists of "is there a picture of an elk on the box"

 

[BuckSmasher]

Not just any .22 caliber cartridge is an elk cartridge but there are .22 caliber elk cartridges.
If a .22 caliber rifle can fire a heavy bullet fast enough that it impacts at 1800 fps or more, then it is an elk cartridge out to that range. Obviously .22LR can't do that at any barrel length or range.
Of course, that means thinking about things like bullet selection, barrel length and overall ballistics, which is why it's so offensive to people who's research consists of "is there a picture of an elk on the box"

There are no ethical .22 s for elk.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

There are no ethical .22 s for elk.

So, what is the smallest ethical caliber for elk?

 

[BuckSmasher]

So, what is the smallest ethical caliber for elk?

Bigger than .22 for sure.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Bigger than .22 for sure.

So, .243 caliber is fine?

 

[Grassymike]

I would go with the Tikka T3x, mine is a 7mm-08. Out of your list the .308 makes the most sense ,very capable,ammo everywhere .

 

[DLSJR]

Not just any .22 caliber cartridge is an elk cartridge but there are .22 caliber elk cartridges.
If a .22 caliber rifle can fire a heavy bullet fast enough that it impacts at 1800 fps or more, then it is an elk cartridge out to that range. Obviously .22LR can't do that at any barrel length or range.
Of course, that means thinking about things like bullet selection, barrel length and overall ballistics, which is why it's so offensive to people who's research consists of "is there a picture of an elk on the box"

NO, there are NO .22 caliber elk cartridges. Period.

Just because something can be done under certain circumstances does not mean it should be done. And using ANY .22 caliber cartridge is one of those situations.

It’s apparent you’re not an elk hunter because anyone who has done a fair amount of elk hunting understands that it’s not ethical to try to see how small of a cartridge you can kill one with. What IS ethical is using enough cartridge with a quality bullet to ensure a quick kill with a properly placed shot.

Arguing that a .22 is an elk cartridge lands in one of 3 arenas. #1, you’re just trolling; #2, you’re ignorant about elk hunting or #3, you’re unethical. I’m not sure which one you are, but I know you are one of those 3 categories.

 

[DLSJR]

What is the minimum weight and caliber projectile that you think is not stupid and reckless? How fast does it have to be going at impact to responsibly work?

While I personally have no interest in using one, I’m aware that elk are routinely killed with quality 100 grain bullets from 6mm/.243 rifles. There are certainly .25 caliber cartridges that are sufficient, but I’ll suggest they’re still not optimal. My personal opinion is that a .24 caliber 100 grain bullet is as small as one can ethically use for elk.

The smallest cartridge I’ve ever used on elk is my .264 Win Mag. It works fine and has been a popular rifle with kids because it doesn’t kick and efficiently kills elk. We’ve killed 4 or 5 elk with that rifle. For me personally, elk cartridges start with the .270 Winchester. I’ve killed elk with 130 grain CoreLokt’s, but think that a quality 150 grain bullet is a better option. Ideally, I regard elk cartridges as 7mm and above. Ideal non-magnum options are plenty and an excellent choice for most hunters. I do most of my own elk hunting with a .338 Win Mag, which many regard as one of the very best elk cartridges of all time. That’s not why I use it though,. I use it because that’s the rifle I carry more than all my other rifles added together. I’ve been hunting with it since 1985, am on my 2nd barrel and have shot game as small as 15 pound klipspringer all the way up to 1,900 lb Livingstone Eland with my .338. For me, it’s the best choice.

And no, there isn’t ANY .22 caliber cartridge that’s an ethical elk cartridge.

 

[43.6N]

@DLSJR
I disagree, but like whatever it’s a free country.

The part that I think a lot of us are going to get hung up on is when you bring “ethics” in as the reason no one should use a 224 caliber billet to kill 500lb animals.

Can you make it perfectly clear what you mean by your ethical statement please?

I think people who don’t practice with their equipment are unethical. I also think people who go in with equipment they can’t handle are a huge liability and should be required to pass a competency exam before being allowed to hunt with said equipment. But the state of Idaho disagrees with my feelings and allows these people to hunt the same as me. So our definitions of “ethical” may be different.

Here’s my definition: if you are competent and trained, and make every effort to hunt within your abilities, then you are being ethical.
Why do we have to make it more complicated than that?

 

[Aussie Dan]

NO, there are NO .22 caliber elk cartridges. Period.

Just because something can be done under certain circumstances does not mean it should be done. And using ANY .22 caliber cartridge is one of those situations.

It’s apparent you’re not an elk hunter because anyone who has done a fair amount of elk hunting understands that it’s not ethical to try to see how small of a cartridge you can kill one with. What IS ethical is using enough cartridge with a quality bullet to ensure a quick kill with a properly placed shot.

Arguing that a .22 is an elk cartridge lands in one of 3 arenas. #1, you’re just trolling; #2, you’re ignorant about elk hunting or #3, you’re unethical. I’m not sure which one you are, but I know you are one of those 3 categories.

Where do you stand on bow hunting for elk?

 

[DLSJR]

Where do you stand on bow hunting for elk?

I love bow hunting for elk. Unfortunately I haven’t been on an elk bow hunt in quite a few years due to tearing the rotator cuff in my left shoulder; ironically while I was coming to full draw on a big 6x7 bull. No, I didn’t get that bull.

That said, I prefer fixed blade heads and a perfectly tuned bow as excellent arrow flight is so important for deep, complete penetration. When I bowhunted, my last setup was a Mathews Switchback set at 67 pounds. I shot 30” Easton ACC arrows in 3/60 size. Tipped with a 100 grain Thunderhead. I got passthroughs on elk and the only moose I ever shot with my bow.

 

[DLSJR]

@DLSJR
I disagree, but like whatever it’s a free country.

The part that I think a lot of us are going to get hung up on is when you bring “ethics” in as the reason no one should use a 224 caliber billet to kill 500lb animals.

Can you make it perfectly clear what you mean by your ethical statement please?

I think people who don’t practice with their equipment are unethical. I also think people who go in with equipment they can’t handle are a huge liability and should be required to pass a competency exam before being allowed to hunt with said equipment. But the state of Idaho disagrees with my feelings and allows these people to hunt the same as me. So our definitions of “ethical” may be different.

Here’s my definition: if you are competent and trained, and make every effort to hunt within your abilities, then you are being ethical.
Why do we have to make it more complicated than that?

You make valid and worthwhile points. One thing I’ll correct you on is that most fully mature bull elk of 7-10 years old weight a lot more than 500 pounds. Big bulls are commonly 900+ pounds. The biggest bull I ever killed was a 12 or 13 year old New Mexico giant that went well over 1,000 pounds. Those kind of bulls demand bigger calibers and bullets.

 

[Aussie Dan]

I love bow hunting for elk. Unfortunately I haven’t been on an elk bow hunt in quite a few years due to tearing the rotator cuff in my left shoulder; ironically while I was coming to full draw on a big 6x7 bull. No, I didn’t get that bull.

That said, I prefer fixed blade heads and a perfectly tuned bow as excellent arrow flight is so important for deep, complete penetration. When I bowhunted, my last setup was a Mathews Switchback set at 67 pounds. I shot 30” Easton ACC arrows in 3/60 size. Tipped with a 100 grain Thunderhead. I got passthroughs on elk and the only moose I ever shot with my bow.

So an arrow at 300fps or less is ethical for elk (or any animal for that matter) yet an 88gn eld m at 3000fps +/- is a no go.
I'm genuinely fascinated by that thought process.

 

[43.6N]

I’ll just point out that big bulls fall during every season and to every weapon.

The 80lb girl shooting reduced recoil 243.
The old guy shooting a 700gr hickory arrow.
The young guy shooting cap and ball black powder.

All are ethically hunting with less lethal potential energy than somebody shooting a 77gr tmk at 2700fps. And that’s ok. All have filled their tags, and I’ve helped pack out each one of those elk.

Nobody is advocating for wonton waste. Nobody is advocating for negligent shots. Nobody is even saying that 224 cal bullets are the right choice for every game animal.

What we are advocating for is this: Practice. Shoot as much as you can. Be realistic with your abilities. And shoot a gun you are comfortable with. Because your anbilities are the true limiting factor for good shots. Nobody cares what legal weapon you use, as long as you trust it will perform. The numbers printed on the box or the barrel matter so little compared to the skills and habits that are built over months and years of repetition.

The biggest bull I ever killed was a 12 or 13 year old New Mexico giant that went well over 1,000 pounds. Those kind of bulls demand bigger calibers and bullets.

congrats on a stud bull BTW.