Elk hunt rifle options

[Gruby]

This’ll be my first year drawing for elk, have mainly hunted whitetail until now. I currently have a .308 and a 26 Nosler to use. Which would be the better option? I familiar with the 30 cal argument for larger game, but in this case the Nosler carries quite a bit more energy. In 308 I’ve mainly used 168 grain TTSX, while in the Nosler I’ve used the 142 grain Accubonds. Which would be the better choice of the two for elk?

 

[Forest]

What's your effective range with either?? Im a huge 30cal fan for elk, but out of those 2 I'd choose the 26nosler esp with that accubond. However both with work just fine, esp I you keep the ranges reasonable

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[Gruby]

What's your effective range with either?? Im a huge 30cal fan for elk, but out of those 2 I'd choose the 26nosler esp with that accubond. However both with work just fine, esp I you keep the ranges reasonable

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I wouldn’t go much past 300, 400 would be the absolute max for me.

 

[FOS373]

Either is fine. Shoot whichever you are more comfortable or happy with.

 

[JPeters218]

As said above, either one will be perfectly fine. Take the one you’d rather carry around

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

This’ll be my first year drawing for elk, have mainly hunted whitetail until now. I currently have a .308 and a 26 Nosler to use. Which would be the better option? I familiar with the 30 cal argument for larger game, but in this case the Nosler carries quite a bit more energy. In 308 I’ve mainly used 168 grain TTSX, while in the Nosler I’ve used the 142 grain Accubonds. Which would be the better choice of the two for elk?

If you use the 26 nosler (which is a great choice) avoid the 142 ABLRs.
My wife killed a nice bull with those bullets last year but it was a mess.. Three shots in the vitals that basically splattered on impact led to some follow up tracking.
I'd use partitions or a monolithic bullet at super high 26 nos velocities

 

[Gruby]

If you use the 26 nosler (which is a great choice) avoid the 142 ABLRs.
My wife killed a nice bull with those bullets last year but it was a mess.. Three shots in the vitals that basically splattered on impact led to some follow up tracking.
I'd use partitions or a monolithic bullet at super high 26 nos velocities

What would you replace the 142 ABLRs with?

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

What would you replace the 142 ABLRs with?

Depending on the range you plan on shooting to I'd recommend the 140 partition or 127 LRX.
If you're getting out beyond 400 yards give the 156 Berger a try

 

[Forest]

Depending on the range you plan on shooting to I'd recommend the 140 partition or 127 LRX.
If you're getting out beyond 400 yards give the 156 Berger a try

I didn't realize they were the ablr. I agree with the above statement and would add regular accubond or etip

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[Wassid82]

Although I have killed elk with 280 rem & 270....I also have lost 2 animals that I felt should have been harvested with my "kill shot".....Elk are just darn tough. I would heavily consider moving onto a different cartridge for them. Nothing wrong with your rifle selection but I would not use less than 165 gr bullet anymore. I get the physics of projectiles and E=MC2 but as noted above you'll want a bullet that can penetrate and hold together long enough to have the desired impact. I have found more success in harvesting elk with a 7mag or larger cartridge

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

Although I have killed elk with 280 rem & 270....I also have lost 2 animals that I felt should have been harvested with my "kill shot".....Elk are just darn tough. I would heavily consider moving onto a different cartridge for them. Nothing wrong with your rifle selection but I would not use less than 165 gr bullest anymore. I get the physics of projectiles and E=MC2 but as noted above you'll want a bullet that can penetrate and hold together long enough to have the desired impact. I have found more success in harvesting elk with a 7mag or larger cartridge

This is solid advice^^^
I don't care how many people come on here and preach about bullet mass/weight not being important to make a good kill on elk, its pure BS

 

[hunting1]

My .308 and 168 NBT keeps dropping them. Any 165-168 hunting bullet will fill the freezer if you do your part. Some have great luck with 155 gr Scenar.

 

[sndmn11]

My .308 and 168 NBT keeps dropping them. Any 165-168 hunting bullet will fill the freezer if you do your part. Some have great luck with 155 gr Scenar.

Have you recovered any of the ballistic tips?

 

[bpctcb]

My .308 and 168 NBT keeps dropping them. Any 165-168 hunting bullet will fill the freezer if you do your part. Some have great luck with 155 gr Scenar.

^^^ this
308 with 165 Partition or Accubond would be money out to 400 yards.

BP


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[hunting1]

Have you recovered any of the ballistic tips?

I caught one this year on a quartering bull. Retained weight was 98 grs. In comparison I caught a 165 NP on an earlier bull and it was around 101 grs I think. They were close and I have posted pics of both. The 168 NBT is legit. I have taken bear, deer, and 3-elk with this pill.

 

[Newtosavage]

I wouldn’t go much past 300, 400 would be the absolute max for me.

In that case, take the one you shoot better and enjoying carrying more. Either is perfectly capable to 400 yards.

 

[Newtosavage]

This is solid advice^^^
I don't care how many people come on here and preach about bullet mass/weight not being important to make a good kill on elk, its pure BS

Along those lines, I cringe every time I see folks here recommending rifles for 10 year olds for elk.

 

[BCD]

What would be the advantage of using a ballistic tip on an elk? I would think something that penetrated better and didn't come apart would be much better but maybe i'm missing something?

 

[sndmn11]

I caught one this year on a quartering bull. Retained weight was 98 grs. In comparison I caught a 165 NP on an earlier bull and it was around 101 grs I think. They were close and I have posted pics of both. The 168 NBT is legit. I have taken bear, deer, and 3-elk with this pill.

It sounds like a good example of looking at predicted impact velocity, presumably a little slower out of a .308win than other similar calibers, and selecting the proper bullet for what is wanted to be accomplished within that velocity window.

 

[Gruby]

Depending on the range you plan on shooting to I'd recommend the 140 partition or 127 LRX.
If you're getting out beyond 400 yards give the 156 Berger a try

What are your thoughts on the 120 gr e-tips? Deer and smaller game?