Elk Rifle Caliber

[Keneboy]

I would like some opinions on a rifle caliber for elk...I have one rifle and it is a Remington Model 700 in 30-06. I have shot this rifle for the past 26 years and am very confident with it out to 350 yards. Two years ago I had the rifle reworked with a new stock, barrel re-coted, bolt fluted, and a new VX-3 put on it. I totally love my gun and I have been lucky enough to shoot caribou in Alaska and whitetails from ND to Louisiana...courtesy of the United State Air Force. Now do not get me wrong I am all about a new rifle but I would rather spend my dollars on archery equipment and optics. Is a premium well-placed 165 grain bullet out of my trusty rifle going to do it for me? Any help for a novice elk junkie? Thanks much...

 

[Elkfitness]

You will be just fine! I like 180g for traditional bullets and 165's for lead free bullets in the 06. I shot a 30-06 for 20 yrs on elk with no issues. I now tinker with other cartridges but it comes down to shot placement and the right bullet for caliber.

 

[ElkNut1]

I agree, inside 500 yards & the 06 is awesome! 180 grains is also our choice! I won't go into specifics as that's personal choice! Good luck!

ElkNut1

 

[airlocksniffer]

Buy the bow. 30-06 will have no problem putting down an elk.

 

[mt100gr.]

You're rifle is more.than capable. Elk hunting is especially fun with a bow though...buy the archery setup.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Your 30-06 will do just fine for you. Archery for elk is a blast.

 

[ElkNut1]

Yes, I will add hunting with a bow for elk is hands down the best there is for the soul! (grin)

ElkNut1

 

[Jason Snyder]

I wouldn't even think two seconds about buying another rifle. What you have is more than sufficient.

Put the money towards a bow setup. No. Brainer.

 

[Ross]

Save your money and spend it elsewhere, you will do great with what you have.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've killed more elk and deer with an '06 than any other caliber. I too prefer 180gr bullets.

 

[6mm Remington]

Buy your bow and buy it now. No issues at all with your 30-06 for elk. I shoot nothing but 165 gr. bullets in my 30-06 for antelope, deer, and elk. I use either a 165 gr. Nosler Partition or Accubond. Both are great bullets. The advise of using a 180 gr. in the 30-06 is sound advise though too. I would shoot a good quality bullet in either of those weights and I would let my rifle pick the one it shot the best and that is what I would use. The 30-06 is hard to beat for just about anything including elk!

 

[Keneboy]

Thanks guys for the replies, just what I was looking for. I have turned into more of an archery guy the last four years and really like shooting my bow but am looking at a later season elk hunt this coming year with a buddy who does not archery hunt. I have shot the Nosler's in it and they do group well...thanks again.

 

[WRO]

Elk don't really care if it's a core lokt or a partition from what I've seen from a pretty decent group of dead elk. The 06 is good medicine for elk, I like the 165s.

 

[Parko]

I would not recommend using your 30/06. You should consider using a more capable cartridge like the .280. The elk will be more impressed with the ballistics of it....... Now that I've stirred things up I carry a 30/06 for elk and have never felt under gunned or wanted something different.

 

[jmden]

Given the choice, a .338 with a heavy bullet. Have seen too many second shots necessary from .30 magnums on elk.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Given the choice, a .338 with a heavy bullet. Have seen too many second shots necessary from .30 magnums on elk.

A second shot doesn't make for a poor cartridge, or a poor shooter, necessarily.

I have seen many good one shot elk kills with cartridges of less-than-.338 caliber.

Any good hunting bullet in the vitals will do the trick, IME.

I have killed several bulls with the 30-06 and 165s, and would confidently use a similar load in the future.

I would guess more elk have died from the 30-06 than just about all other calibers combined.

 

[Beastmode]

A second shot doesn't make for a poor cartridge, or a poor shooter, necessarily.

I have seen many good one shot elk kills with cartridges of less-than-.338 caliber.

Any good hunting bullet in the vitals will do the trick, IME.

I have killed several bulls with the 30-06 and 165s, and would confidently use a similar load in the future.

I would guess more elk have died from the 30-06 than just about all other calibers combined.

X2. You don't need a giant caliber to kill elk. Shoot a descent bullet and shoot the gun well. Plenty of elk get killed every year with well placed shots from smaller calibers such as .243 win and 25-06 as well as many others.

 

[jack88]

Here we go again, just because someone is a terrible shot doesn't mean they need to step up to an unreasonable caliber like the 338. I have to say, I get a good chuckle reading American hunting forums and the comical stuff said about the required firepower needed to take down an elk or moose. I've seen buffalo(like 2000 lbs+) drop in their tracks from a 7RM.
Your boys from the southern states seem to believe that elk and moose are armour plated and require these heavy recoiling magnums. I've helped chase a moose for 2 days that had a poor shot from a 300RUM and I've helped load up a moose that didn't go 10 yards after being shot with a 243.
How could you have seen too many second shots from a 30 magnum on elk? There is more and I mean MORE THAN ENOUGH gun there to kill an elk. Maybe your hunting buddies are shitty shots.

 

[jmden]

BB: I didn't say anything about the shooter or shot placement.

Beastmode: Very true and some of those walk as well. A .338 with heavy bullet will reduce that likelihood on less than perfect shots--that we all make. Like I said 'given the choice', I think a .338 with a heavy bullet is a better choice. Just my opinion.

jack88: Lots of incorrect assumptions there, buddy. Keep talking...

 

[Ryan Avery]

Lots of different opinions, no need to make it personal jack88

Lots of great caliber for elk.