Ideal Elk Cartridge?

[TheGDog]

For a round like 6.5CM or .243 Win.... for you guys with elk experience... what would you limit the shot to distance-wise in the real-world? How many yards? As compared to let's say... a .308 Win ??

 

[sndmn11]

For a round like 6.5CM or .243 Win.... for you guys with elk experience... what would you limit the shot to distance-wise in the real-world? How many yards? As compared to let's say... a .308 Win ??

What bullet? Learn what it takes to expand that bullet, stay within that velocity window.

 

[BuzzH]

For a round like 6.5CM or .243 Win.... for you guys with elk experience... what would you limit the shot to distance-wise in the real-world? How many yards? As compared to let's say... a .308 Win ??

Depending on the situation, wind, rest, bullet, yada yada...for the .243 I'd say 400ish. My youngest nephew killed his first elk last year with a .243, 100 grain old style nosler solid base at 368 yards. One shot, one dead elk.

Recently heard a .270 won't leave a blood trail..., yet the .243 did...strange?

Can't know about the 6.5, never have shot one at elk.

 

[ArcherAdam]

Plain Jane 30-06 here. I have to admit though the 6.8 Western looks appealing.

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[PAhunter58]

Certainly a subject that has been beat to death here, over & over. It comes down to a sturdy bullet design and the ability to put it where it needs to be.

 

[marshland_max]

7 mm RM

 

[mku140]

We have had great results with a Berger bullet in a 300 wby mag

 

[BucksNDucks]

300 RUM with a 210 Berger does it for me

 

[black dawg]

Have killed elk with 130 grain 270 cup and core stuff, and up to 338wm with heavy partitions, with a couple calibers in between. Nothing died any faster than with the 270.

I should add, that all were within 450 yards. Most were with the 270, with 130 corelokts, 140 grain ballistic tips (seemed to perform the best) and a 150 grain interlock.
The 140 ballistic tip worked really good for us most shots were between 200 and 450 yards with very few that needed a second shot.

 

[TheGDog]

What bullet? Learn what it takes to expand that bullet, stay within that velocity window.

For me out here in The Peeplez Epublik that would be like an 85gr Barnes TTSX for a .243 Win

 

[sndmn11]

For me out here in The Peeplez Epublik that would be like an 85gr Barnes TTSX for a .243 Win

Their factory load for an 80gr ttsx shows on their site 2400fps at 300 yards 2200fps at 400 yards. I would draw the line at 250 to 300 yards.

 

[3325]

230 grain .54 round ball over about 90 grains of black powder (sometimes measured by guess and by gosh).

What makes it ideal? It’s ideal because the era it ruled was ideal (if you didn’t mind risking your hair).

 

[JakeNeathawk]

300 wsm with 180gr bullet seems to work pretty well

 

[JonNBama]

Personally I'm trying to decide between 340 Wby Mag and a 338-378 Wby Mag for a new Primarily elk rifle. The polling I've done has been about 60/40 in favor of the 338-378.

Previously I have been using my Rem 700 7mm Rem Mag almost exclusively. And granted, it has been flawless, but I'm ready to let her rest for a bit.

 

[mbania]

I am currently putting together a 7SAUM, from your list I think the 7RM is ideal. With todays bullet choices a 7MM is really hard to beat.

 

[PRC_GUY]

300 WM is a easy choice for me,

 

[686]

Personally I'm trying to decide between 340 Wby Mag and a 338-378 Wby Mag for a new Primarily elk rifle. The polling I've done has been about 60/40 in favor of the 338-378.

Previously I have been using my Rem 700 7mm Rem Mag almost exclusively. And granted, it has been flawless, but I'm ready to let her rest for a bit.

I saw in classifieds you were looking for 375 Weatherby ammo - did you decide on the 375 in lieu of the 338 or in addition? I shoot 300 Weatherby and 375 Weatherby. I had decent performance with my 300 on an elk this year, but not quite the like my 375, which really knocked things down when I took it to Africa. I reload for the 375 and I’ve had good performance from Barnes 270gr LRX out to ~250 yards on game. I get a muzzle velocity of 2850fps with my setup. My 375 is a heavy rifle, but isn’t braked, I can shoot it all day off the sticks, but it wears me out fast shooting prone or off a bench.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I’m trying to decide between 300 Win Mag or 30 Nosler.

I see no reason to go any bigger and deal with the weight and recoil penalties.


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[KineKilla]

My 7mm puts them down and is a joy to shoot.

160gr Accubonds fly and kill well for me.

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[TheViking]

Dedicated elk gun?

7mm or 300 WM (or WSM)

Anything bigger (338, 300 RUM, etc) are great, but you pay the recoil penalty.