What Caliber for Deer and Elk?

[Jjamesdean]

Getting a new rifle. The one I have picked out is a Browning Hells Canyon Speed in 300 Win Mag. Is this a good all around round to go with? Or should i go with something else? Mainly use for whitetails but want something I can use for elk if I ever decide to go with a rifle instead of a bow.

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[Jjamesdean]

Anyone think 6.5 would be a better choice?

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[CorbLand]

the 300 is a solid elk gun and can be used for a wide variety of animals. 30-06 is a tried and true caliber, it has probably killed more game in America than any other caliber. 6.5 would also be a good choice.

Really it is going to come down to what you want. Elk and deer can be taken with 243 and up, depending on how far you plan on shooting. Most I hunt with shoot 30-06, 270 and there are a couple with 7 mags. 7mm08 would be a good caliber for a lighter recoiling gun that is capable of taking both deer and elk.

Look up Randy Newburgs youtube channel, he does a video on elk calibers.

 

[Jjamesdean]

I also want something decent for fairly long ranges

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[Jjamesdean]

the 300 is a solid elk gun and can be used for a wide variety of animals. 30-06 is a tried and true caliber, it has probably killed more game in America than any other caliber. 6.5 would also be a good choice.

Really it is going to come down to what you want. Elk and deer can be taken with 243 and up, depending on how far you plan on shooting. Most I hunt with shoot 30-06, 270 and there are a couple with 7 mags. 7mm08 would be a good caliber for a lighter recoiling gun that is capable of taking both deer and elk.

Look up Randy Newburgs youtube channel, he does a video on elk calibers.

I'll check it out!


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[PathFinder]

Much of this depends on your abilities and dedication. If you are the type to shoot maybe a box or two of factory ammo through a gun yearly, long range will not work for you. It just isn't plug and play, like advertising would have us believe. 300 WM is great if you are good at controlling recoil (with good form).

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[Jjamesdean]

Much of this depends on your abilities and dedication. If you are the type to shoot maybe a box or two of factory ammo through a gun yearly, long range will not work for you. It just isn't plug and play, like advertising would have us believe. 300 WM is great if you are good at controlling recoil (with good form).

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I'm not very good at controlling recoil. The 6.5 would be lighter on that?

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[Jjamesdean]

Well I shoot alot but where I live 400 yards is the absolute farthest shot you'll get. So that's what I'm calling long range I suppose.

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[PathFinder]

The 6.5 Creedmoor is your huckleberry! Definitely my favorite caliber. Mine has killed a bull elk at 300 yards, and a muley buck at 477 so far this year. Recoil is very minimal, long range accuracy is excellent, and it's got plenty of knockdown power to kill deer and elk out to 400. Stick with the heavy bullets (140, maybe 130), that's where it really shines.

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[CorbLand]

You can throw a dart and hit a caliber that will be good for both deer and elk out to 400. If thats the farthest you plan on shooting then I would look at 7mm08, 308, 6.5. All three are light recoiling and have very available ammo and different types of ammo.

 

[Steakngravy]

The nice thing about the 30& is no matter where you are you can find ammo the -06 is another excellent choice

 

[Jjamesdean]

Thanks guys. I am leaning more and more towards 6.5


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[N2TRKYS]

Personally, I had rather have a 270 Win than a 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[tim tarras]

I have a 30-06, 280 and a new creedmoor for my son. It looks as if the 280 might get sold to make room for another creedmoor for me. There is so little recoil I just enjoy shooting it for fun.

 

[GKPrice]

After many years of hunting elk with myriad rifles I had settled on the 338 Win Mag, LOVE that cartridge, but as I get older I find recoil to be an issue (at 65) so a couple back I went to '06, one in Tikka T3 superlight and one in Kimber Montana, don't know why but the superlight has become my "go to", killed 2 cows last year, one at 450 and one at 508, just got home from this year's bull hunt killed a 330 class 6 at 258 yds one shot DRT and have a cow hunt in a couple of weeks - all with 180 gr Accubonds and a Leupold 3.5x10x40mm with Wide Duplex - I still love the 338 but this is the easiest shooting killingest rifle I've shot in a long time

 

[power54]

My vote would be .270 win or wsm, 6.5, or 7mm-08.

 

[DoubleDown]

For all around 30-06 easy find different ammo selection and mid recoil. And you can get to 600 yards with proper set-up.
For low recoil Ill go with 6.5x55 not 6.5 Creed. Longer barrel life, heavier bullets selection, cheaper so you can practice more with it.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

If I'm having a rifle pull double duty like that I use the 30-06. It has worked perfectly for many years. Honestly though I really like the idea of the 6.5 creed, 7-08, and 308 for even less recoil.

 

[robtattoo]

Every time I read a 'which all-around caliber?' thread on any forum, general consensus always comes back around to the fact that the good old 30-06 is never the wrong answer.
It's not new, it's not sexy but it just keeps being awesome at everything.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Every time I read a 'which all-around caliber?' thread on any forum, general consensus always comes back around to the fact that the good old 30-06 is never the wrong answer.
It's not new, it's not sexy but it just keeps being awesome at everything.

No doubt. If I were starting over, I would buy a M700 in 30-06 and be done with it.