Elk Caliber and Bullet Choice - 2024

[Wally Dog]

Custom .358 Norma magnum, handloaded 250 gr Nosler partitions, 2850 fps. It goes bang and things fall down.

 

[USAF Ret]

I'm going .30 caliber. mtmuley

Which .30 cal?

 

[mtmuley]

Which .30 cal?

The one everybody says the barrel is too long, it has too much recoil, it burns too much powder, it has too much muzzle blast and blah, blah, blah. mtmuley

 

[USAF Ret]

The one everybody says the barrel is too long, it has too much recoil, it burns too much powder, it has too much muzzle blast and blah, blah, blah. mtmuley

RED RUM

 

[USAF Ret]

Although I don’t own that many guns, sometimes I still feel like I own too many and want to simplify things. I saved up and bought this Weatherby Vanguard .30-06 when I was a kid as my first real big game rifle. It killed my first elk, I almost shot a grizzly with it, and I have a lot of fond memories with it. I spruced it up a few years ago with a B&C stock and I’m going to hunt with it more often, especially backpacking for elk in the timber. It is not trendy or Rokslide approved with a 6x36 Leupold and 180 grain old fashioned Sierra Gamekings at a little over 2800.

View attachment 321413

I am with you. HOWA 1500 (basically a Vanguard action) in 30-06 with a B&C stock. Ain't a thing wrong with that at all.

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

The one everybody says the barrel is too long, it has too much recoil, it burns too much powder, it has too much muzzle blast and blah, blah, blah. mtmuley

Why in the hell do you need to shoot such a cannon? Don't you know you can kill a charging brown bear with a 22 mag revolver and kill any animal that walks the earth with a .223. I mean no need to submit yourself to that abuse......lol

 

[mtmuley]

Why in the hell do you need to shoot such a cannon? Don't you know you can kill a charging brown bear with a 22 mag revolver and kill any animal that walks the earth with a .223. I mean no need to submit yourself to that abuse......lol

Cause I can. mtmuley

 

[44hunter45]

It’s kind of embarrassing when you spend 15 minutes chatting with a nice family on the road, then as they drive away you remember what hat you’re wearing.

View attachment 317767

Not that I’ve done that…

Considering how often I leave my hat at church....

 

[USAF Ret]

Cause I can. mtmuley

Wish I could. I would.

 

[44hunter45]

Something all copper going really fast. Diameter .264, .284. or .308.

 

[44hunter45]

Was that with R26?

I'm out of RL26!

I'm ALMOST as bad as why Dave Grohl said he would never do coke. You'll have to look that one up for yourself.

 

[Badger_55]

300WM 205 Berger EH handloads.

Working up some Barnes 175LRX to see how I like them

 

[Cornbread]

I haven't read all the posts from page one, but it seems to me that most here are shooting pretty stiff rounds; heavy 30 caliber magnums and bigger. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most arn't shooting a .270 or 6.5 CM, right? Ive only killed 1 elk, try not to attack me. I'd maintain that elk ain't deer. You can kill a deer, even a big deer (say 180lbs and less filed dressed), with say a 5.56/.223. Correct me if I'm wrong, elk ain't deer. They have incredible stamina, strength and will to live. And I saw some elk that were the size of a Belgian work horse; 1200-1500lbs. They were the size of my stout 16-hand quarter horse. I killed my elk with 7mm RM and am still amazed it took 4 shots at 105 yards to take him down. I never want to have to track an animal for a long way, or lose one. Have done plenty of tracking of bow and gun shot deer. Should know soon if I got my tag for the Fall, but Ive decided to upgrade to a .300 WM or the .338 WM.

 

[bmontang]

We are now 3 months deep into 2024, so high time to stop debating in the past. Time to look to



What’s the plan for this fall?

.50 BMG I am hoping its enough.

 

[Backcountryaddiction]

DE built 300 RUM+P and 245 gr Bergers at 2980
They hate it !

 

[USAF Ret]

Added one to the list. 280 Ackley 175 Berger Elite Hunter.

 

[TheReaper8899]

30-06 with 180 gr Core Lokt out of a Remington 7600. Honestly to me it depends on where you’re hunting and the kind of shots you’re expecting to take. But it’s more important to be comfortable with your rifle and know what you’re comfortable with. Nobody wants to wound an animal and not find it cause ego got in the way.

 

[NDcoyote]

300 win with 200 nosler accubonds has done one heck of a nice job so far! Don't think I'll be switching anytime soon.

 

[Trapper330]

So... the 7mm-08 might be too light? Didn't see it mentioned. Did see a few 308 votes. Never shot one, so IDK. Thanks.

 

[popeyoung12]

Taken 9, .44mag, 5 with .270, 3 with .338 win. Building a 7 prc now for my next.