What's the Best Elk Cartridge? (email I got)

[winshooter88]

I've had every thing from a .243 to a 300 win mag, the the gun that has killed all the deer and elk for me is an old Winchester model 88 in .308 caliber. Never had any deer or elk get away, and most went nowhere or less than 50 yards. "Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito."

[Biggerhammer]

I've had every thing from a .243 to a 300 win mag, the the gun that has killed all the deer and elk for me is an old Winchester model 88 in .308 caliber. Never had any deer or elk get away, and most went nowhere or less than 50 yards. "Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito."

Hahaha! I watched a board memeber here and if you were to ask him. He would tell you he's a experienced shooter. Poke a Elk three times with a .308 at 450 yards, you could hardly tell that elk was taking hits. Another hunter beat him to that elk and when it stood up the other hunter neck shot it and tagged it. This same member used to think .308 Win was the long range cartridgeand turned his nose up to our long range magnums, said they were to big. Only took him a little more expirience to figured it out. Now he's posting .338 Lapua pics. Just takes some guys a little more time. .Haha! He also said NightForce scopes were over priced pieces of crap when they first came out, couldn't help but noticed that's what's parked on his Lapua. .308 may cut it across your back yard but it sure isn't cutting it at distance here in Eastern WA, especially in a Model 88.

I've killed plenty of Elk, half or so have been within 300 yards or less. I had way more rifle and optic than I needed for those ranges but the rest were a ways further out. I shoot what will work for the longer shots as well as the short ones. I wouldn't handi-cap myself in big canyons in the Colockum or Mission unit during elk season by packing a Model 88 .308. Especially when shots start at 500 yards, I'd be keeping that 88 in the timber where one would find most of the Mosquitos.

[RG]

Biggerhammer, in the spirit of your post I found you a new profile picture that is more appropriate.  Why carry a .45 when there is a .500 out there?

[Biggerhammer]

Biggerhammer, in the spirit of your post I found you a new profile picture that is more appropriate.  Why carry a .45 when there is a .500 out there?

Bought the first 500 Smith to hit town years ago, it loves H110. They are over rated recoil wise, a stout hand load through a S&W .44 Mag Mountain pistol recoils more and the  recoil from a .454 Ruger Super Redhawk makes the 500 a pleasure to shoot. I thought about a 460 but I like the speed of the .500.

[RG]

All of those make a lot of noise when you push the button.  I worked as an elk/deer/bear hunting guide in the Rockies for a  number of years.  When wounded game ran off and the client wasn't up to the hike, (8000+ ft.), we tracked it down and finished it with a .44 mag.  I've killed around a dozen elk with a .44 model 29 with 240 grain softpoint handloads.  The furthest one was 70 yards standing, and I've seen other guys kill a bunch more with the same caliber.  It worked every time.  It all comes down to bullet placement.  Some locals I know in Helena MT use .223's and shoot their elk in the neck.  That always works too but they shoot ground squirrels all year with the same rifle so they can, so to speak, shoot the eye out of a fly with it.

[coachcw]

the question wasn't what would work but whats the best !

[snowshoes22]

Go to the range just before elk season and watch people sight in their new guns.  You will see a bunch of guys that just bought magnums that can't keep a five shot group on a paper plate at 100 yards.  Magnums don't make poor shooting better only worse.  To each his own but stay with what you can handle. 

[winshooter88]

Hammer, you have your opinion and I have mine. Nowhere did I say that I took 500 yard shots. I know my gun and how it shoots and will continue to use it. Not everyone has to take 500 yard shots because they can't get any closer. By the way all of my elk and several of my deer were in the Colockum or the sage brush in the Columbia Basin. The best elk caliber is the one you choose no matter what it is.

[Biggerhammer]

Hammer, you have your opinion and I have mine. Nowhere did I say that I took 500 yard shots. I know my gun and how it shoots and will continue to use it. Not everyone has to take 500 yard shots because they can't get any closer. By the way all of my elk and several of my deer were in the Colockum or the sage brush in the Columbia Basin. The best elk caliber is the one you choose no matter what it is.

Like said earlier in the thread " Diferent strokes for different folks "

[Biggerhammer]

the question wasn't what would work but whats the best !

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

A standard 338 caliber mag (win, weatherby, or rum). not the wildcats . Best dedicated elk cartridge.  Affordable for most, allows for long range shots, hits hard.

[Jim the Plumber]

I've had every thing from a .243 to a 300 win mag, the the gun that has killed all the deer and elk for me is an old Winchester model 88 in .308 caliber. Never had any deer or elk get away, and most went nowhere or less than 50 yards. "Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito."

Your 308 with a 165 Acubond at 2800fps will out perform a 350 grain .458dia Speer  at 2800, anything past the muzzle for drift and drop. And past 450 yards, the 308 165 AB has more energy.  In your case the 308 is indeed the best elk cartridge.
Also, the 308 seems to hold it's own even in Africa  on  Black Wildebeast  in the hands of the likes of George Gardner of GA Precision.
Best elk cartridge  for me, if I know my shots will be under 400, I'm happy with my Rbros built 6.5X47Lapua, past that and I'll look at my 300WM or  Rbros built 338Lapua Mag.

[rebal69972]

i got some good advice when i first got to WA about which weapon to use. this old man simply said the weapon you can shoot comfortably and accurately. big magnums are great but if your scared of it or it kicks like a Missouri mule, you will miss most of the time.

[Biggerhammer]

I've had every thing from a .243 to a 300 win mag, the the gun that has killed all the deer and elk for me is an old Winchester model 88 in .308 caliber. Never had any deer or elk get away, and most went nowhere or less than 50 yards. "Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito."

Your 308 with a 165 Acubond at 2800fps will out perform a 350 grain .458dia Speer  at 2800, anything past the muzzle for drift and drop. And past 450 yards, the 308 165 AB has more energy.  In your case the 308 is indeed the best elk cartridge.
Also, the 308 seems to hold it's own even in Africa  on  Black Wildebeast  in the hands of the likes of George Gardner of GA Precision.
Best elk cartridge  for me, if I know my shots will be under 400, I'm happy with my Rbros built 6.5X47Lapua, past that and I'll look at my 300WM or  Rbros built 338Lapua Mag.

Can't help but notice, you converted to Several magnums and obviously someone swayed you from your opinion of NightForces are over priced pieces of crap, I believe you also said the 6mm Rem chambering was crap. I would think a guy would be able to tell if a Mulie had antlers or not at 650 with a Nightforce at 22X.

Maybe you should have George build you a good light weight .308, his guy does great Cerakote work. It will save you the Krylon barrel job.

[JohnVH]

The best, is the one you can shoot most accurately...

Vid of 6.5 creedmoor at 605yds

Greybull Precision with Wayne van Zwoll Elk & Coyote