so 30-06, what grain bullet for deer and elk

[jackmaster]

I like the 165s for deer and 180s for elk and bear, its just a little more lead for denser animals

[RadSav]

If wanting to settle on one bullet I'd rather error heavy and durable on deer than light and frangible on elk.

[magnanimous_j]

I think topics like this illustrate how much influence marketing and advertising has on us. They would have us believe that you need a different rifle for every species and condition that you may hunt.

[h20hunter]

Yep. O'Connor would back that up I suppose.

[Skillet]

I think topics like this illustrate how much influence marketing and advertising has on us. They would have us believe that you need a different rifle for every species and condition that you may hunt.

Be a gamer, man.  The firearms industry would fall flat on its face if everybody still hunted with their grandpa's model 70.  You do know that deer and elk today are WAY tougher than deer and elk in the 50's, don't you?   

I read a while back that a guide has a good idea of how successful his client will be when he sees the gun come out of the case.  If it is a brand-new custom build chambered in 7.88 Whizbang with a 12x26.75x50 scope with a name you can't pronounce all wrapped in cloth diapers for handling,  he's going to hunt that guy differently (and not in a good way) than the guy that brings out the dinged and scratched 30-06 bolt action (pick your factory of choice) with a Weaver K4 scope on it. 

[RadSav]

I think topics like this illustrate how much influence marketing and advertising has on us. They would have us believe that you need a different rifle for every species and condition that you may hunt.

Men have been using that logic since the invention of gunpower to convince their wives they need more toys weapons.  Marketing and advertising just helps us men sell the idea to our spouses.  Now quit trying to ruin the whole thing Mags

[jackelope]

I think topics like this illustrate how much influence marketing and advertising has on us. They would have us believe that you need a different rifle for every species and condition that you may hunt.

Be a gamer, man.  The firearms industry would fall flat on its face if everybody still hunted with their grandpa's model 70.  You do know that deer and elk today are WAY tougher than deer and elk in the 50's, don't you?   

I read a while back that a guide has a good idea of how successful his client will be when he sees the gun come out of the case.  If it is a brand-new custom build chambered in 7.88 Whizbang with a 12x26.75x50 scope with a name you can't pronounce all wrapped in cloth diapers for handling,  he's going to hunt that guy differently (and not in a good way) than the guy that brings out the dinged and scratched 30-06 bolt action (pick your factory of choice) with a Weaver K4 scope on it.

It's 12-26.75x50.
No X.
Come on, man.
 

[Skillet]

Good point Rad.  There is much discussion amongst my buddies about how to continue to build the arsenal even if they are initially rebuffed by the spousal unit.  Probably a whole new thread there...

Back to the issue at hand -

180 grain budget ammo (core lokt, federal vital-shok, etc.) for anything that you can buy a license over the counter for here in WA.   As long as your gun likes it, the deer and elk won't. 

[Skillet]

I think topics like this illustrate how much influence marketing and advertising has on us. They would have us believe that you need a different rifle for every species and condition that you may hunt.

Be a gamer, man.  The firearms industry would fall flat on its face if everybody still hunted with their grandpa's model 70.  You do know that deer and elk today are WAY tougher than deer and elk in the 50's, don't you?   

I read a while back that a guide has a good idea of how successful his client will be when he sees the gun come out of the case.  If it is a brand-new custom build chambered in 7.88 Whizbang with a 12x26.75x50 scope with a name you can't pronounce all wrapped in cloth diapers for handling,  he's going to hunt that guy differently (and not in a good way) than the guy that brings out the dinged and scratched 30-06 bolt action (pick your factory of choice) with a Weaver K4 scope on it.

It's 12-26.75x50.
No X.
Come on, man.
 

 

[magnanimous_j]

I think topics like this illustrate how much influence marketing and advertising has on us. They would have us believe that you need a different rifle for every species and condition that you may hunt.

Men have been using that logic since the invention of gunpower to convince their wives they need more toys weapons.  Marketing and advertising just helps us men sell the idea to our spouses.  Now quit trying to ruin the whole thing Mags

 

I get caught up in it too. When I was shopping for my motorcycle, I stared at horsepower charts until I went cross eyed. I read every review and "x vs. y" forum debate. I researched every aftermarket solution for problems that MIGHT come up on a bike that I MIGHT buy. But in the end, all those differences were mainly academic. I don't care what anyone says, you can't tell the difference between 105 and 110 hp when you are flying up a mountain road on a sunny day.

I would think the bullet thing is similar. You shoot an elk with the 165 and it goes 10 steps and dies. You shoot an elk with the 180 and it goes 5 steps. Is it the bullet weight? construction? Placement? temperature? Was one elk more of a wuss? Who the hell knows? And does it really matter?

[RadSav]

There is much discussion amongst my buddies about how to continue to build the arsenal even if they are initially rebuffed by the spousal unit.  Probably a whole new thread there...

Sorry to get off topic but I have to share a story of a shop I heard about at the ATA.

The owner of the shop has a layaway payment program for bows and guns.  Once a quarter he holds a free pizza night with a guest speaker.  At that gathering he has a drawing for free giveaway guns and bows.  Guys who have recently paid off their secret from the spouse layaway bring their wives or significant other.  The shop owner draws their name and tells everyone what they have won!!!  The wives are so proud of their husbands for winning something for free when in reality they've been sneaking ten dollar here and ten dollars there to pay it off in full.  And the drawing is only to keep the husbands out of the dog house!  They do get free pizza and hunting seminar out of the deal

[MP123]

There is much discussion amongst my buddies about how to continue to build the arsenal even if they are initially rebuffed by the spousal unit.  Probably a whole new thread there...

Sorry to get off topic but I have to share a story of a shop I heard about at the ATA.

The owner of the shop has a layaway payment program for bows and guns.  Once a quarter he holds a free pizza night with a guest speaker.  At that gathering he has a drawing for free giveaway guns and bows.  Guys who have recently paid off their secret from the spouse layaway bring their wives or significant other.  The shop owner draws their name and tells everyone what they have won!!!  The wives are so proud of their husbands for winning something for free when in reality they've been sneaking ten dollar here and ten dollars there to pay it off in full.  And the drawing is only to keep the husbands out of the dog house!  They do get free pizza and hunting seminar out of the deal

    That's a great plan!  Could apply to lots of other toys too!

[Skillet]

That is funny. 

I was taught a long time ago that wives can count to three, but not four.  So, when you go shooting, you take three guns with you, but you bring back four.  If you only take one out of the house and come back with two, you're a dead man...

Same principal applies to the safe.  There must always be at least four empty spots before you can bring a new gun in.  Never go below three empty spots.  Unless you are storing your buddy's gun for him, since he doesn't have a safe yet.  I bet that lazy SOB never gets his own safe, either 

[h20hunter]

There is much discussion amongst my buddies about how to continue to build the arsenal even if they are initially rebuffed by the spousal unit.  Probably a whole new thread there...

Sorry to get off topic but I have to share a story of a shop I heard about at the ATA.

The owner of the shop has a layaway payment program for bows and guns.  Once a quarter he holds a free pizza night with a guest speaker.  At that gathering he has a drawing for free giveaway guns and bows.  Guys who have recently paid off their secret from the spouse layaway bring their wives or significant other.  The shop owner draws their name and tells everyone what they have won!!!  The wives are so proud of their husbands for winning something for free when in reality they've been sneaking ten dollar here and ten dollars there to pay it off in full.  And the drawing is only to keep the husbands out of the dog house!  They do get free pizza and hunting seminar out of the deal

That is genious right there.

[Curly]

It's 12-26.75x50.
No X.
Come on, man.
 

Thanks jackelope.