"Mid range" elk and deer caliber

[blackpowderhunter]

For discussions sake..
I read a lot on rokslide as well as on here, but constantly the questions seems to come up about the "500 yard" deer and elk rifle.
What would you all say for a non magnum/ non wild cat (read as more mild recoil and easily available) caliber that is capable of deer and elk out to the 4-500 yard range.

I have been spending a lot of time learning a lot about ballistics and different bullet construction recently, as I am a muzzle loader hunter for both deer and elk, thus keeping my shots inside of 100 yards with a solid hard cast lead bullet.
It seems that most people call the requirement for elk 1500 lb/ft of energy, and most bullets require around 1800-2000 fps for proper expansion on impact.
With this information, it seems that even a lot of factory loads of the 30-06 make the oldy but goody caliber very capable to these respectable ranges.
Just thought I would pose the question to stir up some friendly discussion as we slide into winter 

[257wbymagkiller]

30-06 is a good choice as well as a .308. It really comes down to bullet placement.

[Dan-o]

30-06 is a good choice as well as a .308. It really comes down to bullet placement.

 


Tough to beat the 30-06.

[Biggerhammer]

For a non-magnum as much as I can't stand the boring cartridge almost as much as the venerable .270 Winchester. If I had to choose a non-magnum cartridge for mule deer and elk out to 500 yards. As much as it pains me to say it, I would opt for the 30-06 and a stout load  of powder behind a 165gr bullet of your choice.

Make no mistake speed makes up for mass in the 30-06 out to 500 yards. A 165gr  bullet with quiet a bit more speed than a 180gr will serve you well to 500 yards.

Then again it's all where you put it. My younger brother has killed Mule dear at 496 yards and 302 yards with a 6.5 Grendel and elk out to 411 yards with the same 16" 6.5 Grendel carbine and a 120gr ballistic tip.

Then again he can shoot.

[Wetwoodshunter]

.270 is a great choice. One of my buddies has taken elk from 800 yards with his and factory fusion rounds.

[mountainman]

30-06 has probably killed more elk then any other caliber, and doing it nicely at long range, for longer than any of us have been around. 2👍👍up for the '06!

[high country]

There's a lot more 500 yard rifles than 500 yard shooters.

For a 500 yard point and click, I  like the 257 wby. Minimal recoil, holdover and fast as lighting. Not so great in the wind.....but extra forgiveness on the holdover end of it.

[Biggerhammer]

If they were both so great, then some wouldn't be constantly posting pics of past owned .338 Edges..

[Biggerhammer]

There's a lot more 500 yard rifles than 500 yard shooters.

For a 500 yard point and click, I  like the 257 wby. Minimal recoil, holdover and fast as lighting. Not so great in the wind.....but extra forgiveness on the holdover end of it.

Still a temperamental bullet weight at distance on Elk, I shot the .257 Arnold magnum for some time. Put it on the money and your good to go. Add in the field condition variables and I was always much more comfortable driving a .300 or .338 Win Mag at distance.

[Igor]

.270 is a great choice. One of my buddies has taken elk from 800 yards with his and factory fusion rounds.

I shoot a .270 with 150 gr. Federal ammo.  I'm curious what the hold-over is @ 800 yards?

[Wetwoodshunter]

Quite a few good rounds out there. Currently I'm shooting a 7mm mag getting ready for some longer shots in Montana next season. For your purposes I really think you can't go wrong with the .270 or .30-06. For both of these ammo is everywhere and not expensive. The other round I would be really looking at if I were you would be the .25-06 this will do the trick on elk as long as you do your part and shoot decent bullets.

[Biggerhammer]

.270 is a great choice. One of my buddies has taken elk from 800 yards with his and factory fusion rounds.

I shoot a .270 with 150 gr. Federal ammo.  I'm curious what the hold-over is @ 800 yards?

If you know your real world speed from your rifle and understand "Minute of angle" and have optics capable of such adjustment. It's about as easy as it gets. Free ballistics software everywhere to give you your 800 yard dope.

[Biggerhammer]

Quite a few good rounds out there. Currently I'm shooting a 7mm mag getting ready for some longer shots in Montana next season. For your purposes I really think you can't go wrong with the .270 or .30-06. For both of these ammo is everywhere and not expensive. The other round I would be really looking at if I were you would be the .25-06 this will do the trick on elk as long as you do your part and shoot decent bullets.

The 7mm Magnum with 160gr Accubonds is a killer at distance.

[2labs]

Cause 6.5 blow groceries. 140 with a huge bc. Not a belted mag. It sucks

[Biggerhammer]

Cause 6.5 blow groceries. 140 with a huge bc. Not a belted mag. It sucks

OP mentioned non-wildcat. The .260 is a great cartridge but out to 500 yards a 30-06 with the heavies walks all over it, as much as it pains me to say.