"Mid range" elk and deer caliber

[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.

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.

If temperamental means dang deadly.....then I agree.

[Bean Counter]

I wouldn't want to get shot with my .30-06 at 500 yards any more than 50. Or my .270 for that matter 

[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.

If temperamental means dang deadly.....then I agree.

I can kill a elk with my Chevy 2500HD, deads ... Dead but it's  all amusing for those of us who have shot the chit out of game for a looooong time. 90% of the game is smoked by 10% of the Hunter's 

[high country]

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.

I've killed better than a dozen elk with the 260ai, which I push to 2850 ish depending on the rifle and have to say that I've bang flopped more elk faster with this than any of my super magnums. It just works.

[high country]

Here's what a 6.5mm 142 smk does to a bull @ 742yds....

[2labs]

6.5 is a wildcat?.... Sarcasm. 6.5x55swede EST. 1890

[high country]

6.5 is a wildcat?....

That was a 6.5-06 with a muzzle velocity of 2875. A standard 260 could get there, a 260ai does also.

[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.

I've killed better than a dozen elk with the 260ai, which I push to 2850 ish depending on the rifle and have to say that I've bang flopped more elk faster with this than any of my super magnums. It just works.

Totally possible, what people fail to understand time and time again. Animals are like people, none are exactly the same. You can smack one guy square on the chin and he will drop, the next may clean your clock.

I prefer more horse power. Unlike the punk kid chiping out a diesel, putting the loudest muffler possible on it. With out a dime to drop on anything to tow. Then showing up with a Tikka .308 and he's the man out to 1200 yards. He's read too many dumb azz's post on HuntWA.


When you've killed plenty of chit, the rest is fluff.

[high country]

I'm not sure if it's the sectional density or the fact that it doesn't overdrive the bullets, but I have seriously surprised myself with how the 2800-2900fps 6.5's work on game with 140 class match bullets. I have a collection of rifles like you, but for killing stuff....they get grabbed often.

I'm building my girls some 6.5x47's just because I know they work.

[Biggerhammer]

I'm very fond of the 6.5-.284. Have been for years.

[Bob33]

Discussions of caliber rarely remain "friendly" for very long on Hunt WA, as you can see.

Of all the variables that make a 500 yard shot on game possible and ethical, caliber is probably not in the top five.

A 3006 will meet your stated requirements.

If you want to increase energy over a 30-06 you'll probably encounter more recoil unless you shoot a smaller diameter bullet.

[Biggerhammer]

I've never been much for "Freindly".  Most read too much and are idiots.

[Vo2max]

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.

 

[mountainman]

Discussions of caliber rarely remain "friendly" for very long on Hunt WA, as you can see.

Never do..you have to weed out the nonsense and chest beating that goes on. You know,  the ones who say one day the .243 or the Grendel (insert flavor of the day) are perfect for elk way out there. Then the next forum, it's " nothing short of my Super Magnum) will reliably harvest an elk at long range. Most of these haven't harvested more than an animal or two to back these opinions (and that's what they are) up. Best advice on looking for advice, is that the truth usually rides right down the middle. And that is where the old bread and butter 30-06 fills the niche nicely. 

[theleo]

For a caliber in a non magnum cartridge anything from 6.5mm/.264 to .308. For non magnum, non wildcat cartridges, any of the ones based off the 308 win or the 30-06. It's going to be more of a game of gaining the confidence and ability to shoot that far, than worrying about what caliber (bullet diameter) or cartridge will get the bullet there. Find one you feel you have confidence in and start shooting, most all of the 308 win and 30-06 based cartridges will get it done if you do your part.