what caliber do you all use?

[hunter399]

There's a reason the state minimum is .243. ..it'll work. After killing several elk the lesson I've learned is to be a good shot and don't take risky shots.

+1 the 243 it will have less drop at 500 yard than a 270 or 30-06 .

you sure about that??

One thing I don't get about posts like this is why don't you just take the 3min to look it up before you post .with Google and everything on the internet .Its just strange to me.

[Magnum_Willys]

After 20-30 elk kills you get a pretty good idea of how quick different calibers drop them.  In heavily trafficked wet brushy areas you may find you need a bigger hammer than what works fine on eastside or montana / colorado.  Or if you want to go 1000 yards out with 1600-2000 ft lbs its not gonna happen with smaller calibers.   Anything you feel good about over .270 will get it done - and usually soon enough?

[Scheindogg]

 

Alright guys let's get back to the point.

.270 will absolutely do the trick. Any gun .243 or higher will do the trick if you can get good placement.

Like others said sounds like you want a new gun, if I were you I'd get a savage DOA hunter or trophy hunter XP and used the saved money from a more expensive rifle on ammo to practice practice practice with your new rifle before the season begins!!
 

[Wacenturion]

Bought a nice Browning Medallion Grade III back a few years ago in .325 WSM.  Plan on using it the next time out for elk.  Yeah, I know, limited ammo, etc., but appears to be a heck of an elk caliber according to some good articles that found it to be excellent on elk.

An old timer, like I ain't one told me one time the best elk gun he ever hunted with was a .375 H&H.  He said it never failed him with shots that would have been doubtful with other calibers in the terrain he hunted in.....for what it's worth.

[huntingfool7]

So I currently have a Tikka .270 I use for deer hunting. I was thinking about in the future doing some elk hunting and was wondering if I should upgrade to say a 30-06 for elk.

I'm a 30-06 guy.  That said, 270/30-06/7mm mag class of cartridges will give similar results with similar shot placement.  Nothing wrong with the 270 already in your rack.  If you want/need something bigger, Go bigger .338/.35/.375

[Special T]

Bought a nice Browning Medallion Grade III back a few years ago in .325 WSM.  Plan on using it the next time out for elk.  Yeah, I know, limited ammo, etc., but appears to be a heck of an elk caliber according to some good articles that found it to be excellent on elk.

An old timer, like I ain't one told me one time the best elk gun he ever hunted with was a .375 H&H.  He said it never failed him with shots that would have been doubtful with other calibers in the terrain he hunted in.....for what it's worth.

Father in law has a 375 h&h.... If it don't kill the elk, the recoil will.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Oh Mah]

This is a debate that has went on for 80 years ,your comparing Apple to oranges ,both are very good caliber.If I had to choose one 270 is it.Both are about the same ballistic,velocity,bullet drop,some say the 270 shoots flatter,30-06 has a heavy grain bullet and bucks the wind better.I would save your money and just use the 270 for elk,your not gaining anything by useing a 30-06.If you want a elk only rifle go get ,7mm mag ,300 win mag,338,act.

I love the .338's could you tell me what this .338,act.  Is? Thanks

[hunter399]

Was 338,ect.my phone changed it on me.sorry.

[Oh Mah]

oh lol i thought they maybe came out with another one.They have a few now. 

[Dan-o]

Can we all agree on two simple, timeless truths:
1.   There are lots of good calibers out there that will do the job nicely.
2.  The 7MM Remington Magnum is by far the best of them all.

[CaNINE]

I guess one more opinion won't hurt.

The 270 is adequate for elk. But if you're looking to upgrade to a dedicated elk rifle, and I think you should, then leapfrog the 30-06 and get a 300 Win Mag.

[Curly]

Might as well leapfrog the 300 winmag  and go with a 338 win mag.

[Skyvalhunter]

why not leap frog that and go with .375 then

[MooseStock]

Browning BAR 7mm rem mag

[NW SURVEYOR]

My  extra two cents:
I have shot more elk with the 7mm Mag than with my .338.
They are both deadly, I just prefer the .338 as most of my shots are at less than 100 yards in the timber.
One thing that I learned years ago is this; A mortally wounded elk can go a long ways in a short time when spooked.
Growing up on the westside with all the hunting pressure, we wanted that elk on the ground, NOW!
Some areas had so much pressure that someone could put a kill shot in it and perhaps make claim.
Now this has never happened to me, but I have heard of it happening.

The .338 will leave a better blood trail all thing equal.
Bigger payload and more punch.

Elk are big animals and under ideal conditions just about anything will do the juob.
Rarley have I had the opportunity to shoot an elk under ideal conditions.
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

All that said, I still think the .280 or .280AI is a fine cartridge for elk.
A bit more punch that the .270 with minimum recoil and better than the .338 at beyond 400 yards.

As for the .243, I think that using one for elk is irresponsible and not fair to the elk.

And the advice to buy ASAP and practice makes a lot of sense,