what caliber do you all use?

[Woodchuck]

Anything less than a GAU-8 is unethical for elk. 

Ethics shmethics.......I'll gat an Elk with whatever is rolling around in the back seat of the rig.

After finishing my beer.........tho

Even a Tikka .243?

[jay.sharkbait]

I've found an F150 to be my most effective caliber to date.

Yes, but your truck placement sucked.

I think it's weird how someone who is so good with a M107 at 1k can be so average when it comes to hitting an Elk with a truck.

[Ddouble]

I've found an F150 to be my most effective caliber to date.

Yes, but your truck placement sucked.

I think it's weird how someone who is so good with a M107 at 1k can be so average when it comes to hitting an Elk with a truck.

When I blow up cinder block walls they aren't moving lol.

[Scheindogg]

Thanks all for the replies. Sounds like I opened up a pretty good debate on the matter. One thing I have learned over the past is never discuss religion, sports or politics and now I can add what caliber should I use for elk hunting. In all seriousness though thanks for the help. As of right now I think maybe I will stay with my .270 and go with a 150 gr bullet. If I do get the itch to buy another I won't go with a 30-06 as I would not gain much from my .270. So if anyone has a good idea of a bullet I can use for elk in .270 I am all ears. Currently I am using 130 gr Federal ammo for deer.

Thanks.

Fwiw my friend who solely hunts with his .270, also uses exclusively Remington core lokts. Says you don't need anything fancier- it gets the job done

[JDHasty]

Thanks all for the replies. Sounds like I opened up a pretty good debate on the matter. One thing I have learned over the past is never discuss religion, sports or politics and now I can add what caliber should I use for elk hunting. In all seriousness though thanks for the help. As of right now I think maybe I will stay with my .270 and go with a 150 gr bullet. If I do get the itch to buy another I won't go with a 30-06 as I would not gain much from my .270. So if anyone has a good idea of a bullet I can use for elk in .270 I am all ears. Currently I am using 130 gr Federal ammo for deer.

Thanks.

Fwiw my friend who solely hunts with his .270, also uses exclusively Remington core lokts. Says you don't need anything fancier- it gets the job done

I know a heck of a lot of others who do too. 

[brew]

Why do I always have to look up stuff that I already know.

http://gundata.org/blog/post/243-ballistics-chart/

http://gundata.org/blog/post/30-06-ballistics-chart/

http://gundata.org/blog/post/270-win-ballistics-chart/

If you find a better source let me know ,please dont hate cause you may not know something I'll teach ya.

thank you for providing a site that disputes the information you have given....yes in some instances the 243 will shoot flatter than other cartridges but you are comparing apples to oranges.  you are comparing 243 winchester ballistic tip bullets to "regular" core lock type bullets of the 270 and 30-06. On the site you linked a 243 95 gr ballistic tip bullet with a 100 yard zero will be 10" low at 300 yards and a Kenetic engery of 1227 ft lbs.  A 270 shooting 130 gr ballistic tip bullet will be 10" low at 300 yards with a 100 yard zero with a Kenetic energy of 1689 ft lbs.  a 30-06 shooting a ballistic tip 150 gr bullet will hit 13" low at 300 yards with a 100 yard zero and have a Kenetic energy of 1746 ft lbs...that info took me about 3 minutes to find on the site you provided  so i don't hate me for checking the facts...i would rather have 1/3rd more kenetic energy at target than worried about an inch or two of miscaculation...maybe this is a "teachable" moment for you

[WA hunter14]

Anything less than a GAU-8 is unethical for elk. 

Ethics shmethics.......I'll gat an Elk with whatever is rolling around in the back seat of the rig.

After finishing my beer.........tho

   

[hunter399]

Why do I always have to look up stuff that I already know.

http://gundata.org/blog/post/243-ballistics-chart/

http://gundata.org/blog/post/30-06-ballistics-chart/

http://gundata.org/blog/post/270-win-ballistics-chart/

If you find a better source let me know ,please dont hate cause you may not know something I'll teach ya.

thank you for providing a site that disputes the information you have given....yes in some instances the 243 will shoot flatter than other cartridges but you are comparing apples to oranges.  you are comparing 243 winchester ballistic tip bullets to "regular" core lock type bullets of the 270 and 30-06. On the site you linked a 243 95 gr ballistic tip bullet with a 100 yard zero will be 10" low at 300 yards and a Kenetic engery of 1227 ft lbs.  A 270 shooting 130 gr ballistic tip bullet will be 10" low at 300 yards with a 100 yard zero with a Kenetic energy of 1689 ft lbs.  a 30-06 shooting a ballistic tip 150 gr bullet will hit 13" low at 300 yards with a 100 yard zero and have a Kenetic energy of 1746 ft lbs...that info took me about 3 minutes to find on the site you provided  so i don't hate me for checking the facts...i would rather have 1/3rd more kenetic energy at target than worried about an inch or two of miscaculation...maybe this is a "teachable" moment for you

The question was does a 243 win have less drop at 500 yards than a 30-06 or 270 cal .It does have less drop at 500 yards.The question said nothing about 300 yards ,said nothing about engery,velocity,bc,wind drift, or anything else you wanna add .Bending or changing distance to make yourself have the right answer is good for you but not me.Ya it took you 3min to look at the wrong distance and post up something you think is right .DIAPER CHANGED.

[Alchase]

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. Yes I know .270 can take elk but I have read that the shot placement for that caliber must be very precise. Plus I want to be humane. I am sure I have opened a can of worms asking this question but I am just curious what everyone opinion on a good hunting cartridge for elk hunting is. A guy at Cabela's told me about 6.5 creedmor claiming it to be a great round with feet per second for hunting elk. I do not remember what exactly he told me but said the caliber was viable for elk. Looking for help on this before I buy in the fall. Trying to do my research now before hunting season.

Thanks.

Yep can of worms opened and the "package" measuring ensued, lol

Yes your .270 will work just fine, and the only excuse you need to buy a new rifle of a different caliber is
"because you want one"

 

[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??

Here is the quote of the question ?

[Taco280AI]

I haven't read through all of this, but what does trajectory matter? Especially today with range finders, ballistic reticles, and turrets. Sunday at the range a guy shooting a 308 popped off a few rounds at the steel coyote, missed every time above AND below. I shot two rounds after dialing my scope in, hit it both times. Wasn't trajectory, was knowing my rifle, load, doing the calculation, and making the correct adjustment. He simply guessed and held over. If my AI was faster or slower, wouldn't have made any difference, I would have simply adjusted differently and hit it again.

The only thing that matters for trajectory is knowing where your bullet will be. One shooting flatter than other 

[Oh Mah]

  Ill add energy is more important than speed,If its enough then its enough.

[Ingwe]

.338 Winchester mag, 250 grain nosler partition

[Magnum_Willys]

.338 Winchester mag, 250 grain nosler partition

No one thinks its not enough, no one should think its way too much.   Classic !

[hunter399]

I was thinking maybe air rifle for elk ,ya that would be awesome.I wonder if you would hunt modern,or muzzle,with a air rifle or is it even legal in washington,off topic a bit , but on topic with elk hunting .watch and enjoy.